I enjoy dressing her in dainty sundresses. I enjoy pulling her just-long-enough baby hair up in barrettes. And I really enjoy decorating her bedroom. Because she is so lovely, I want everything to be lovely for her. I’ve been working on her bedroom for a few months now. I painted the walls a light, ashy […] Read more…
Mediocre Ever After??
There’s a lot of daydreaming that mommas do. …What if I started exercising again?? …What if my children learned another language?? …What if we had this awesome, totally inspiring family motto that I hand-stitched and hung above our front door?? I fill a good bit of my “free time” (ha!) with daydreams…I think about them […] Read more…
10 Fun Ideas: When You Are Bored And Need To Get Out Of The House
My children have inherited all sorts of things from me… …my sweet tooth. I literally eat ice cream for breakfast several times a month. And candy for lunch. And ice cream for dessert. (And I consider myself to be Paleo…) …my fascination with dangerous bugs and animals. I don’t necessarily want to hold a rattlesnake, […] Read more…
An Open Letter To Stay-At-Home-Moms, From A Husband
*** My husband, Daniel, spent hours last week poring over this letter to you. Be encouraged, mommas. *** Dear Stay-at-Home Mom, God has placed it on my heart to encourage you. As I see my own wife labor for her family, I’m convicted of my own thankless heart. And when you add to that a […] Read more…
As My Children Grow Older There Are Things I Gain, Things I Give Up
“The days pass so slowly, but the years pass so quickly.” The paradox of motherhood: We look forward to the future – when our children are more independent and our time is a little more our own – and we mourn the past – the preciousness of long, slow days at home with little ones […] Read more…
Champion Them Rather Than Change Them
Oh my boys. My ravenous, loud, stinky, dirty, curious, loyal, dramatic, ravenous boys. As a momma to two of the most boyish boys that have ever been invented, my girl perspective is constantly needing some fine tuning. If not kept in check, the girl part of my brain can perceive my boys’ rough and silly […] Read more…
When My Bathroom Is Cleaner Than My Heart…
“For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” I Samuel 16:7 Have you ever been tricked by something that looked really nice…and it wasn’t? …a cute little puppy that practically bit your hand off? …a piece of chocolate that turned out to […] Read more…
How To Make Decorative Butterflies For A Girl’s Bedroom
Our precious little Maralyn Mae, now one, has changed everything around here…including our once camo – guns – and – legos – themed household. Now the camo, guns, and legos are still winning the battle if you’re measuring their victory by their presence per square foot, but the pink fluffy stuff is slowly but surely […] Read more…
As HE Fathers Us, So Should We Mother Them, Part Two
“Casting all your anxieties upon Him, for He cares for you.” I Peter 5:7 The God of the Universe is probably bombarded with the petty complaints and worries of His people all the time. Things that, in His holy and eternal perspective, He knows are not significant in the long run. I think about all […] Read more…
Six Weird Things That Can Make A Mom’s Day
If College Lauren were to take a trip from the past and come visit Present Day Mommy Lauren, I’m not sure she would recognize me. My priorities have changed. My hair has changed. What I enjoy has changed. The way I spent a Friday night ten years ago sounds like a nightmare to me now; […] Read more…