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What You Want
One morning recently London approached me and out of the blue stated, “Mom, God just doesn’t do what you want.” What? “What do you mean?” I asked. “Well, last night I prayed for God to shut the door and I waited and He just never did it.” I didn’t laugh. Because I didn’t think it was funny. I thought she was right. Sometimes God just doesn’t do what we want. Period. I didn’t try to convince London that God does do just what we ask. Because I don’t think that’s true. And she is young, not dumb. I didn’t try to explain that her demand was illogical. Because to her,…
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Come on, London!
So I was sweeping the kitchen floor. Underneath the table I spotted a container of sour cream with no lid and a spoon sitting in it. I picked up the container, knowing it would be empty when I looked inside. It was. I don’t know a lot about a lot of things, but I know a lot about my kids. And I didn’t even have to really waste brain power to know exactly why an empty sour cream container was underneath our kitchen table. I called London from wherever she was playing. “London, did you take this sour cream container and sit underneath the table and eat the rest of…
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The Peacemaker
It is both curious and humbling to watch your children develop traits and characteristics on their own. London Eli is growing into quite the Peacemaker or Conflict-Avoider. She seems to be always keeping her eyes open for opportunities to smooth over situations between her siblings before conflicts get out of hand. At a recent lunch at the lodge, after Bergen finishes his allotted one cup of juice, London quickly observes his sadness and near emotional breakdown as he asks for more juice and gets a parental refusal. Before he hits the floor, London says, “Hey Berg, I have some juice left. Would you like to finish mine?” Conflict avoided. On…
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Are You Happy?
I wrote this piece when London was a toddler. Enjoy. “Are you happy, Mommy?” It’s a question my two and a half year old daughter asks repeatedly throughout the day. I’m not sure where she first heard it or why it has stuck in her mind so. Who can explain the vast intricacies of the toddler mind? Who would even try? Even though I hear the question a multitude of times in any given day, it still makes me think with each utterance. “Are you happy, Mommy?” Well, the house smells like spilled milk and dirty diapers from you and your two younger siblings. But I guess I’m okay. There…
