Our home was established thirty-four years ago when my husband and I married. We have inhabited many different dwellings but as the old saying goes, home is where the heart is and my heart is forever bound up in God-ordained oneness with Paul’s. In fact, these words were clearly communicated in our marriage vows. ““But …
Where Was He?
Before I leave to pick up Amelia and Ezra a couple of mornings a week while their mom goes to the gym, I have learned to close my bedroom doors and latch the baby gate at the bottom of the stairs. Little Ezra is quick and he is quiet. Once he’s inside, he usually goes …
A Different Sort Of Halloween
Ezra made the cutest little prophet for Fall Festival at our church. My crafty daughter fashioned a giant fish from foam board last year and Thomas gave out candy from inside the belly of the big fish. This year, we borrowed the fish and Ezra played the part of Jonah. I’ll be honest, I expected …
Sleep’s Daily Miracle
“Bye bye,” repeated Ezra, waving to everyone in the room. He wasn’t leaving. He was ready for his nap. At only sixteen months, he’s adept at communicating. When he is hungry, he repeats, “Nak nak,” or he goes to the pantry and begins bringing out whatever he can reach. When he’s ready to play outside, …
Forever Changed
Ezra is one of those rare and wonderful children, at least in my experience, who can still nap after age one without ruining bedtime. He enjoys his nap time and will tell you when he’s ready for bed. He points to his room and says bye bye to everyone. Even at my house, we have …
Covered In Dust
I turned my face away as the wind gusted dust from the unusually dry red clay upward. The little rain we’ve had this fall has been quickly dried by sun and wind. Ground that was saturated in spring and early summer is now parched. We have been waiting for October to plant grass across the …
Temporary Shelters
A blanket fort still stands in my bonus room turned playroom. I am amazed it has lasted this long with four very active under fives coming and going but the weather has been quite nice lately so we have spent much of our time together outdoors. It only took a few throw pillows, a quilt, …
Conflicting Thoughts
It all started with hearing mom say no to baby and then watching as that precious little soul reflexively did the very thing, whatever it was, that he was instructed not to do. Maybe he looked up and grinned and it became a game. Perhaps she ran full tilt in the opposite direction, all the …
Hard Hearted
I asked Amelia to choose two apples from the crisper drawer. She wanted to help make apple cinnamon pancakes and she had already pulled her stool up to the kitchen counter. She turned to open the refrigerator and stopped. “Ezra can’t help,” she started. Then grinning slyly, she continued, “Tell me I’m gonna be last.” …
Say I Love You
“You didn’t say I love you,” Amelia said, genuine concern in her voice and in her eyes. This was the second time she had chided me in front of her mom for failing to say I love you before ending a phone call. We were on the front porch for Amelia and Ezra to play …
A Fitting Reply 