— 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
I’ve noticed that around the holidays a lot of talk shows and magazines devote a lot of space and air time to the topic of guest rooms. Just exactly what a guest room should look like, what kind of toiletries we should place in the bathroom for our guests, even what newspapers we should be … Continue reading
Did you catch the “30 Days of Real” phenomenon a few months ago? I deeply appreciated it. I think many others found it silly. It was described as being “one month of sharing our realness, messiness, quirks and funny flaws to become more authentic, vulnerable and beautifully imperfect.” People were challenged to post something about … Continue reading
Earlier this week I was thinking to myself I had done a pretty good job of keeping it peaceful and calm and not cramming too much in among all the special events that show up on the calendar this time of year. Okay, I was feeling just the teensiest bit smug. Then on Monday night … Continue reading
I have been thinking a lot about prayer lately. I had my bi-weekly appointment scheduled with my spiritual director this week, and I wanted to talk to her about my thoughts on prayer, but she was sick, so I have been hashing this one out on my own. So, let’s pretend that you are all … Continue reading
November 20, 2013 If you’re reading this in a public place, look around at people walking. Otherwise, imagine someone walking through the room where you are or past where you’re sitting. How fast is the walker (real or imagined) going? Normal pace? A little brisk, perhaps? Now take what you just saw and imagine slowing … Continue reading
As a minister and a mother, I have a relentless, nagging sensation that I should always be doing something else. If I’m folding laundry, should I instead be reading with my son? If I’m answering e-mail, should I be visiting the sick instead? If I’m reading a book about prayer, should I be working on … Continue reading
September 18, 2013 I recently listened to an interview Krista Tippett did with iconic Lutheran pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber. As someone who is usually very down-to-earth, I love Nadia. It was very interesting and almost humorous to listen to her have a conversation with Krista Tippett, the soft-spoken, spiritually ambiguous host of “On Being.” Nadia is … Continue reading
An idea I brought to the family a few years ago, revolved around the concept of “margin.” Raising five children, I quickly realized that I needed help. When they were younger, things like dinner didn’t always happen at nice, tidy times. Baths, getting dressed, ready for bed, wake and sleep schedules, nothing seemed to neatly … Continue reading
August 21, 2013 In a previous post, I talked about the prayers that I routinely sing with my children at bedtime. There’s another bedtime practice I seem to have developed lately: getting them riled up. It goes like this: as my two children are going to bed, they each always want me to come in … Continue reading
Practicing Families 