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Welcome to October everyone. When it comes to months of the year, I play favorites. October has always been the fair haired month in my life for so many reasons, not the least of which is the occurrence of my birthday during the first week of this extraordinary month. Whether you realize it or not, your mood changes with the seasons, and particular months pour on an extra dose of sentimentality. That’s the way it is for me and October. She is the breath I catch before the over-stimulation of the Holidays; she is the sigh after a busy and blistering summer; she is the pause as I consider the dying of the old in anticipation of new life. On the eve of this magnificent turning, I thought I’d sing the praises of my favorite month and share 10 reasons she has my heart: 1. The weather: The significant drop […]
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Taking tea seems to be a predominantly woman thing. We delight in uninhibitedly slathering lemon curd and clotted cream onto our crumbly, buttery scones. It is an amorous affair, tea and we: sipping unhurriedly the precious ten minutes of leisure we hold between our hands, while a bouquet of aromas carry us off to a more cultivated, courteous time…before freeways, before McDonald’s, before the internet (touché). If the idea of being whisked away to a garden party by a cup of hot tea and a scone seems only appropriate in the springtime to you, I bear good news. Here’s one recipe for an aromatic, surprisingly satisfying Fall morsel to nibble with your cup of take me away. (If that’s not your cup of tea, try these: African Red Tea, Rooibos With Vanilla, Tea Bags, 20-Count Box (Pack of 4), Tazo Matcha Latte Concentrate, or Good Earth Original Caffeine Free […]
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Toddlers are real people. They’re just really small. As a parent, sometimes it may feel as though your not-yet-speaking-tantrum-throwing-picky-eater-toddler is but a little creature (or monster at times!) Yet, you need only stop and think of the last time he mimicked your grimacing frown or repeated your very words to realize he is a rapidly growing, exploring, learning child. This may be when you feel the conviction to turn off the television, get off the phone, and teach your child. We are often daunted by the idea of “teaching” our children, deigning ourselves untrained educators, when there is really no one better than a parent to train up a child in the way he should go. If you are in the preschool stage, here are a few resources that you might find helpful in your journey in teaching and training in the home. I have included the links so that […]
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I was kicked out of the public library last Thursday. Seriously…who gets kicked out of the library? The experience was so traumatic it has taken me several days to process. I had conserved just enough energy to take my three boys to the library following a morning of homeschooling. We had overdue books to return and books needing to be checked out for next week’s studies. It had been a trying week, and my nerves were a little frail already. This was a run in, run out kind of trip. Everybody knows that the library is a quiet place…everyone, I guess, but my one year old, Judah. I don’t know if children can sense a baby-unfriendly environment, but upon arrival, Judah immediately started fussing. The fussing turned into crying; the crying became screeching. I dodged into the restroom hoping to console this restless child, and perhaps convince him of his […]
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A hot pot of tea, a couple of girlfriends, a few platefuls of decadent morsels, a bunch of lilacs, 2-3 uninterrupted hours, and a cheery disposition–a perfect recipe for an afternoon tea. Teatimes are about details…the food, the decor, the conversation. One simple way to make your tea extra special is to unveil your fragrant pot of tea with a pretty tea cozy. What I love about tea is not really the lacey gloves, frilly hats, or the sense of being a socialite, but rather the more accessible version of honoring and indulging my guests (who may be everyday moms) with a beautiful portrait of graciousness through feeling celebrated. Cute and pretty over fussy and elitist. Despite the current popularity of taking tea, it’s surprisingly difficult to find simply elegant but contemporary tea cozies that are functional insulators as well. I’ve recently tried my hand at designing and sewing my […]
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The drapes have been drawn around my heart lately. That’s what it feels like when I struggle with myself in not-so-pretty ways. Shutting others out; keeping everything in. Sometimes I feel as though I have sheer drapes hanging–some kind of guarded transparency. Who can I be real with? Who knows me for who I really am? Is there anyone who sees the Grace through all the griminess? Then I look to the Word, and I remember, once again, that His name is Jesus. I find the curtain not only torn altogether, but unnecessary in the temple of my heart. All the distance and formality created by my self-sufficiency is no longer there, as Christ Himself has made it possible for me to enter into the presence of a Holy God–no veil, no curtain, no guise. Thanks, Lord. Scripture is a never-failing treasury filled with boundless stores of grace. It is […]
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Don’t you love it when your kids say, “I love you.” Sometimes I want to record it and play it back to myself repeatedly when they are acting up! My kids enjoy the book, “Guess How Much I Love You.” The author uses everyday words and experiences to describe the love we feel for one another as parent and child, which often feels too vast for words. The little bunny in the story says, “I love you all the way to the moon,” signifying the furthest distance the child could possibly imagine. The big rabbit in the story then counters, “I love you all the way to the moon, and back.” Caleb, my eldest, soon started making up his own proclamations of love: “Mama, I love you all the way to Mars, and then to Sun and back.” “Wow, Caleb,” I’d say, “you love me that much? Well, I love […]
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I’ve been tagged by my friend Amy to list 8 random things about myself…here goes: 1. I was born in Taiwan, and couldn’t speak English until I was 6 years old. 2. I love multiple flavor combinations all at once; sweet, salty, sour, and spicy is my favorite. 3. I hate to exercise. I don’t see the point in running unless someone is chasing you. 4. I’m very melancholy. I take everything seriously…a little too much so. 5. I love to impersonate people…I know it’s not a classy skill, but I’ve had practice since childhood. 6. I’ve always dreamed of hosting a talk show, writing a cookbook, owning a bed and breakfast, and designing clothes. 7. I love my kids so much I often threaten to eat them. 8. I sang “If We Hold On Together” from the (animated dinosaur) movie, Land Before Time, at my high school graduation ceremony. […]
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