I have a hidden talent I haven’t yet shared with you.  I don’t quite know why.  I pick up accents.  That is, I assume them effortlessly in conversations to the never-ending amusement of my children. The naughty kids who live in my house have invented a game called “Guess Who Mom’s Talking To.”  They listen as I talk on the phone and can usually tell, in less than one sentence, which of my friends is on the other end.  My... Read more

A dancing girl who never dancedThe laughing child who never laughedLittle girl loved, but never kissedFlashing eyes which never sparkledTiny hands which never held minePerfect lips which didn’t smile Aching parents you did not seeMourning siblings you never knewA birthday of tragedyAnnual remembrance of pain Pray for us, our daughterOur sister Our saintOur Bernadette Bernadette Marie Frechdied July 1, 2006  born July 6, 2006 Read more

My sister-in-law, nephew and niece are visiting us for the next week while my brother is away for work.  I’m thrilled to have them here. The kids are great and well-behaved, a joy to have in ourhome…but my sister-in-law…I don’t know how to explain how much I like having her here. I still remember the first time I spoke with her on the phone.  My brother called from Germany to tell me that he had fallen in love, did I... Read more

Thank you to the intrepid LarryD for helping me with the book I am forever working on writing.  His honesty and good advice have finally gotten me to a place where I can begin.  It’s “not the beginning of the end, but the end of the beginning” maybe..I hope.  If you don’t yet read Acts of the Apostasy, you should.  He’s a great writer.  He’s also a nice guy who has been roped into reading the frightening story of my... Read more

Thank you to Joe from Defend Us In Battle  for awarding me the St Michael Warrior Award for Defense of the Faith “FOR EXCEPTIONALLY VALOROUS ACTION IN THE FACE OF OVERWHELMING ODDS AND DIRECT HOSTILE AGGRESSIONS.”  Head on over there and read his entire proclamation, it’s pretty cool. I am so truly humbled by this recognition from a blogger for whom I have such great respect.  Too often, we feel as if we are fighting our battles alone.  It is... Read more

Happy Independence Day to all my American readers!  How long has it been since you read the Declaration of Independence?  High school?  College?  Have you ever read the whole thing all the way through?  Take a moment now and read it all, this statement which changed the world.   I am forever in awe over the words of Jefferson fueled by the energy and tenacity of Adams. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that... Read more

This afternoon was dedicated to potato salad, hot German potato salad.  I love it, and could easily eat the entire bowlful myself.  For this reason, I only make it when I’m taking it somewhere else. It’s one of those delightful recipes  which begin “brown a pound of bacon.”  How can anything be bad which begins with a whole pound of bacon? When the bacon perfume wafted from the kitchen to the rest of the house, #2 came wandering in looking... Read more

Politics seem to be appropriate for 4th of July weekend. From New Zeal: “You know what my biggest fear is?” our host asked. “It’s not really Obama, for what he’s done is to accelerate what the liberals have been slowly doing for decades – so quickly that their socialism is obvious to everyone. Which means the solution is obvious to everyone. My biggest fear is that voters will give Republicans the power to repair America on November 2nd – and... Read more

Earlier this week, I screwed my courage to the sticking place and went down to the school district to enroll #3 in the public school.  I had such anxiety over the perception that these government employees would have about our parenting decisions, specifically our choice to homeschool and our objections to certain vaccines. My fears were confirmed when the chipper woman on the other side of the enrollment counter asked, “Did you bring his transcript from his other school and... Read more

I went to a dinner party a few weeks back which had an interesting twist.  We were to tell no one our real jobs, but only tell the job we dreamed of having when we were children.  I met an astronaut, a fashion designer, a butterfly princess, and a movie star that night.  It was the most fun I’ve had in ages. Who was I?  I was the Egyptologist who became the first woman President of the United States.  And... Read more