Marking a Season

I miscarried nine days before our 15th anniversary. There we sat, across the table at a little cafe, drinking coffee together.  Our six living children were home with a friend who gave us the day together to celebrate our marriage. The week before, Randy and I had privately laid the whisper of a body down…

30 Day Poetry Challenge

I love reading poetry.  When I read in poetry, I start thinking in poetry.  And this is always exciting.  Until I start speaking in poetry, and people start looking at me like I’m weird. About three years ago, I gave myself a challenge: to write and post an original poem a day for 30 days…

Make Something Every Day Continues…

I love the Make Something Every Day idea.  It might be revolutionizing my life.  This week, I spent three days cleaning out my scary laundry room (when I say scary, I mean SCARY, as any of {and ONLY} my dearest friends can tell you).  Not many people are allowed to look into this room.  I…

Staying Creative While Raising a Family

Our fourth child, Remy, was born 15 days ago.  Life is starting to even out into a normal routine–although we are still eating off of paper plates and (thanks to dear, generous friends and family), I have yet to cook a meal for our family of six since he was born.  I am recovering really…

Journaling, or The Story of My Life

When I was in kindergarten, my brother found my diary.  I remember it distinctly, because he paraded around the house with it, reading aloud, as if he were reading Shakespeare, “I do not know (emphatic pause…) if I am in love…”  I was so embarrassed that I grabbed the book and threw it behind my…