Friends, The countdown to baby is winding down rather quickly over here! We've reached 10 days until the due date! My husband and I are so excited (and ALL of the other feelings, too!) about the weeks ahead. I'll be sure to keep you posted, as you've all journeyed with me to this point! This month at Red Tent Living, the theme is: "What Does This Mean?" I'm honored to share my piece with you, entitled, "Drawing a Blank." You can read a portion of it here, but it is published in its . . .
Realizing the Actual Dream: Inviting Others In
My best friend is due with her first child (a girl!) just six weeks before my first child (a girl!) is due. I remember calling her shortly after finding out I am pregnant to tell her the news. “Oh, Mal,” she exclaimed, “This is the dream!” And it was. We’d been talking for months about potentially entering motherhood. We were both very aware that after all the conversations we’d had with our spouse and emotional energy we exerted to make a decision as huge as this one, there was still the . . .
Guest Post: Lessons in Love
My latest piece for Red Tent Living is up! This month, their theme is, "Do You Love Me?" Here's where that prompt took me: Lessons in Love Growing up, I loved playing “house.” I’d run around the basement pretending to be cooking, cleaning, and going on dates with my “boyfriend.” Everything in my game of adulthood was easy and lighthearted. There was rarely any conflict or hardship, which might be why his words, spoken fifteen years ago, cut me so deeply. I can remember exactly where I stood . . .
The Aluminum Foil Story
By my husband, Darren For us, it was aluminum foil. We all have either participated in or have heard stories of ridiculous fights between couples. They can range from how to eat pizza, the arrangement of remote controls, or Jello preparation (my parents, God bless them). A little annoyance, grown over time, can trigger legendary explosions for a couple. Mal and I had been dating for less than a year when we knew that we were in it for the long haul. We both came out of tough relationships . . .
Silent Intermissions
I love words. Every day, I am putting words together in speech or in writing. With words, I and my work come to life. In order to have a sufficient output of words, I have to have enough input. So I read a lot of books and articles and I listen to podcasts and music, because I cannot be a hollow writer. I have to be filled in order to offer anything. Oh, and then there’s the social media—do we all have an ambivalent relationship with it?—where I can keep up with the happenings of my friends, . . .
Guest Post: Questions Worth Asking
I'm so excited to share that I'm now a regular monthly contributor over at Red Tent Living! This month, their theme is, "What If?" Here's where that prompt took me: Questions Worth Asking Growing up, my siblings and I had a narrow summertime wardrobe: pajamas and bathing suits. Our days were spent playing in our backyard pool—Marco Polo, DIY whirlpools, and cannonball contests.These were fun and relaxing days, but life wasn’t all carefree for me. I learned how to worry at a young age. I still . . .