Since my first child was born, I have treasured our Easter family traditions. Indeed, Easter is my favorite holiday. So it seemed odd to me that our farm’s one-year anniversary fell on Easter Sunday. Almost sacrilegious. Easter: my most treasured holiday, filled with priceless memories. A taped oven door, holding in the resurrection cookies (delicious, hollow, […]
By Faith, Till the Work is Done Read More »
My sweet labradoodle is the smartest, most loyal dog I’ve owned. His loyalty is deeper than deserved. But training my dog to like my birds? For that I do deserve some credit. As I type tonight, my labradoodle is a black-and-gray-streaked crescent curled at my feet. His long nose wraps across his front paw to lie down parallel with my right
Training My Dog to Like My Birds in 5 simple steps Read More »
This Christmas, I’ll only have a few simple gifts to prop under the tree for each family member. But my life is overflowing with rich bounty, and my heart is overflowing with thankfulness. Thankfulness that my children will all be under our roof together, after I pick up my eldest from the bus station this afternoon. Thankfulness that
Following God’s lead in your life is a hard concept, on every level. And our family’s move from suburbia to rural life was a very long, difficult one. But one thing I know, from (reluctant) personal experience, again and again? If you want God’s direction in your life, ask. Truth is, He directs us even
Our move from suburbia to rural life Read More »
As I jammed the plant stems into brown paper bags, I doubted my attempt at drying herbs in a paper bag would be fruitful. But when late-summer nights ushered in chilly thoughts and earlier evenings, I knew I had to do something with my daughters’ plethora of herbs before Frost made them worthless with her silver-coated, suffocating touch. DISCLOSURE: This
5 Simple Steps to Drying Herbs in a Paper Bag Read More »
When we, as parents and teenagers together, roll up our sleeves and delve into a project around our homestead, everyone tends to be pleasantly surprised at the outcomes.
5 Reasons We Should Tackle a Project With Our Teens Read More »
“Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” Or so Anton Chekhov wrote. I’m reminded of the quote as I scratch “Harvest Moon” on a Sunday square of the calendar. As a writer, I wholeheartedly agree with the Russian author. As a teacher, I instruct my students to interrogate all of
Don’t Miss this Autumn Jewel: the Harvest Moon Read More »
There are so many days, in so many ways, when I feel inadequate. Days that assure me I can stretch out in the cool, dew-covered morning grass? I need them. Days that promise me I can watch the clouds conga across the bright azul field of sky for as long as I choose to? I need them. Days
Fight Your Feelings of Inadequacy Read More »
Here I am again. My knuckles are white, my heels are dug in, and my teeth are clenched. Every year I seem to grasp onto fleeting summer days with a little more passion. Maybe because time as a whole, regardless of the season, is slipping faster as I get older. Maybe because summer on our little homestead,
A Feathered Iambic Poem Read More »
In The Book Thief, Markus Zusak describes words as “clouds, waiting to be held and wrung out like rain.” Zusak is right. When dropped gently–like summer-day raindrops–or strung together painstakingly, on tip-toe, the perfect combination of words rumble through one moment of our life and never leave. But did you notice what Zusak did with his allegory? Much to my
Loving science, even if you’re a Language-Arts-kinda mom Read More »
