Motherhood
Playing Super Mario Brothers Is Not Wasting Time
“Mom, let’s see how strong you are at Mario.” My five-year-old waves a Wii remote at me. I remember what Scott told me two days ago: “That hour I spent playing Wii with him meant so much, Joy. Even though I’m terrible at it.” I smile, and close the lid of my laptop. “I’m weak at…
Read MoreHe Has Done Things His Own Way from Day One (A Birthday Post)
The alarm blared and I heaved my belly up and out of the bed in a hurry to shut it off. I hate waking up startled, but it’s the only thing that breaks through my husband’s thick sleep fog. We pulled on clothes, brushed our teeth, tucked toothbrushes into bags, and slipped out of the…
Read MoreFather’s Day Times Three
I never know whether to write about my husband, father to my children, or about my dad on Father’s Day. These men, along with my father-in-law, are the most important men in my life, and I never want any one of them to feel overlooked. So this year, I’m writing about all three of them.…
Read MoreI’m Exorcising Demons Today
I pick my way through the minefield of Legos set between me and the laundry. One Lego escapes detection and stabs square at the plantar wart that’s been throbbing up my leg for two months. I yelp and hop and fold over on myself. Tears blur the mayhem of puzzle pieces, Barbie clothes, still more…
Read MoreIf God Is At the Neighbors’ House, How Can He Be Here Too?
“Mommy, will you come with me to the bathroom? You haven’t done it in awhile,” he wheedles, an expert in emotional manipulation at just four years of age. He’s right – I’d just returned from 8 days in Bolivia and hadn’t been available to keep him company in that most fearful of rooms in our…
Read MoreHow the Other Half Lives (except it’s actually “The Other 95%”)
Do you ever wonder how the other half lives? I have, but I had no idea just how hard it was until I saw it two weeks ago in Bolivia. And then I discovered here that this isn’t the way half the world lives — it’s actually how 95% of the world lives. This is…
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