Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been tagged as “family”
I’m staying with the circus theme this week. It’s funny how something someone says to you stays with you. It can seem the most innocuous statement, and yet you never forget it. Back when we were a military family, my husband and I and our first three kiddos were stationed in Turkey. I always joke that the option of living …
I’ve sat here for quite a little while trying to figure out how to begin this post. All I have to do is share about being surprised by the unexpected in my life. Yeah. Let me narrow that down to one thing for you. Um. not going to happen. Every time I thought I knew where my life was going, …
My novel, Catch a Falling Star, asks the question: Is life about accomplishing plans … or wishes coming true … or something more? Today’s post is the fifth in the “When Life Doesn’t Go According to Plan” Wednesday blog series, 11 guest posts by authors and writers, including Deborah Raney, Rachel Hauck, and Susan May Warren, who explore the question: What do you …
“One half of knowing what you want is knowing what you must give up before you get it.” ~Sidney Howard, American playwright This is spring break week for my youngest daughter. And yes, we are having some vacation fun. Sort of. I am the “sort of ” part of the equation. I have several major deadlines looming. I’ve learned that …
“It isn’t the great big pleasures that count the most; it’s making a great deal out of the little ones.” ~ Jean Webster, pseudonym for Alice Jane Chandler Webster, American author My 11-year-old daughter often reminds me to enjoy simpler things like: snow angels snuggles on the couch spending time with family — because her favorite thing in the world …
“Make your house interesting — not perfect.” ~Emily Henderson, stylist One thing I know for certain: My house is not perfect. But you know what? Mulling this quote over for a few minutes … I also am certain that my home is interesting. In a disorganized, my-house-won’t-ever-be-featured-in-Better Homes and Gardens magazine kind of way. Walk through my house and you’ll …
“May you live all the days of your life.” ~Jonathan Swift, Anglo-Irish satirist My mother-in-law celebrates her 93rd birthday today. That’s her in the photo, getting ready to blow out the candles of her cake. And yes, she got ’em all blown out in one try! As she reminisced last night, she recounted how she was born several days before …
“A good home must be made, not bought.” ~Joyce Maynard, American author Home. To acquire a home, there’s usually a transaction — a sale — of some sort. But wait a minute. Do you live in a home? Or have you merely purchased a house? Foundation, roof, walls, rooms … all these things make up a house. What transforms …
“Celebrate what you want to see more of.” ~Thomas J. Peters, American writer Yesterday was a day of celebration for me as I held the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of my debut novel, Wish You Were Here. I did my version of the writer’s “happy dance” around my house (several times) and shared hugs and laughter with my family. And, …
In my debut novel Wish You Were Here (Howard Books, May 2012), one of the themes I explore is the issue of favoritism. What happens when one child is given preferential treatment? The topic of picking favorites isn’t a new one. Consider the biblical story of Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25). In that instance, parental favoritism tore a family apart as …
