Living All In

Do you want to meet a princess? All this talk about the royal wedding on Saturday has everyone thinking princesses and tiaras and castles. For most of us, meeting royalty is an impossible dream. But I can introduce you to a princess if you want. She’s a special kind of princess. She’s not European or highly photographed. She wears a tiara and lives in a palace, but you can’t tell she’s a princess just by looking at her. Her prince doesn’t ride a white horse, but he does fight dragons (and kill bugs). Her children don’t have titles, but they will be world changers someday. Wait a minute! She sounds normal. She sounds everyday. How can she be a princess? I’ll tell you a secret. It’s all about perspective. Still want to meet her? Check this post or my Facebook page on Thursday for a link to my second published piece introducing this princess and her fairytale. **UPDATE** As promised, the link! Click to meet the princess. Her View From Home

I usually write about Motherhood from the trenches because that’s where I am. Mother’s Day is a bright spot when you’re in the trenches. It’s a day your kids actually say thank you for all you do and your husband endeavors to give you a private bathroom break. He doesn’t succeed, but he tries really hard. And when he doesn’t succeed, he gives you flowers, or a wind chime, or, in my case, a unicorn. (See my Pinterest for the joke.) Motherhood is a strenuous occupation with no paycheck and no red carpet. Most days, I don’t know if I’m doing enough. Except on Mother’s day. On that day, my family showers me with love and appreciation. Unprompted. That’s the beauty of holidays like Mother’s day and Valentine’s day. Guys who don’t do “hints” validate women who have trouble asking for what they need. It’s funny how complicated/controversial Mother’s day has become. We want to celebrate Mom's sacrifice and labor (because they deserve it!) while not causing pain to women experie...

Can I call in sick today?   I’m nauseous.   I’ve been fighting an on again off again sinus headache since Friday. I need to take off work.   Maybe stay in bed all day. Shoot.   I can’t.   Who will keep the tiny humans alive? Make sure they have breakfast? Take their cold medicine? Get to school?   Finish their homework? Go to bed on time because state testing starts this week? Oh, right. Me. Time to find Tums. And Tylenol. And those bootstraps I have to pull myself up by. Time to close this tablet and dash back into the fray. I may be short on creativity this week, but not on grit.   No weapon formed against me or my family will prosper. (Isaiah 54:17) No colds can stand against my essential oils and humidifiers. No school project is beyond the capability of my over-tired Mom brain. “It is God who arms me with strength (and makes my way perfect.)” Ps 18:32 Good thing.   I’m running on empty, but with His strength I can keep tackling all...

Let’s do things a little different this week. Let’s talk about firsts. They say you never forget your first. First bike, first kiss, first car, first….other things. My first bike was a two wheeler. It was a little tall for me. I remember I had to climb onto our front garden landscape beams to successfully mount it. I received my first and only, thank the Lord, concussion while riding that bike, which led to my very first bike helmet. My first kiss (sadly) was not with my husband. Still, I fondly remember both it and the passionate young man who administered it. I hope his ending has been as happy as mine. My first car was a little blue Honda hatchback. It used to stop running every time it rained, leaving me stranded in some….hmmm…memorable places. One of which would not have been quite so memorable if I had remembered to pull the emergency brake. Oops. I remember the first time I tried on my wedding dress and knew it was right. I remember being terrified and excited signing...

Today I’m taking a breath.   I’m going to go to the library with my son. Then, we’re going to make banana bread together. It’s going to take triple the time and make twice the mess. But you know what? I DON’T CARE. I’m taking a breath. My schedule has been weighing on me. My to-do list is the monster in my closet, and my writer’s block keeps popping it’s head around the corner saying “Nah nah na nah nah.” Yeah. It’s past time to take a breath. And realize… I have the power to slow my world down. It may not be pretty. Or easy. But I can. I can say “no.” I’m padlocking my closet. My to-do list is staying in there today. If I’m learning anything with age, it’s that there’s enough time for the important things if you let the unimportant things be. And I’m keeping it short this week, my peeps. Because as much as I love sharing my words with you, I love being a mom and a wife more. Present and Unplugged. Take a breath today. If it’s not alive, it can wait. Get out and e...