For my very first 7 Quick Takes Friday I thought I would focus on 7 things that I have already uttered today… 1. What is that smell? (said at 3 am when I was getting Leo out of his crib) 2. Why are you so wet? (said as Jake hugged me and he was wet from head to toe. I still don’t know why he … Continue reading 7 Quick Takes Friday: Yes, I did Just Say That
It’s hard to believe that Chris, our elf, has been a part of our family since 2006. I saw him sitting in a little boutique in Marietta before he ever sat on shelf in Target. Not many had heard of him at that point, in fact, no one we knew had ever heard of him. I looked him over and worried about the cost. He was … Continue reading Just Elfing Around
Today in the Catholic faith we begin the season of Advent. Advent is the prayerful season in which we prepare for the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Christmas morning. The word actually means “coming” or “arrival”. It starts four Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. It is a wonderful time to come together to learn about our Catholic faith, … Continue reading The Jesse Tree- An Advent Tradition
Dear Mrs. McSpadden, I’m sure you are wondering why I am writing to you. You may wonder what we have in common. After all I am a white woman living in the rural south, I am a stay at home mother to 11 children, and I homeschool. I am also married to a police officer. It may seem that we are worlds apart, both in … Continue reading From One Mother to Another: A Letter to Mrs. McSpadden
Have you ever looked at your hands and thought about all they have done through the course of your lifetime? I know that sounds weird, but really, if you think about all you do with your hands in a single day, the thought of what you’ve done with them over a lifetime can be mind-boggling! When I was little I loved to play in the … Continue reading These Hands That Held You
I wish you could see yourself through my eyes. I wish you could see how beautiful you are; how strong you are; how giving you are; how amazing you are. I wish you could understand how proud I am of you. I wish, for just one moment, you could see yourself through my eyes. Last night you broke down in tears. You hated the way … Continue reading A Letter to My Daughter
Last night I decided to read a new book to the kids before they went to bed. It was entitled How Does Sleep Come? by Jeanne C. Blackmore. I gathered the kids in the living room and they spread themselves out all around. Some were lying on the couch, others were perched right in front of me, eager to see the pictures, and still others … Continue reading How Does Sleep Come?
Originally written on January 18, 2009, this is still an accurate description of what happens regularly at our house! We love Mrs. Butterworth and I love how she has inspired my kids’ imaginations over the years! At our house we go through a lot of syrup. We used to use a store brand of syrup until one day I got smart and bought syrup in … Continue reading Mrs. Buttersworth… a Kid’s Best Friend and Confidant
About a month and a half ago I was driving to Mass. It was a Saturday evening. We typically don’t go to church on Saturday, we prefer going on Sunday, but this particular Mass would be to celebrate the graduating seniors in our parish. I wanted to be there to honor their accomplishments and to tell them how proud I was of them. As a … Continue reading Jesus in Disguise?
Oh Jake, you look like your father, you are built like your father, and you act like your father. But I know you are truly my son because you have a love of chocolate like no other child I have ever seen! Two days ago Emma brought Jake into my room and said, “Mama, you know what I caught him doing? He was out on … Continue reading The Boy Who Loved Chocolate
tales from the side of the tub 