Why I’m Homebound For the Next Two Weeks

This fall when I brought my children in for their annual physicals, I did something I’ve never done before. I had them each get a flu shot. Now, I have nothing against vaccinations. I see their value. My children all followed a delayed vaccination protocol through their early childhood years approved by our pediatrician. ButContinue reading “Why I’m Homebound For the Next Two Weeks”

Poetry Friday: “Up-Hill”

All of my life I’ve loved poetry. I memorized it throughout my childhood and college years for competitions. For seven years I taught public speaking at a Christian college in the Midwest, and I coached intercollegiate competitive speech (forensics) there as well. The first gift Rob ever gave me was a book of Shakespeare’s sonnets.Continue reading “Poetry Friday: “Up-Hill””

Self-Care in Grief

Many years ago, when I was pregnant with my firstborn, I asked a friend how I would be different after my baby arrived. I’d heard foreboding rumors that becoming a mother irrevocably changed a woman, that she often had trouble maintaining who she was before. My friend wisely counseled me, “If it was important toContinue reading “Self-Care in Grief”

Communicating in Crisis

This past weekend, I assisted a local organization in creating their COVID-19 preparedness communications. Both Rob and I worked in public relations at one point or another, and crisis communications inevitably became part of our jobs. I remember when Rob once attended a seminar with Jim Lukaszewski, “America’s Crisis Guru.” He came home with aContinue reading “Communicating in Crisis”

Remembering Little Red

Eight years ago this weekend, Rob and I closed on our home in Seattle and moved in. I was seven months pregnant with our fourth child, a daughter, and we wanted to be settled before she arrived. That house in Seattle was, in L.M. Montgomery’s words, our “house of dreams.” A beautiful home in aContinue reading “Remembering Little Red”

My BFF Won’t BRB

My daughter hops into the car after school bubbling over with the day’s news. In our short drive home, she gives me the social update for her classroom. Graham pushed Billy on the playground. Sam passed Katie a note during math. Sarah and Emma aren’t speaking to each other because Emma said Lucy is herContinue reading “My BFF Won’t BRB”

Summers at the Ranch

When a dating relationship is ready for the next level, most girls bring their boyfriends home to meet their parents. I brought mine to summer camp. The year I met Rob and fell in love, I invited him to join me for the summer at my favorite place in all the world — Happy TContinue reading “Summers at the Ranch”

Love’s Last Words

When I was young, a woman I knew died unexpectedly in her sleep. She went to bed seemingly healthy and never woke up in the morning. For all of the years after, her death haunted me with its terrifying possibility. It was entirely plausible that I too could die without warning, that I could snuggleContinue reading “Love’s Last Words”