Any day now you will find all eleven of us at our local dollar store for the evening. Everyone will have their own baskets and will probably be using their coats to keep their precious purchases secret. There will be covert maneuvers and whispered plans between siblings. As the all-knowing mom, I will become the…
I love the holiday season. I love the traditions, food, festivities, presents, and intentional bonding time with friends and family. But while these things often bring joy, they can also lead to added stress. Increased family time is not always for the faint of heart. This time of year, it seems the concept of family…
Raise your hand if you ever find yourself trying to “make everyone happy.” Yeah, I thought so. Me too. And while this tendency can, I am sure, strike men, anecdotally it seems more prevalent among women. It also might be probable possible that mothers tend to pass this curse inclination on to their daughters. I’m…
This is the month I love to curl up with my children and read November by Cynthia Rylant, a cozy book which encourages thoughts of gratitude. In addition to giving thanks, my mind often wanders to thoughts of legacy and heritage during this month of pumpkin pie and family gatherings. I was blessed to be…
My knobby knees shook, and huge drops began to fall from the overcast February sky. We stood in the vacant street in front of the old house on Jerome Avenue, and my sister broke down the mechanics of the “crossover.” I wanted, as badly as I had ever wanted anything at twelve years old, to be…