The Almighty Does Great Things For Me

I’m a cynic and when I hear stories about “miracles” that involve somebody with an awful life getting a small bit of something they need, I tend to think, “Hmmm, seems like if God really cared, that person wouldn’t have cystic fibrosis in the first place. Good job, God! You gave a dying girl a puppy! Don’t do ME any favors.” Yes, it is just as bad as it sounds. But, the good news is that God wants to woo me, and he’s figured out how. All of a sudden, out of nowhere, he’s given me a grateful heart. I asked him for one, rather halfheartedly, knowing that I’m often irritated by people with thankful hearts for seeming so out of touch with the ratio of good to bad in their lives. But I risked it, and asked for...

7 Super Quick Takes

  1 Zoe is starting to stretch her sleep out. Last night we were up to 6.5 hours before she needed to nurse. Woot!   2. Wolfie looked so happy when I was reading him a letter he received that I said, “Does it make you so happy to get mail?” and he responded, “No, you make me so happy!” What a three-year-old… 3. I babysat for my 1-year-old nephew today and got to experience life with 3 kids. If I had a high chair set up to plop my nephew in during lunch, I would have found the three of them easier than my regular two because Wolfie was busy playing with his cousin, instead of demanding every drop of my attention. I think we’ll shoot for a third baby to be born about the time Zoe is able to feed herself. 4.) I am so...

Toddler Rules

Why do the MommyWars go on?

There are 2 types of MommyWars. My kid is more ____ than your kid. With infants, we all want the kid who is the biggest or the smallest, the best or the worst sleeper, some sort of superlative. It isn’t enough that we have a child of God with an immortal soul suddenly gifted to our care; we need this kid to be “more special” than other kids, even though God made those kids too. You’re Doing It All Wrong. Pick a battle: bottle or breast; co-sleep or crib; disposable or cloth diapers; attachment parenting or child abuse (just kidding); stay-at-home or work; plan your kids meticulously or fill your quiver; etc. In short, for every snarky MommyWar post you read, it can be categorized as either Competitive Parenting or Judging As Sport. I...

What I’m learning about hosting a party

I live in a small house. It’s about 1100 square feet, about half of that taken up by bedrooms. So, when I decide to host a party for the 24 relatives who live within five minutes of my house, it takes some consideration. Here are things I’ve learned: When your combined kitchen/dining room is one of the two rooms available to guests, plan a menu that allows you to put the food out and stack the dirty dishes for later. No matter what your mother says, you do not need to serve a menu that includes multiple roasts and vegetable sides. Borrow extra chairs and card tables if possible. Serve foods that can be eaten while seated but not at a table. Place food and drink buffets so that traffic does not crash in on itself. There should be a way of getting from...

What you need to plan a family

Today I was looking at an online ad for Walgreens, and noticed a section of it was for “Sexual Wellness.” It said, “Save on products to enhance intimacy and plan a family.” The products in this category are: Condoms & Contraceptives Lubricants & Moisturizers Vibrators & Adult Toys Mood Setters Sexual Wellness Supplements Intimate Care (douche, medications, tampons, waxing) I am trying to figure out how one could use most of these items to “enhance intimacy” or “plan a family.” Of course lubrication is helpful for couples who need it, and treating a yeast infection could theoretically enhance sexual satisfaction or fertility. But the fact is, 95% of what is listed in this category is aimed at reducing...