If you have ever tried to create a prayer life when you have little ones underfoot you know that it can be nearly impossible on some days. St. Teresa of Avila once said that God moves among the pots and pans… and many years ago I adopted the idea of offering the things I do through the day as a prayer to God. While I … Continue reading Taking Advantage of the Little Moments: Finding Time to Pray
Good morning! I wanted to share with you something that happened here yesterday. In a fit of anger over something I have been upset about many, many times at my house I exploded and said something to one of my children that I really didn’t mean. I immediately felt terrible and I could see that I hurt her by my words. I knew that what … Continue reading Prayer of the Day: To Ask for Forgiveness
It’s hard to believe that three years ago today I didn’t know if I or the baby I was carrying would live or die. I remember waking up and praying that God would be merciful and would spare us both. As we headed to the hospital and I kissed each of our other children goodbye, I prayed that whatever happened, God would also be merciful … Continue reading A Shared Day: The Ultimate Mother’s Day Gift
It’s the middle of the night, about 4 am, and a little one cries out. I roll myself to the edge of my bed and slide out. It’s hard to walk because I am so tired. As I make my way across the hallway to go see why Leo is crying, I try my hardest to avoid stepping on the toys that have somehow made … Continue reading The Late Night Adventures of a Tired Pirate Mama
Ah, every mother’s nightmare- a child is alone, in his bedroom, and is very, very quiet. Someone goes to check up on him and begins to scream. “Mama! Mama! You need to come here quick! You hang your head in despair because you know this will not be good. When you get to the bedroom you find it’s worse than you thought. There is poop … Continue reading Encounters with a Poopcasso
I don’t think I will ever forget the day I found out I was pregnant with Leo. I recall the overwhelming feeling of joy and fear mixed so thoroughly together. To know that I was pregnant so soon after almost losing my life with Jake and after being counseled to never have another child again, was terrifying. But, as I stood there, shaking and crying, … Continue reading For the Love of Leo
So I have been thinking about my resolutions for the year. For the toddler side of my life I’ve come up with the following. Be sure to add yours in the comments! 1. I resolve to not go to the store with food smashed into my shirt (even if it happens to be on my back where I can’t see it) or my pants or … Continue reading 7 Quick Takes Friday: Resolutions for Moms with Toddlers
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
I remember as a child being so angry over something that I was determined to run away. I sat on my bed and thought about what I needed to pack and where I was going to go. I was determined to get out of there. In my young mind my thoughts turned to, “This will show them! They’ll miss me when I’m gone!” Of course … Continue reading The Day I Almost Ran Away
We were sitting at the supper table, everyone loud and silly, when Madison, who is 4, suddenly shouted, “Who’s the prettiest Mama in the world?” Everyone around the table yelled in response, “Our Mama!” I smiled and giggled a little, blushed, and told them thank you, but deep inside I was thinking to myself, “Are they crazy? Why don’t they see me the way I … Continue reading Through the Eyes of a Child
tales from the side of the tub 