Take a Seat, Virginia!

Question: what would you call a book-a memoir really, based on your life?  I have been thinking about this for a while.

Most of them are titles or lyrics of Top 40 Hits...

Shake It Off: A Story of One Mom's Hunt For a Clean Towel

All About That Base: My Life As A Cheerleader

Hide And Watch: A Mom's Courage to Leave the House Wearing That

Smoother Than a Fresh Jar of Jiffy: Tales of the Lunchbox 

Heartbeat Song: A  Mother's Sonnet of Anxiety

An Open Letter To My Son

Dear Jared,

I wrote a letter to your sisters about what I hope for them as they grow up and thought it was only fair that I write you one too..

When you were six, you decided that you were going to be baptized. I wasn't sure that you were ready or that you knew what it all meant so  I asked you what you thought it would mean to be baptized and you told me that it meant you wouldn't just be Jared anymore but you would be "Jared The Jesus Follower!"  I knew then, that you understood and it is my hope that you spend the rest of your life following Jesus, not because you HAVE to but because you WANT to!

I hope that you always have a tender heart for others and look for ways to be compassionate and generous with your time, talent, and treasure!

The things that you value the very most are like arrows that point to your heart and the kind of person you are.

Open Letter To My Daughters

Dear Cassity and Ryleigh,

I was thinking the other day, that this is the one and only school year that the two of you will be in the same school together.  Time sure does fly! This year is the first year that the three of my kids are all in school and not at home and it seems we are all turning pages in the chapters of our lives!

I wanted to write down some of my hopes for you as you continue to grow and grow and grow...

I hope along the way, that you notice all the people that your dad and I have put in your life ON PURPOSE that point you to God..  seeing that a relationship with Jesus isn't about being forced on you, but because so many people in your life demonstrated God's love to you over the years that you are also inspired to follow Him and be His friend forever. You see, I believe, that God is in the helpers.

Changing Seasons

I am reading a book by one of my most favorite authors Shauna Niequest called

 "Bittersweet: Thoughts on change, grace, and learning the hard way."

It's not a new book.  I have actually had it for several years just sitting on my shelf waiting for me to read it.

The truth is,  I knew what it was about- I started to read it about 4 years ago, and I stopped.  I stopped because it was too personal for me.  It was a painful season in my life and I was wounded and still too  bloody to fully absorb the bandages of healing that Shauna's words could do for my beat up heart.

Today, I think that time has passed and the cracks of my heart have been sealed nicely (with mostly peanut butter) that I can hear what this book had to say to me.

Four years ago I left a job I had been at and it was ugly.

Social Media and Parenting-Yikes!

Alright you guys.

I am about to open a can of worms!





Here is the thing-I NEVER write about anything controversial.  Mostly because I never want to make anyone mad and by not giving my opinion I keep you happy. I am willing to risk your happiness with me for this-at least I think I am.

Social Media and Parenting.

Not too long ago I spoke with our Youth Group about Social Media and how we use it, matters.

For the first time in history of parenting, we are being lead by our children in the topic of technology and social media. We have all seen the commercial with Katie Couric and Bryant Gumble in 1994  hosting the Today Show asking:

"What is the internet?"



It's funny now, but then, it was a mystery! You guys, 21 years ago....the hosts of The Today Show had no idea what the internet was!

Friendship Breakups and Growing Up

I love television-mostly comedies but I am not limited by it.  I love The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, New Girl, The Mindy Project, Parks and Recreation, Meet The Goldbergs, The Blacklist, Dateline, The Ellen Degeneres Show, anything on HGTV, and find Netflix takes my addiction to television to a new level.


One show that I have managed to avoid is The Bachelor, which is odd because of my passion for television but the whole premise always annoyed me.

A few weeks ago, that all changed.  I was busy doing something and The Bachelor was on in the background.  You guys, it was like a train wreck!  I couldn't help but watch.

The drama and the level of absolute INSANITY that these women possess is fascinating.

I guess it isn't surprising considering there are 12ish beautiful women in 1 house trying to win the affection of 1 man.  It is the perfect storm for high drama and high conflict!


POP. THE. CORN.