Yesterday, after a day at the Oregon Coast, my family was climbing up a long stairway leading from the beach and I stopped to wait as my son poured sand from his shoes. When we resumed climbing, I thought I’d impart some wise words to my (almost) eleven-year-old son. Me: (panting) “Do you know how you climb … Read More
Have you ever wished that you could relive moments from your life? When I was a kid, my family spent some happy vacations on Harstine Island in the southern end of the Puget Sound. We biked, fished off the dock, looked for shells on the beach and swam in a community pool.(I’ve even posted a funny … Read More
When my son was a baby, I remember reading an article which claimed that teaching babies sign language would speed their language development. As an insecure young mom, the idea of having a super-smart baby appealed to me, so we tried it. It wasn’t long before our baby was proficient at several signs. I still remember him sitting … Read More
I’ve been taking some time off from blogging this summer — but today I can’t resist “crowing” with joy. My 10 (almost 11) year old son has decided to be baptized on Sunday. I’m so proud, I could nearly burst. In honor of this exciting event, I’ve decided to re-post one of my favorite stories about my son. I … Read More
As we get into the long, lazy days of summer… Um, what happened to those? Are YOU experiencing lazy days? Right now, I’m juggling day camps, dance classes, play dates and trips to the pool. This summer has been anything but lazy. Oh, help… I’m turning into one of THOSE parents (the whiny, overscheduled ones). Well, … Read More
My 8-year-old was reading the other day and asked me the meaning of “pet peeve.” “Something that annoys you,” I answered. She thought for a moment. “Like a big brother?” Exactly. It’s got me thinking — what are some of your pet peeves? Do you want to know how to really annoy me? Here are five ways… in … Read More
Now that the heat of summer is upon us, it’s time to either retreat into the air conditioning or stretch out in the sunshine — your choice — with a great book. If you need a little excitement to spice up your summer, try out this new title by firefighter/paramedic/author Shawn Grady, Tomorrow We Die. … Read More
Summer has finally arrived and the clumps of berries on my blueberry bushes are just now starting to ripen. Every year at this time, I am reminded of a hard lesson that I learned a few years ago. I shared this story last year, but for those of you who are new to my blog, … Read More
My husband and I finally got around to watching The Blind Side yesterday. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard people say, “Oh, you’ve GOT to see this movie!” But, because I had labeled it a sports movie, I was dragging my feet. What a mistake. The movie was everything everyone had … Read More
Last night I went to our public library without my kids. (Gasp!) The public library (in any town) has always been my “happy place.” I love the smell, the quiet, the possibilities. I love to run my hand down the spines of all the books, knowing that I could never possibly read them all. It is simply … Read More