Without fail, after the lesson with her beloved teacher, my 8 year old loves violin. Without fail, after a recital she also loves violin. Without fail, when she plays with other kids who play violin, and they have fun together, she is swelling with pride about her ability. this video is too dark, but you can…
Category: children
the story
because perhaps i have been here so long, the story can’t be told without the pictures. and because i have been here for so long, there are so, so many pictures. some so old, you may have seen them before. but regardless, they tell the story of lives. firsts. and of blessing granted. pictures…
Rolling over Redemption (a minimally refined SFD)*
When the kids are bored sometimes I tell them to go hunt ladybugs or to go roll over a rock to see what is there. I don’t know, it works for me, that rock rolling over thing. Except now I get more complicated, I want to roll over the rock of what is the difference…
The Atrium
This girl is interacting with the Good Shepherd work. The parable of the Good Shepherd is rich with significance for a child from the ages 3 to 6, as they come to know God as a protector with deep love for them. I have tried for two years to begin talking about something that I…
Prayer for the awkward August sunshine on a Sad day.
When speaking to the maker, it’s a restful time. No shortage of gratitude begins the time together. With friends too. Just all the good. There are good things everywhere! Back rubs, picking fruit with kiddos, doing art, new school years and new jobs… vacations and new things. But tonight has blown in a distinct, old, familiar……
Being Silenced
This post is about being a female in the United States. It’s different here than in other places, because we expect that we will be treated a certain way: with equality. But it is not different here than other places in that our country by and large is run by older, usually white men. And…
Prayer for some small things, and some big things.
An author I thoroughly appreciate is Brian Doyle. He wrote Mink River and The Plover. I haven’t read one of those, but the one I did read I wished it would never end. He is a Portland author and his book took part on the Oregon coast, which is a place that has some magic…
The example of non perfection and mistake making
My kids, I fear, might never learn from me the fine art of a good conversation, or the capacity to feel confident in any situation, or a knack for tidiness or well-appointed clothes or home furnishings, but they will be comfortable with non-perfection. The perpetual overabundance of one and underabundance of another… They will be…
August
August is a beautiful time of the year. The rest of the calendar waits for August. Like honey it arrives so slowly, and lasts never quite long enough… but while August is here the indulgences that might have to be stolen the rest of the year are welcome, right and timely. The ice cream outing…
Graduating.
Traveler, there is no road.
Make the road by going.
By going, you make the way
Playing Candyland.
When a 6-year old calls out to you, “Let’s play Candyland!”, how do you respond? Someone in our house is continually trying to throw Candyland away. Trying to convince the kids they are “too old for Candyland,” (whaaat?) Perhaps the most important part of my job these days is saying, “Ok, Candyland, not Uno?” and…
At the Trappist Abbey, my shorty ‘n me
Sunny fall Friday’s are priceless. When the wind is low, the temperature is not too cold and the leaves are all just the right color. It is the best time of year for taking pictures, no other time of year has such color and lighting. I also miss exploring new places desperately, and the opportunities…
