Ezra, like his daddy before him, has exceptional balance and coordination. At barely two and a quarter, he has mastered every ride-on toy we own, including his older sister’s pedal bike with training wheels. Not only does he move forward effortlessly, he sits confidently looking ahead while coasting backwards from the edge of the front …
How You Love Me
“How do you know Lolly loves you?” I asked five year old Thomas. When he and Amelia see me writing, they sometimes ask if I am writing a story about them. Often I am so I stop and read aloud their part or I promise to when it’s finished. So when I told Thomas that …
Scripture That Sticks
I had the privilege of watching as Caroline taught the memory verse for Thomas and Timothy’s preschool group in Vacation Bible School at their church for the past two summers. This was not her first Bible teaching experience. From a young age, she lined up her stuffed animals and dolls and taught them. She led …
Anticipating
Is Titus here yet? It’s a well timed question. My fifth grandchild is due in eleven days. Messages and comments from family and friends confirm that my husband and I are not the only ones anticipating his arrival. Many people are excited for my daughter and her husband, ready and waiting to welcome Titus. Thomas …
Wait For It
“But I wanted to eat it now!” Thomas exclaimed, palms upward, accenting each syllable. His fifth birthday ice cream cake sat on the table in front of him. He had finished his lunch, played all the games, beamed through the chorus of Happy Birthday and blown out his candles. He watched eagerly as his mom …
Who Is Your Yes?
“Daddy’s not here,” I told Jake on my way from the kitchen to the laundry room for the third time in half an hour. His head pops up anytime I walk near the garage door between eleven and two. His internal clock keeps trying to push dinner earlier and earlier. “You can wait until at …
Wish I Had Known
I spent Sunday morning in the emergency room at my local hospital being evaluated for any and everything that may have caused floaters to appear abruptly in my right eye. After observing no facial drooping, having me extend first one arm and leg and then the other and comparing my grip strength, the triage nurse …
Imagine
“Are you here with my strawberry ice cream?” my dad asked the young man entering his room. His smile was answer enough as he strode over to place the small styrofoam cup and plastic spoon in my dad’s outstretched hand. Daddy deposited the treat on his bedside table and said, “Take my hand.” The young …
I Know It
I have four grandchildren. Two sleep with a night light and a white noise machine while two prefer white noise and total darkness. Bedtime is tricky already with four exhausted toddlers trying not to fall asleep by egging each other on but when I switch the lights off entirely, I hear, “You forgot the moon …
I Hope I Never Forget
When I see my sons and daughters with my grandchildren, I get glimpses of their childhoods. When their children struggle with discipline or sleep patterns, I wish I could remember more of what I tried that worked or that didn’t but there are so many blanks in my memory of my early years of parenting. …
