We say goodbye, my military man goes and does his military thing, my heart aches, my body aches, my girls ache. He comes back home, we’re on a walk around the neighborhood hand in hand, watching our little girls race ahead of us and back again. A neighbor passes us in the car, slows down … [Read more...] about Keep Not Quitting: On Hard Things, Perseverance, and Making it Through Together
faith
Don’t quit. If you don’t quit then I won’t either.
It’s the evening, Lane looks at me and says “You know what today was, right?” “Absolutely no clue.” “I could have gotten out of the military today. Today marks the end of my initial three-year commitment to the Army.” It’s post-dinnertime and I’m standing at the sink while he clears the table, … [Read more...] about Don’t quit. If you don’t quit then I won’t either.
Ways of Mothering: The Exhaustion, the Invitation, & the Gift
There’s certain qualities I would name if you asked me what makes a good mom. I’d begin with patient, sacrificial, creative, strong. I’d add in encouraging and consistent, loving and empathetic. In this birds-eye view of mothering though, they’re the words that describe it, not the moments … [Read more...] about Ways of Mothering: The Exhaustion, the Invitation, & the Gift
Building a Love for the Long Haul Even When It Feels Like Too Much Work
A long-running feud exists between Lane and I, and I am claiming neither guilt nor innocence as matters such as these are incredibly complex. Rather, I merely present the facts of a marriage, black and white, you decide. Lane and I graduated high school in 2001. This was a long time ago. All I know … [Read more...] about Building a Love for the Long Haul Even When It Feels Like Too Much Work
In Which Women Prove the Life-Changing Nature of a Simple Question
Ask me why I’m teaching myself to juggle and I can give you three reasons, just like that. 1. My dad can. 2. I want to have a party-trick in my back pocket, ready to bring out at a moment’s notice. Should I ever be on a game show in need of a stupid human trick? Should I ever get involved in a … [Read more...] about In Which Women Prove the Life-Changing Nature of a Simple Question
The Sacred Work of Not Giving Up
If you were to come over to my house right now, I would first hug your neck and then usher you all the way back to the couch- the white one because I like bright and airy things, but I’m no fool, we had that thing stain-treated before bringing it into a home full of children. We would cozy up on … [Read more...] about The Sacred Work of Not Giving Up