January of 2009 marked the beginning of the ensuing chaos. We marched toward our first high school graduation. During the same time, my writing career began to go places. So between kids and work, my house started down the slippery slope of neglect. It kept rolling that direction for four and a half long years. On May 1, I turned in the first draft of what willl be...

We celebrated our final high school graduate this weekend. Congratulations to the Class of 2013 at all levels, the ones who have persevered and received their diplomas and degrees. God has many good things planned for...

My BFF is an accomplished pianist and vocalist. When my kids were young, she took each of them to the piano over a period of time to see if they had any innate musical ability. My youngest son took to it like a duck to water. At her advice, we found a teacher and he started regular lessons at age 7, in the 2nd grade. (I looked for a picture of my son at the beginning...

We spent the better part of the past weekend with our daughter in Louisiana. Although she will not graduate until December, this was her final Phi Mu Carnation Ball (her sorority formal) as an active member. Last year we came to the formal (parents are invited for the dinner and awards then “dismissed” before the real party!) and loved watching our girl...

I’ve always loved prom, everyone all dressed up, excited for an evening of food and fun, dancing and laughter. We had the last one on Saturday night. Of course it isn’t quite the level of frenzy when it’s your son instead of your daughter, but it was poignant all the same, especially since he double dated with his cousin, also a senior. Aren’t...

One thing I’ve learned as my children have gone off to college: with each one that leaves home, I get a piece of my brain back. It’s true. Suddenly all the day-to-day details that I keep in my head are gone, for I don’t see them on a day-to-day basis. Nor do I know all the assignments or appointments or responsibilities that fill their schedules....