A friendly reminder to myself - in my silly, injured state (cut my thumb doing chores and now have five stitches and a non-workable thumb) - and to all the mama friends trying to make Christmas magical for their families.. don't be a Grinch in the process. Slow down. Take a breath. Maybe five minutes. Turn off the lights and stare at the...

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On my 33rd birthday, I woke to an early morning text invitation... to go hike Mount Nittany with my sister (a homeschooling mama) + her four little girls, plus their friends (also homeschoolers). It would seem that I had a choice to make -- I could do the planned birthday thing... which, truth be told, was no plan at all during the daytime...

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It has been a rainy week and a half in the soul for me. Many hours spent holding a sick, not-so-sick and then just plain teething baby (tooth #6 has appeared!). Days filled with doing the right thing by postponing social engagements and then wondering why I am not getting anything else done. Yesterday, the babe was happier and I reorganized the pantry...

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Hold those memories. Clutch them tightly. Fasten them in your heart like a chain of gold. They are precious, treasured, invaluable. I am trying to experience life and not just live through it. In this fast-paced world of getting-ahead and this motherhood season of getting-by, I am focusing on getting it.... getting the memories, the smiles, the laughs, the heart-joy of looking into...

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After our planned vacation-week-in-the-mountains was cancelled in lieu of meetings with Brandon's advisor (not that I'm complaining, we got a graduate assistantship out of it!), we decided to reschedule for a short-n-sweet Labor Day weekend at the cabin. I am learning to adjust my expectations for vacation to simply rest, read and spend time together.... And that's exactly what we did. Lots and...

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