yes, I have my hands full (and no, you don't have to remind me)

Yes, my hands are full. No, I don’t need you to pull me aside at the grocery store or the church lobby to remind me. I’m a busy mama to busy little ones. We have an incredibly active five-year-old, an almost three-year-old, and a precious little two-month old. In April, we’ll welcome baby #4, and we’ll have […]

what my toddler's tantrum taught me

“Mommy, I NEED chocolate milk! Right now!” I placed the baby in her swing and made my way to the kitchen. “Can you ask nicely, buddy?” “Chocolate milk, pleeeeeease?” He asked as he ran to the fridge, swinging open the doors and standing on his tip-toes to reach the chocolate syrup bottle. “I get it, […]

parenting: expect the unexpected (and always have diapers ready)

As my bump grew and we prepared for Asher to join our family, I thought I had a good grasp on what I needed to know about parenting a little one. I wasn’t a first-time mom and I already had one son — would adding another be so different? I didn’t factor in that Joseph […]

busy moms: here's how to keep the joy this christmas

Hey, busy mamas. I see you. I know you know what’s looming in the horizon. Soon you’ll be juggling mistletoe and eggnog, balancing pageants and wish-lists, trying to love your littles and manage some semblance of sanity along the way. You know that holiday to-do list that’s already creeping up on you? That ever-changing checklist […]

seeing our children for who they'll become

When we’re running late and the clock is ticking to get out of the house, a certain five-year-old suddenly feels it necessary to move in slow motion. As I’m throwing wipes in the diaper bag and corralling children, he’s taking it easy, kicking his feet up, and then remembering now would certainly be the best time […]

i want to raise a generation…

I want to raise a generation of kids that are free. I want my boys to explore. To be adventurous. To ask questions, to look at things and wonder why and why not. I want to raise up a generation that isn’t afraid to get dirty. I want my boys to never lose their sense […]

for the mothers

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” As we celebrate Mother’s Day, I think about the wisdom nestled into this African proverb. I look at this photo of women living across the globe who fight cultural oppression and opposition to farm coffee beans to provide for […]

why we're adopting again

Every morning, I stumble out of bed, grab my Coke-bottle glasses, and shuffle my way across the hardwood floors into the kitchen. Our four-year-old waits patiently for his oatmeal, and his hand always seems to find mine as I make breakfast in the early morning hours. I pour myself coffee as our two-year-old, his bedhead […]

women are scary (and another giveaway, boom!)

Women are Scary. (You may see that I capitalized Scary, because it’s just that important. All my editing experience goes out the window when emphasizing blanket statements on my blog.) So, just to reiterate: Women are Scary. I realize that this means that I, too, am scary. Everyone who lives or has lived with me (shout […]

hope springs forth: it is good

I woke up to a toddler in fuzzy footie PJs lying on top of me, and rolled over to meet my other son’s little brown toes aiming for my face. Throughout the night, we managed to attract a two-year-old, a four-year-old, and an over-weight dog under the covers of our queen bed. This morning, as I collected morning kisses […]