Mauve Sheets and Almonds

Georges Room

This weekend, George was invited to play in a Mendelssohn octet at the Toledo Museum of Art. I had just moved a state away for my brand new job, and I made the first of what will be many decisions to not drive back to Ohio. It was not an easy decision. It will never […]

Stress Less

First Day of School 2014

On the way home from school yesterday, I was chatting with my three youngest kids about their day, their homework, their evening plans. And this theme kept repeating: “I’m so stressed out. I have so much to do. I’m never going to get it all done. I’m going to be up all night. I’m so […]

Two States, Three Years

Storm

Moving to two different states within three years is rife with challenges. The biggest one for me? Bigger, even, than finding new doctors and supermarkets and navigating school politics and back roads? Loneliness. Gus and I sat by ourselves at Sam’s first lacrosse game last week. I wasn’t sure which crowd was ours because I […]

Cultivating Home

Kids Walking on the Beach

As my little Baby Blog grows up and my readership increases, I expose myself to more support… and more criticism. I think that’s why bloggers start small and build a loyal following — first your friends and relatives love and encourage you (well, most of them), and then your audience expands. When the dissension begins, […]

Changing Course

Maggie and Lucy in the Car

I’ve been MIA for awhile, I know. But I have a good excuse. Moving across five states with four kids, two dogs, and a guinea pig is not for sissies. It takes a great deal of time, patience, and money — two of which I don’t have. We’re all given the same amount of time, […]

Preparing for Takeoff

Sam in His Shades

He’s the kid who used to hide behind a chair and grunt, “Leave me alone!” while he worked on yet another Pull-Up. We were fairly certain we’d never get him completely potty trained. Discussing parallelograms and rhombi at age 2? You bet. Willingly choosing to use the toilet for its intended purpose? Not so much. […]

The Journey Inside

Kind Over Matter

I was incredibly honored to be featured on the beautiful site, Kind Over Matter. Amanda is a gracious host and a lovely, inspiring human being. If you’re looking for a daily dose of love and light, this is it. Thanks, Amanda. XOXO ~~~ “The Journey Inside” (A Kind Over Matter guest post)

Giving Thanks

Gus Holding a Heart-Shaped Rock

I cannot deny that these past two years have been hard. Soul-crushing, fetal-position hard at times. Let me begin by saying this, by owning this: I know that if I threw my problems into a pile with all the other problems of the world, I’d grab mine back as quickly as I could. I know […]

Birthday Girl

Mary Claire

Dear Mary Claire, Twelve years! It’s a bit much to wrap my brain around. You arrived on this earth twelve years ago — a beautiful bundle of pink to shake up our baby blue home. I was the only one who knew you were a girl. Dad didn’t want to know — he always preferred […]

The Year of Being

Welcome to Starkville Banner

365 days. That’s a lot of time. Time to think, time to reflect, time to laugh, to cry, to fall to your knees, to dust yourself off and start anew. It’s a great many sunrises and sunsets, dinners and lunches, books checked off the “must read” list, novels written and edited. It’s one more school […]