— Jill Clingan Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up. ~Pablo Picasso One of my goals this year is to explore creativity, both in myself and in my children. I love being creative. I love creative things. But I often do not let myself explore … Continue reading
When we moved into our house this past July, just four months ago, the previous owners left us so many surprises…like REALLY GOOD surprises. A lawn mower. A wheelbarrow. Stand alone storage cabinets. Mid-century modern shelves. A cozy vintage chair and footrest. Tools and a work bench in the garage. Even a Star Wars collectible … Continue reading
“Can we pray Shegofa’s prayer, Mommy?” Eden asks. She’s anxious again; her 7-year-old yearnings for a world of peace arise at bedtime. Shegofa comes in to Eden’s room, spreads out a small mat on the floor, and leads Eden in an Arabic prayer. As I listen, the soothing words wash over me. I know that … Continue reading
Craziness or rather chaos seems to be the theme of my family’s life these days. Some days it feels like we are running around with our heads cut off scattered between school, work, homework, afterschool extra-curriculars, night meetings, and birthday parties. While I would like to think that my family’s situation is unique, I am … Continue reading
I did not design it, but my last several posts have developed into a series on sin and grace. All Have Sinned talked about reckoning with my own sin. Grace Rules discussed my child’s guilt over his. Today’s post deals with those who sin against us. My son’s most prized possession right now is a … Continue reading
Tomorrow, I will hopefully be waking up in my new home, living a new dream of five acres and trees and a pond and the promise of chickens and goats in the spring. Today, though, I am sitting in a house littered with boxes and stuff I don’t know what to do with and stuff … Continue reading
My son has worn not one, but two bare patches in our front yard. He spends every non-rainy free moment outside in the yard, throwing a hardball into the air and catching it in his glove, or tossing a wiffle ball and swinging at it with the bat, or trying to convince every other child … Continue reading
From the backseat, my five-year-old asked, slowly, “Mommy, is ‘T’ the first number for God?” It took me a minute, but I figured out he was trying to spell. “No, baby,” I told him, “the letters for God are g-o-d.” He was fidgeting with his hands, I could tell, but I was driving and didn’t … Continue reading
A few nights ago, after an especially harrowing day, I relented and moved dinner out to the porch. My husband is currently leading a high school mission trip and I am single parenting for eight days. The boys are obsessed with sitting on our porch, watching the world go by or running through the grass … Continue reading
One day, I saw my son pick up a rock and hurl it in the direction of a neighbor friend. Horrified, I called him over and asked him what he was doing. He replied, “I was being David.” You see, there’s this problem I have with the Bible and children. Most of it’s not for … Continue reading
Practicing Families 