The BLOG
MUSINGS ON MOTHERHOOD, CAREER, FAITH AND EVERYTHING ELSE IN BETWEEN
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Water Babies and the Word
Have you noticed the way kids gravitate toward the water? Most summers, mine are often wet, whether it be the doing of the garden hose, lake, neighborhood pool, or some other fun form of glistening and slippery entertainment. (I made a trip down memory lane finding some water picture from over the years.)
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Puppy (and people) Training
June 2026 “A Boy and His Dog” (1956) by Norman Rockwell We did a thing. We got a dog, guys. I know lots of people have them – 43% of Americans to be precise, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. But this felt like a big move because we hadn’t had
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Stepping Away
May 2026 I went to New Orleans recently for a work trip. My students conducted themselves wonderfully at the conference, delivering their essays, answering and asking questions, and navigating a big city and conference venue with poise. I was proud of them. But travel weeks are also hard. They don’t happen very often
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When Genius Doesn’t Burn
April 2026 Confession: I almost didn’t write a blog this month. And it’s not like that would have been a huge travesty. People do not wait with bated breath for my next installment. Yet, I have committed to regular writing practices which, amongst other things, includes writing a monthly blog. So not
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Shelter: The Difference in a Bubble and a Greenhouse
March 2026 Last summer I decided it was time to pull out my old CDs from high school. I have saved them all, and driving a minivan old enough to still have a CD player installed paid off. I got to introduce my kids to the music of my youth. One
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The Truth about the Tedious
February 2026 The fine line between being a creature of habit and a seeker of novelty can be a hard one to draw. I function best in routines and schedules. I appreciate that God is a God of order, and I also like to have order in my life. Yet, oh
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How Much Stock Should We Put in a “Thank You”?
January 2026 Last month I wrote about gratitude. (A pretty appropriate topic for Christmas time, right?) But now it’s January, and I’m finding that I’m still grappling with gratitude, though in a different sense. Certain times of the year take a lot out of us, the holidays being a case in point. The
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Moderation and Gratitude during the Holidays
December 2025 The holiday season seems to scream more. More activities on the calendar. More décor in our homes. More treats and goodies. Just more. Even as we try to live moderately and modestly, the sheer bulk of options, expectations, and obligations can lead to a lot of excess. If you’re like
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Marking Milestones of Creativity
November 2025 September noted the year mark as a “blogger” for me. As I said in that first blog post, I never really expected to blog. Yet it’s been a good way for me to practice consistency and flex those creative muscles. Right along the heels of my one-year anniversary of blogging is
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In Defense of Casseroles
I remember when I started cooking tater tot casserole. It was after my own mama came to stay with us after our last baby was born. She cooked and cleaned, and she made me the same dish she made when my siblings and I were kids. When I bit into the potato and green bean