Happy Homes do exist!

Today is Father's Day. I enjoyed seeing so many posts and stories on Instagram dedicated to the great dads in this world.  It made me wonder why we don't do this more often!  I know I hit the jackpot with Brant. He's patient, understanding, and so very helpful. There is no way on earth that I could be the Mom I am without him by my side. And I do love to brag about him! And I know there are so many many great men out there who love their wives deeply. Men who change diapers, and swish underpants, and wipe snotty faces. Men who play basketball with their kids, men who take their daughters dancing or skiing. Men who call their mom every Sunday night to check in on how she's doing. Men who are dedicated to their faith, who pray and worship and teach. Men who spends countless hours shoveling snow for widows; teach their teenagers how to drive; talk and listen when their kids need them the most. Men who hold their temper, even when life isn't fair and they are treated po...

I've gotten really busy with my coursework this summer- it's an 8-week summer session, and my 3-credit course seems to have A LOT of reading expectations (and really long lectures). I'm enjoying the subject matter (intimate relationships) especially as I find research that supports my belief in the sanctity and importance of marriage.  My big presentation that I will create is on the topic of "Building and Maintaining marital intimacy after kids join the equation." So far I've looked through my google photos to find pictures of Brant and I- together without kids, together while I was pregnant, together with one baby, together with a million kids (aka right now). I figured that was easier than trying to find photos on the internet that were accessible to use in my slide presentation. This is the picture (above)  I'm using for the cover of the presentation: a real life, candid shot of how things really are when you have a new baby.  And this is one of my fav...

One of my favorite family priorities is to have dinner together. I was writing a chapter in my book about it, and then my laptop died. So I decided to write about it here. I've done a little digging into current research and the value of family dinner- and it's amazing! Teenagers who reported eating dinner with their family 3-5 times a week are A LOT less likely to experiment with drugs, alcohol, or sex.  There's a lot more neat research. But- for my family, the greatest benefit is the routine closure. We can have a crazy, fun, amazing day out playing on the lake... Or we can have a stressful, tiring, work-filled day at home together- but family dinner is our normal. We come together, eat food (sometimes good, sometimes iffy), and talk about our day.  We like to do what we call a "question of the day." Somebody new chooses the question each day, and it can be anything from, "What's your favorite dessert?" to "What would you do if thi...

Crash course on hashtag use: even if it might mean something good, people will be upset and it might mean something bad. 🤷 And if you choose not to use it, people will be upset. Oh, and you might get fired from your job. I want to write about the current events (riots, protests, hashtag shaming) that are happening in our country.  On one hand I'm so very grateful to live where I do. (This isn't the first time in the past few months that I've thought that!) Country town. Kind people. No major trouble. As far as you can see, the world is at peace. It's easier to forget about the chaos and danger and to enjoy my babies and the sunshine.  On the other hand, I'm distraught by what's happening. I'm happy that voices are being heard. I'm saddened that others are being silenced. Can't we all just be kind? #blackouttuesday is a hashtag I used on my Instagram feed (with a black screen), as a show of support for the voices of black people who need ...

You know what I'm talking about?  The first bit of summer is awesome. Staying home, sleeping in, chilling out. It's everything you want in summer.  And then after a while you start to feel just blah!?  That's usually when it's time for a summer vacation! Or at least a camping trip or visit to the local pool!  Well folks, we figured it out (Christopher and I). The last two months were a kind of summer break of sorts... And now we've hit the doldrums.  The problem is, it isn't even summer yet!  We're missing out on all the excitement of school getting out next week, because for reals it got out two months ago! It's no big deal now! And we're NOT leaving on a jet plane to Orlando, Florida like we were supposed to be! Instead we're hanging out at home. Doing chores. Feeding chickens and pigs. Trying to come up with stuff to do to fill our days. And we've already done it all.  Christopher is 12. He's been such a trooper through all...

This guy learned a little bit about dealing with grief and frustration today.  He's been begging for years to be able to raise a pig for 4-H. This year we finally let them.  This morning when he went out to feed them he found his had died. We don't know why. They said she had not been eating much yesterday, and she had some kind of sore on her leg. But, nothing conclusive.  He is a tough boy. I worried he might take it out on his siblings today, but he hasn't. They're discussing options for sharing fair money, but he doesn't like the idea too much. He said he wants either "his pig or no pig!" I feel bad for him. I really do, as much as I don't like the stinky pigs and don't like dealing with having animals. It's not fair that it had to be his that died, when both of his brothers didn't care about doing it quite as much.  I wonder if as parents we're doing it right. But I think we are. A hug. A gentle, "I'm sorry....

I'm writing a book.  This is one draft of one portion of one chapter.  I want your feedback.  Anybody who comments and tells me what they think can have a free, signed copy of the book once it's published. ;) ... .. . Years ago, when I was a new mom, I attended a class during a women’s night. The presenter talked about the importance of putting your shoes and socks on first thing when you wake up in the morning; and putting on make up and doing your hair. As I listened I remember taking note that I’d have to try better at that (all the while my subconscious was thinking, “Are you freaking kidding me? That’s never going to happen! I can barely drag myself out of bed to kiss my husband goodbye before he leaves for work, praying that the baby will keep sleeping!”) I will forever be grateful for my friend who sat next to me. She was a seasoned mother of six children, whom I admired and looked up to. She leaned over and whispered in my ear, “I never do that. It just matter...