He acted like it wasn’t a big deal, but we knew otherwise. “I got kicked in the stomach today.” I felt objectivity fly out la ventana while my blood pressure rose. “Why, buddy?” “I don’t know. I couldn’t understand them.” When we sent our tall, pale, strawberry blonde boy to school in a black-hair-rules culture,… Continue Reading
Jesus Follower | Word Stringer | Avocado Eater
Dumbing Down Our Niños
If an adult called all teens young, dumb and broke, there would most likely be a hormonal backlash with a protest march and a side of attitude. But for some reason when a teen writes a song with the same title, his young followers blare it like their mantra and dance like someone’s watching. When… Continue Reading
3 Books, 2 Shows & a Podcast
I’ve always believed items and experiences of significance should be shared, not hoarded. So here ya go… six things I’m currently loving and think you will too. * 3 Books 1. Braving the Wilderness – Brené Brown Her subtitle explains it well: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone. Umm, yes… Continue Reading
Young Bride, Thick Pride: Choosing to Stay
I never excelled in math. So the first time someone told me having small kids was when the days dragged and the years flew, it didn’t make sense. But I loved it. Exactly! Someone finally understands the weird time warp. I occasionally feel the same in my marriage. Since working and writing and constantly feeding… Continue Reading
Above Reproach: 3 Stories with Men That Changed My Ways
At the ripe old age of 16-ish, I’m pretty positive I couldn’t have told you what living above reproach meant. Fifteen years later I moved to Baja and lived above a roach (a colony of them actually), but that’s different. The appearance of evil is a tricky thing. If you’re not actually doing anything evil/wrong/illegal,… Continue Reading
Dads & Dudes: Father’s Day Gifts That Aren’t Lame
It’s not a secret–most dads don’t want a tie. Or a jar of spicy salsa. Or a hammer. If the man in your life is getting harder to shop for, you are in good company. Some of my friends are shopping for way more than one dad. Even if you have four dads, three sons,… Continue Reading
The Hungry Games
(Shared with permission) Age: nineChild: mineAttitude: fine Until it wasn’t. When one of our kids got in trouble for a garden-variety no-no, I figured the next steps would resemble the rest. Too tall to spank and not naughty enough to ground, I sent him to the back room where his timeout minutes matched his age.… Continue Reading
Reclaiming Minutes & Health: 5 Things I Stopped & Started
Skimmers appreciate writers getting to the point sooner than later. And since I’m a reader, a writer and a skimmer, I feel ya. Scrolling through a recipe blog and passing 14 photos of different angles of quinoa makes me crazy. Yes, I see the bran and germ and appreciate the endosperm. Just give me the… Continue Reading
What the What? Didn’t See THAT Comin’
I cooked in my kitchen when the house phone rang. “Sharri has cancer.”I sat in his Jeep when he told me we were done. “I’m loving you more than I’m loving Jesus.”I stood on my college campus when I read, “You have not been selected for the position.” I walked through a Costco parking lot when… Continue Reading
Trading Sorry for Thank You
“Sorry I’m late.”“Sorry I didn’t call.”“Sorry about the mess.”“Oh, sorry!”“Oops–sorry.” Enough already. Of course, sometimes a genuine sorry is exactly what’s needed. But I’m referring to all the times when sorry becomes excessive… unwarranted… over the top. What in the world would a public bus be sorry for? That it’s winter? That’s you have to… Continue Reading