As you probably know, having a career and being a parent has its challenges. Yesterday, my 10-year old son and our 7-year old friend, and I went to the Word studios on Music Row in downtown Nashville to record character voices for an upcoming Christmas musical I just finished writing for Word. (Other people wrote […]
You Try Being a Voiceover Artist- and a Mom Read More »
On the morning of my third son’s 8th birthday, he was determined to get rid of the old to make room for the new. It was a painful process, fraught with stops and starts, tenacity and even…blood. Eek! But then, for many of us, the process of getting rid of the old to make room for the
Out With the Old, In With the New Read More »
I’m just a middle-class country girl. I don’t own a fancy gown, and if we ever have steak, we have to use our steak knives to cut it. Chew it long enough and we call it “steak gum.” With 4 boys and 5 pets, I do things like clean stinky feet with wipies and walk
The Night we had a Ball- in the ER Read More »
Last week I spoke at the Global Summit on “Symbolic Power.” Sounds heady. But it’s really simple. Take a trip with me through a few of my favorite symbols… Symbols: God-given elements of communication that we can use to represent something deeper- to create a link between the physical and spiritual worlds to point to Jesus. Like
(click audio bar above to listen to this post) Your birthday is your day to be selfish. Eat your favorite breakfast on the couch with your purring cat on your lap, no chores, your favorite activities, and everyone serves you what you want the way you want it, right? At least…that’s what I’ve always thought. To
The Birthday Boy who Served Thanksgiving Dinner Read More »
Good character. It’s gotta start somewhere. This week, as we honor the lives of our Veterans, I’m struck by the character of those like my uncle Lance and my brother-in-law Todd who have been willing to serve our country. Courageous, loyal, sacrificial team-players, proudly fighting to protect the red-white-and blue so that we can live
How to Persuade Good Character in Our Kids for the Future of America Read More »
My trunk is full of groceries as I pull up to the corner and turn on my blinker. Out of the corner of my eye I see a man standing near me, leaning on a cane, wearing a black coat and a hat to ward off the cold wind. He’s selling newspapers for $1. I
My Interview with “Red”- a Corner Newspaper Salesman Read More »
“Don’t worry, I’ll walk you to your class,” I reassure my almost-kindergartener. But he shakes his head. “Nah, I got this, Mom. I know where my class is.” Really? Now, I realize he has the same teacher his 3 older brothers had and he’s been to her class a hundred times. But still, I “fake
What Every Mom Needs to Hear on the First Day of Kindergarten Read More »
(to hear me read this post, click on the audio bar above) It’s 7:15 am. Too early for a drama rehearsal. But this isn’t drama. This is life. “Let me hear you say ‘No,’” I direct my kids at the breakfast table. One says a sheepish, ”No,” while looking down at his cereal. Another
4 Steps to Teach Your Kids to Say “No” to Protect Themselves from Harm Read More »
“Mom, I’m going to stop saying, ‘Um,’ starting now,” my 11-year old declares one night as I tuck him into bed. He then begins to tell me about his day. “So, mom, um…oh come on!” I smile, “Try it again.” “I really had fun today at the game when, um…oh rats!” “It’s hard, isn’t it?” He
3 Steps to Cure Your Ums Read More »