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sixteen. a birthday post.
I was 29 years old, just hours away from turning 30, when I met her for the first time. It was a terribly long, incredibly painful delivery. And yes, I have pretty much forgotten exactly how it really felt, although if I let myself, I can remember enough. We had two names picked out for her. We had decided to…
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five finds friday (the best popcorn, a great sermon, ear cuffs and we need a new funny show)
The entire family knew, going into the summer, that this week would be a wild one. Art camp for one. Math classes all week for two. Birthday party. School planning session. And all the regular stuff. Jobs. Meals. And my dad visiting us too. It’s been a good week but I’m thankful to see the weekend around the corner. funny…
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swipe left.
Every once in a blue moon, I let myself get a little distracted and I wander down the virtual aisles of Bumble. Okay – twice. I have done this twice. If you don’t know what Bumble is – you’re pretty lucky. It’s a free dating app where people create a brief profile to find other people interested in dating. In…
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fast forward: pause: resume
I have not spent much time over here in weeks. (I miss it.) The summer has been F U L L . I was lamenting to a friend with children of similar age recently: Remember when we decided some activity for our family and everyone got in the car and did that activity together because there was no such thing…
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Six Steps to Hiking & Adventuring With Kids
I like traveling with my kids. I like taking adventures with my children. I like hikes and being outside and going places with them. (This is beginning to sound like some sort of confessional. Are you waiting for the “however” or the “but”?) Exploring with my family has always been on the top of my list of favorite activities. This…
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five finds friday (except it’s four because I ran out of time)
Every stage of parenting has its perks – and its disadvantages. With a newborn, you’re sleep deprived. But – when you place the baby on your bed, she cannot go anywhere else. With a toddler, diaper changes are disgusting – but the phrases and words they say are hysterically funny and worth daily recording. With teenagers – they’re good at…
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I don’t understand
Tuesday happened. Like it’s been doing each week for a long time. And I woke up and I looked at Facebook and I saw a post about a former student. A fellow I knew when he was in my high school English class. Maybe fifteen years ago. On the right track. A good kid. Honest. Reliable. Responsible. Likable and kind.…
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from the cabin: Bergen Hawkeye at Lost Valley
He doesn’t know I am watching him. My fourteen year old son. I’m on the porch, settled on the porch swing. Basha blanket from home wrapped around me because of the surprisingly low temperatures. Hot tea in a Lost Valley mug by my side. Pen. Notebook. It’s all good. He’s well below the cabin. Waiting for his friend to exit…
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going dark . . .
It’s funny that we have a phrase for this. That “going dark” can be seen in so many different lights. (I make puns as if it were my job. Even when it’s not my job.) When I was planning for our trip to Colorado and Utah, I was talking with my Travelers Rest Here Intern/IG Diva/Really Gigantic Helper about what…
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five finds friday (the right ice, a great kid, gorgeous views)
I’m not sure how quality this Five Finds can be this week. I never enjoy the return to the work week after a fantastic vacation – but this week has been extra The Worst. Talk about Slow Motion. That’s my speed currently. Or backwards. That speed too. Can’t seem to kick the sickies and don’t love dwelling on it. So…
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still here …..
After leaving the ranch we spent a pretty glorious and adventure filled couple of days trekking it together through Utah. Over the Rocky Mountains, to a handful of Utah’s famous National Parks. We spent a day each at Arches, Bryce and Zion and a short spell at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. We saw landscape – in the…
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returning …
Even when your real life is one you actually enjoy, it’s painfully difficult to leave a place as dreamy as Lost Valley Ranch. It is absolutely a place of genuine connections, set aside agendas, zero emails – and, of course – laughter and luxury. Naturally, having someone else make your bed is far better than making it yourself. (And they…
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here we go ….
School is out. We’re packing these boots up and heading to the ranch. It’s a mess up in here trying to gather all we need for a (very) long drive across this beautiful U.S. Kids requested “mommy meals” based on a story in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. And I don’t know when you’ll hear from me again…
