Love Means Showing Up
When our tour guide said, “Trust the rock, NOT the stone,” I had a few clarifying questions. Since English wasn’t his first language and we were crossing a part of the trail called “Hell’s Abyss”or some other terrifying name, I wanted to be sure I understood. My husband and I were part of a hiking
I couldn’t figure out what was happening on the beach. I saw adults of varied ages and kids watching two young women building a sandcastle. The young women had on matching t-shirts and assorted buckets around them with sandcastle logos. One was saying, “You pat the bucket to make the sand compacted,” and the group
If I could change anything about my high school years, it wouldn’t have anything to do with grades or classes. I wouldn’t add more activities or strive for more recognition. I wish I’d been kinder. I wish I’d been kinder to my friends, to new kids, to my family, to the guys that I dated,
It’s prom season, which means it’s time for parents to stay up late worrying. It’s also time, apparently, for teenagers to attempt to renegotiate rules and expectations. Prom time scares me. My whole hope for prom night was that my kids or their friends wouldn’t end up in the local news for any reason.
Making lists helps me figure things out. So, about a decade ago, when I was trying to make a decision about my job, I made a list. On one side, I listed the people who were ready for me to move on or stay at home or whatever I decided to do. This list filled
I ran into a friend at the grocery store a few days ago. We were talking about our spring break schedules and she shared that their plans to visit colleges had fallen through because her child was overwhelmed by the whole idea. Her daughter is the same age as my daughter and I told her
I was really worried about my kids. So, when the yoga instructor came around and asked which kind of essential oil I would like on my wrist, I said that I would like “whichever potion will convince me that everything will be okay.” She paused and said, “Oh girl, that’s inside work,” which was
To my wonderful nephew and all student marchers, I want to start by saying how very proud of you I am. Reading in the newspaper about the leadership you have shown in the “March For Our Lives” in Tennessee has made my heart soar. It has been a gift for me to watch you rise
Bryan and I got married at the age of 23, at the end of my first year in seminary. Within a few months, I’d signed us up for a marriage enrichment Sunday school class at the Presbyterian church nearest the seminary. Upon arrival, I was surprised to learn that we were the only couple
It has been my experience that really important conversations with my children often happen in the car. In our family, the car is one of the few places that I might be alone with just one child. It’s also a private and protected space. This doesn’t mean that I’m ever fully prepared for these interactions.