When my Tim was in the academy, the cadets learned the importance of the nine core values. I would wager a bet that my Tim lived by those core values before he entered the academy, but having them drilled into his head and tying every action he took to one of those core values really…
Tag Archive: faith
Holidays
Over the last couple of years, we’ve found that while we still “do” the holidays, they look a little different for us. Where we hide the eggs is much more accessible. Our schedule is much more rigid as we keep to cathing and bowel management programs. Our meals are different as we adjust to allergies….
Cookie decorating 101
Decorate cookie. Eat cookie. Lick up spilled sprinkles. Repeat.
Messy
Every evening, we gather around the table, eat dinner, talk about our day, and read a little bit. This December, we are reading about the Jesse Tree and each evening after dinner, the kids all get a small gift. By small, I mean, a roll of lifesavers. A pez dispenser. Silly putty. Those sorts of…
The club
Note: Originally posted over at the HennHouse. I had no intention of re-posting this piece here. But chaos in the 12-year-old’s life, a non-reported plugged up toilet in the kids bathroom, and tomato plants that are angry that I’ve kept them in too-small pots for far too long have all beckoned me away from the…
We stand
Tonight, I sat on the sideline of soccer practice and watched as my eight-year-old son and my 34-year-old Tim ran around with another dad and a bunch of other soccer kids learning and playing. I had no reason to be there. It wasn’t a game. Barely a practice as they raced the weather to learn…
Heartprints
We stood at the kitchen island. She was in the learning tower, “mixing.” I was next to her. I think I was making a pie. We worked silently for a while, with breaks for instruction or laughter. I’m pretty sure we both had our hair pulled back. It was Saturday. I looked over at my…
New and routine
It feels surreal I watch her bravery slip as her lips quiver and her eyes fill with tears while Nick twists and turns measures and adjusts Am I dreaming? Watching her stiffly walk as her hair moves in the breeze she creates assessing her mechanized steps for the smallest abnormality or trouble or quirk Isn’t…
Never
I crouched right next to her in the bright, colorful hallway. A physiatrist and a physical therapist followed closely. Making notes on their charts. Nodding at each other. Carefully assessing what I was doing with my daughter. Betty, the physical therapist crouched down with us and put her hands on Esther-Faith’s waist. She quietly and…
Caterpillar birthday
As the wrappings and ribbons settle from her fabulous caterpillar birthday, I look at my daughter, sleeping on the couch, with WALL-E in one hand and EVA in the other, snuggled under her new caterpillar quilt. She is a beautiful sight. Just hours ago, she was excited to be wearing her “birthday dress” and eating…