The five of us knelt by the couch in our family room. Our hair was blonder and our skin more tan than three months before when summer began. Now it was the night before school started back in session. The eve of routine and alarm clocks. My husband asked if I’d be the one to pray aloudContinue reading “Together.”
Category Archives: Parenting
Snail Spa
I’ve heard it said that no lake vacation is complete without a man-made snail habitat. Er, something like that. But I can’t argue with the saying, because it certainly rang true for us. While spending a week with our extended family, my daughters and their cousin not only discovered the snails in the shallow water ofContinue reading “Snail Spa”
Old News.
I call it the “preemptive strike.” I don’t actually say that term aloud, but I use it in my own head in order to feel like I am in some form of command as a mother. It sounds so official and impressive. The preemptive strike will look something like this. At bedtime, I will inform my son aboutContinue reading “Old News.”
My Summer (Guilt) Trip
The lobby of the dorm where we’d been staying as a family during the summer camp my husband was directing was loud and crowded. Teenagers laughed and chatted in little groups as they played cards, took selfies, and ate the ice cream sandwiches provided as the official late night snack before the mandatory “lights out”Continue reading “My Summer (Guilt) Trip”
Poolside Catch and Release
My torso. That’s the indicator for me. When I’m deep enough in cold pool water for it to hit my torso, that’s when it really takes my breath away. At this particular moment, I actually was that deep in the community pool as my daughters splashed and giggled around me. They were seemingly unaware of theContinue reading “Poolside Catch and Release”
A Glutton For Grace
I drew in a deep breath and then let it out quickly. I pushed my lips firmly together and shut my eyes while I clenched my fists. Why was I so angry? It was a pile of toys, for crying out loud. And it was in the basement where the kids are supposed to playContinue reading “A Glutton For Grace”
How Do You Teach Your Kids About The Bible?
Pastors’ kids. You know the ones. Stereotypically, they come in one of two forms. Either they’re sporting black finger nail polish, tattoos, and piercings making them look as holey as Swiss cheese, or they’re the other kind of holy. Perfect little angels who have the New Testament memorized and have a rainbow-colored collection of WWJDContinue reading “How Do You Teach Your Kids About The Bible?”
My Heart Will Go On.
Author Elizabeth Stone is quoted as saying, “Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.” I would add that watching the kindergarten-sized version of that heart get on the bus for the first time is just plain painful. AtContinue reading “My Heart Will Go On.”
8 Things My Dad Taught Me
It happened again just recently. A new friend was asking about my family and when she learned that my dad was the pastor at a local church she said, “Oh! You’re Denny’s daughter?!” Yep. I’m Denny’s daughter. I’ve been known that way all of my life. It used to get on my nerves to beContinue reading “8 Things My Dad Taught Me”
What A Mess.
I jolted upright in my bed awakened from a deep sleep by the sound of crying. I clumsily got up and walked down the hall in a stupor. The crying was coming from the Pepto Bismol pink bedroom of my girls. As I entered I continued to hear wailing sounds, saw two pj clad girlsContinue reading “What A Mess.”
Christy Cabe 