Category: Family
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First hike in august
With mom and dad we could do only some light hikes. And our feet were already itching for the hills. We get ready with the promise of tired legs at the end, a heart pumping healthily in our chests, sweat running down our backs and a clearer mind. I felt teary driving up to the…
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To belong is to free the mind
After what felt like a very long time of showing up, holding up, I started to lose my grip on life, reality, and what matters most. We survived multiple crises, and I kept it together, we kept it together I guess. But my vision got blurry and it felt like he is coming short on…
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sharing bravely
They chose well for each other. In many ways inspiring me with their maturity and self-awareness, and well as ease in friendships and strong faith. I don’t like giving advice, but as their god parents I have asked for permission to share the things that I wished someone shared with me before I got married.…
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End of school year
This school year was as we hoped it would be. Smooth coasting, even with Jackie’s afternoon classes, and a possibly hectic schedule. The individual time I had with each girl was awesome. And I had energy and attention. We set boundaries and we respected them. Jackie continued to play the clarinet at home, nearly daily.…
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Little humans in our likeness
I did not give birth to my children, but with every conversation and day spent together, we shape their character, values and competence. They accuse me of bias when I use overwhelming words of affirmation, and I praise them, or acknowledge how wonderful they are. But I never say things I don’t mean. Kind words…
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Family hike
It is how we enjoy nature at a slow pace and let our minds unwind. It is how we connect, shoulder to shoulder, and we build endurance, physical and mental. I love the girls resilience and positive attitude even when it’s ridiculously hard to continue to put one foot in front of another. Conrad longs…
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International couples
We are low-key people. Approachable as I like to believe. To our delight we discovered that so is the first international couple from our two churches. Our paths crossed many times, even when we lived in California, and they lived in Romania. Now their kids became adults. Brilliant young women. And we traded places. We…
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Letter from Jackie
…It’s better than the most loving eulogy. And I am still around to enjoy it, and let it fill me with hope and delight. I absolutely love Jackie’s mind and heart and teachable posture. She is stubborn but clearly within her rights. Not an inch overbearing. She is reserved with most other people. Observant…
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19 years of marriage
Some things never changed. I still find Conrad funny & attractive. I still feel beautiful in his eyes. We’ve made it through deep valleys & over high peaks. We held on tight when things were hard & confusing. We dug deep when we couldn’t see a purpose, when we felt depleted or hopeless. If we…
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Teen prayer & budding romance
A decade ago she would cling onto me to stay a little longer. After the bedtime stories, we would pray and then she would ask questions. Sometimes the questions were triggered by the prayer. But mostly we would unpack the day. And we would talk. There were many times I longed to escape. To go…
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Philotic link
This may have helped my daughter overcome incredible emotional and spiritual, social and intelectual hurdles. I lent her my strength without guardrails, without holding back. I actually let power pass through me – it was not my own power given to her. I have felt powerless at times, trying to help her and her hardening…
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Bored or engaged
Letting your kid burn through the stages of first romance is fascinating and gut-wrenching. But I remind myself that this is part of the learning process and her path is different than mine, and just as necessary for her. When young kids like each other they still have the freedom to express themselves, to discover…