In order to get the four year old twins participating in some school work that will also interest the older children, I have been doing a picture book of the week accompanied by a drawing activity. This week, we are reading The Easter Story by Brian Wildsmith. This story is a beautifully illustrated retelling of the Passion and uses the perspective of the donkey Jesus rides into Jerusalem. I like the donkey “angle” because we use our donkey figure when... Read more

If you eat brown organic eggs, this is just a friendly reminder (mostly to myself) to BUY WHITE EGGS if you plan to dye some for Easter. I forgot last year. Read more

Recently I was refilling hand soap pumps around our apartment from one of those large refill jugs. Then, several days later, I actually wrote “ground cinnamon” on my shopping list. I can see how these two details might not catch the attention of a typical wife/mother, but to me they almost brought tears to my eyes. You see, as an Army family, we have moved so much in the past 18 months that I have never reached the end of... Read more

QUIZ QUESTION: Which one is the greatest menace behind the wheel? 1) A college student driving a Beemer while simultaneously listening to her Ipod, Facebooking on her Blackberry, laughing on her cellphone, sipping a $12 Starbucks drink and applying mascara 2) A blind and deaf 85 year old driving out of the church parking lot 3) A 16 year old test-driving his uncle’s red Ferrari while test-drinking his grandfather’s homemade whiskey 4) An overworked, underloved 55 year old banker gunning... Read more

Yesterday marked the 4th anniversary of Pope J.P. 2’s passing, I know I am a day late, but I didn’t want anyone to miss this excellent piece in First Things. What a man, what a mind, what an inspiration. Read more

Baby J, you light up our world. Your sweetness is palpable. Your ever-present smile is a reminder to me of God’s love for his children. You ride around on my hip with delight, taking in your world and growing each day. You soften your boisterous brothers. You humble your daddy and me that we are lucky enough to be your parents. You are living proof that every new life is always a blessing. God bless you, sweet boy. “For you... Read more

Spring is well underway in Texas and our family has spent the last several weekends up to our knees and elbows in dirt. Gardening is such a beautiful way to introduce your children to the wonder and beauty of nature. One of my earliest memories is from kindergarten. I can remember what my classroom looked like only because it was the back drop to my little styrofoam cup with a seed in it. We watered our seeds every day and... Read more

While I absolutely love the highs and lows of the NCAA basketball championship, I prefer our family life to be a little less dramatic. Unfortunately, my preferences matter little in the grand scheme of things, and this past month was full of drama, joy, sorrow, suffering, and every other emotion in between. In the past, I have mentioned that March has always been a difficult month for our family, and this year was no different. It all began with severe... Read more

We love it! I opted for this instead of the wooden holder MaryAlice suggested because it can hold many different types of writing implements, and takes up very little space. We have had constant problems organizing our art/school supplies and this has completely solved the problem. The kids know exactly where all their supplies go, and they put them away when finished. I purchased this at The Lakeshore Learning Store, and it was a little pricey–$30–but totally worth it! I’m... Read more