After running around all afternoon, the last thing I wanted to do was prepare dinner.  I had about twenty minutes to whip something up.  Hmm, I thought, what could I make that’s healthy, organic, gluten free, dairy free, with no partially hydrogenated oils?  My mind drifted.  Wouldn’t life be so much healthier if we could eat like the pioneers did?  They didn’t worry about cholesterol, heart disease, or cancer, to […]

It’s been one of those weeks. I’ve felt busy, out of sorts, even distracted. I’ve not been able to put my finger on it. To figure out what makes me want to burst into tears for no reason at all. Or yell at my sweet kiddos for something minor. And today, Thursday, I figured it out. My belief system is being tested. My faith is being tried. I don’t like […]

It’s 10:56 am on Wednesday morning. The phone rings. Caller ID reveals it’s Taste of Home cooking magazine. Slightly panicking. I think I’ve been receiving Taste of Home for a year now without paying. Deep breath. And after a brief moment of visualizing I’m incarcerated for not paying this debt, I answer. Hello. “Hello. Mrs. Key-on-nae Please.” This is. Why bother correcting the gross mispronunciation of our name—especially if I’m […]

There’s a Christian radio station I have listened to for years. They boast about their positive and encouraging content. And it’s true. If you are looking for positive and encouraging radio, this is your station—even the news takes on a similar spin. I’ve hit my wall with said station. Yep. Don’t get me wrong. I love Christian music and I love the message in Christian music, but I can only […]

Remember the scene from Father of the Bride when George Banks (the father) takes his soon-to-be son-in-law out for a drink?  The purpose of the dreaded outing is because Annie (the bride) is having doubts about her impending wedding, worrying if she’s made a mistake.  George walks into the bar with every intention to talk Bryan out of marrying his daughter, but then he takes pity on him, and quite […]

Conversation One Izzy:  Mom, If I had an electric toothbrush I think I would brush my teeth more. Mom:  Do you brush them now? Izzy:  Well, not two times a day, and sometimes zero times. (She’s dancing around and giggling like this is something to be proud of.) Mom: Oh? This is news to me, but not shocking. Mom:  Izzy, it’s so important to brush your teeth—at least once a […]

Last night I noticed a beautiful lightening display out to the east.  It wasn’t the dangerous kind, like the storm produced a week ago.  It was pretty.  And given the distance from us, it was safe to watch outside.  I called the family and we sat on the porch laughing, talking and taking in the beautiful show nature had produced.  Then the strangest thing happened. Matt started noticing some neglected […]

I’m sure you’ve had those parenting moments where you secretly pat yourself on the back for the great job you are doing with your own children.  Usually those moments creep up on us when we witness someone else’s children behaving miserably.  I had this experience recently.  It went something like this. We had decided to take Matt (Dad) for an early Father’s Day Getaway Weekend.  We didn’t go far, just […]

On a recent drive to run errands, I made a comment about a, shall I say, slower driver.  After I said it, I realized my error and apologized to Izzy who was staring contently out the backseat window. She replied, “That’s okay Mom.  We all are judging sometimes.” Well I wouldn’t have put it that way, but yes, you are probably right, NINE YEAR OLD.