The M&M Story

It's time to start blogging again. It has a been crazy, crazy year with summer now upon us, and I'm excited to be with my family. Ice tea and gardening. Family projects and travels. Movies and books. And so many stories already. At some point at the inception of summer break, Max and Todd had an interesting interchange that has evolved into a family summer reading challenge. Max, an avid reader, says to Todd, rather randomly: You know how you say you don't read very much, Dad?  Todd: Um, yes? Max: Well, maybe you should read more. I challenge you to read ten books this summer. If you read ten, I will pay you a reward. Max is so much like Brian! We can lose him for hours, only to find him either with his head buried in an engaging book or in a delicious game of Minecraft. This challenge sparked quite the conversation, and it evolved into all four of us planning to read ten books this summer. In partners (Max-Todd, Briggs-Susan), we decided each will choose five books f

Todd has been in the water since he was four, with summer leagues, winter leagues, high school swim team, even lifeguarding. My boys, on the other hand, prefer playing at the pool in the summer, maybe with a few lessons thrown in the mix. This summer, however, we abandoned our safe little pool play and entered into the world of summer swim team.  Oy. Last spring, Todd accepted a position to be the head coach at a local swim and tennis club , one that his grandparents actually founded. And part of the deal when he decided to do this was that the boys would have to swim on the team for at least one season. We explained to them that many of the swimmers swam year round and all had been on a swim team before. The boys were definitely the newbies. Fine, they said. We'll do it. Early morning practices and lane rope set-ups; 50 free, 50 breast and relays; diving off the block and DQ's---so many new things to learn and new experiences to grow and shape us. All of us. I consider m

The past few weeks, I've had the absolute pleasure of editing my son's fifth grade recognition video. We were brand new to this school last year, and it hasn't been the easiest year of our lives. Adjustments, navigating through change, making new friends--it can be taxing, intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. We've grieved being away from "home" and our community in St. Louis. We've reminded ourselves over and over again of God's calling on our lives, that He wants us here, and we are to be faithful to His calling. Like Isaac. Like Abraham. Like all those before us who stepped out in faith, even when it didn't make sense to anyone except God. Being the new kid myself at the school, I had no idea who was in charge of what, and somehow, because God truly does know our hearts, the whole video landed right in my lap. As I've edited this week, watching baby pictures morph into school pictures and listening to beautiful songs about dreamin

Dearest B: Your twinkly eyes delight us. Your endless chatter entertains us. Your feisty spirit challenges us. Your artistic hand blesses us. Your compassionate heart encourages us. What a gift you are to us.  We love you like a circle--endless and always.  Mom, Dad, and Max I remember our summers in the sandbox as if they were yesterday.... ....you are growing into a tender warrior.

"Mom, can we play the iPad?" The daily question. "Mom, please don't interrupt me and hear my reasoning. I think we should play the iPad because..." Well, I did teach them to present an argument with at least three reasons. "Mom, I figured out that PhotoStory app and I really want to work on my story, so can I use the iPad?" Ummm...problem-solving, creativity, and story design. "I'm just going to check the weather....." For the 10th time today?? "May I practice my math facts?" Which translates into can-I-practice-for-five-minutes-and-then-play-Minecraft. "Happy Valentine's Day, Mom.  Check your e-mail. We sent you our cards."

Romans. Week One. Blessings and growing pains come in all shapes, forms and convictions. For the month of March, I committed to read the first eight chapters of Romans with a group of women. I only know two of them, and we all live in different parts of the country. We are to read, reflect, absorb the Word and share online. I thought: “Yes! Yes! I need this. With our move, I feel like I’ve traveled to a distant land, left wandering around lost and confused.  This will be good for my soul!” But good intentions is my secret middle name. The first day of March rolled in with sunshine and First Friday adventures at the Bottoms, and my Bible stayed buried under books and papers on the chest next to my bed.  Second day, family adventures to Zona Rosa and a late night of Beyond Balderdash, filled with laughter and ice cream. No reading. No reflecting. No anything. By day four, as I waded my way through a sea of laundry, I admitted I was a total slacker. Instead of diving into the rich Word

March Madness St. Patrick's Day The Ides of March Boston Massacre Lent Daylight Savings Time Happy Birthday, Dr. Suess! First Walk in Space There are numerous events in history that have been labeled important enough to appear on calendars. We look forward to them, we anticipate them, we even plan months in advance for them. March certainly has its share, filled with basketball games, green beer, and sometimes Easter egg hunts. For me, March has never been an easy month. I often approach it with trepidation, bracing myself for something awful, like having to walk on a bridge of glass or be a middle school student once again. Most of my fear is rooted in loss and grief and sadness. A little more than a decade ago, my father passed away unexpectedly on a chilly afternoon in early March. I still fiercely miss him. My first husband was unexpectedly diagnosed with terminal cancer just weeks after our 10 month old was baptized. I still remember reeling from