tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23562380988805234452012-01-27T23:11:19.613-06:00Messy, Loud, Always WorthwhileThis Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.comBlogger9151100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-91637240015675385032012-01-27T13:41:00.001-06:002012-01-27T13:41:40.493-06:00

1.  When Landon was born and placed in my arms, he immediately began to nurse.  He knew exactly what to do, and he didn't stop for over an hour.  An hour of sweet newborn baby suckles.  My good friend Jill was there with me and she knew right away that he was going to be my binkie-baby.  I, however, had no idea.  Neither of the girls were interested in pacifiers in the least, so it just never

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-90556969271983194792012-01-26T01:00:00.000-06:002012-01-26T01:00:05.631-06:00

The garage door is open, letting frosty air settle around the mini-van as we leave for school.  Lauren drops her backpack by the passenger side, reaches up to the door handle, and tugs backwards.  One hand is not enough -- she stretches on tip-toe now and grabs the handle with the other hand as well.  I can feel the smooth handle cold in her grasp as if it were in my own.  She grimaces.  She

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-58002656469505733822012-01-25T20:07:00.000-06:002012-01-25T20:08:06.066-06:00

I don't know why I haven't mentioned this yet, because it's really put some fun into the bleak winter days around here.  Want to banish the bleak at your place, too?  Good!  Then follow me! Each week over at Bigger Picture Blogs, we're doing a little bit of creative inspiration for your day.  Every Wednesday, there'll be a prompt -- a word or thought -- that we hope you'll use to inspire and

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-73233040833821752082012-01-24T12:59:00.001-06:002012-01-24T12:59:44.927-06:00

And you know what that means, right?  We celebrate!  Because here at Heavenly House, peanut butter is a food group unto itself.  Nay -- scratch that -- peanut butter is THE MOST IMPORTANT food group.  We snack on peanut butter spoons (something that should be marketed by street vendors and deli counters -- they'd be rich) and nibble on peanut butter sandwiches and lick peanut butter fingers.

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-56591555753357763852012-01-23T08:50:00.000-06:002012-01-23T08:50:00.920-06:00

There are certain scents that have floated into the love-crevices of my brain and made themselves at home.  Things like my husband's armpit, for a perfectly normal example.  Or the place where his neck meets his jaw.  Or where his shoulder meets his neck.  All of those scents are slightly different and hugely wonderful.  Then there's my mom.  She exudes a cloud of sweetness that is so

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-27002173501081015182012-01-22T09:38:00.000-06:002012-01-22T09:38:00.811-06:00

I know a few things about babies and sleep.  And if I can wake myself up enough to remember them, they come in quite handy. Basically, I know this: it’s rough.  Getting a baby to sleep so you can log a few hours of personal rest seems to be one of the greatest challenges of new-parenthood. With my first child, I was so obsessed with creating the perfect atmospheres and routines for sleep that

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-11637227769157449152012-01-20T09:08:00.000-06:002012-01-21T16:41:47.926-06:00

It's the light the sparkle the shine. It's on her hands. But it's concentrated in her heart. Her soul. Her smile. She shines. And if I let her hold on to me with those hands and that soul, maybe I can shine, too.

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-16581057972215634042012-01-19T12:53:00.001-06:002012-01-21T16:42:20.384-06:00

For our local newspaper this week, I wrote an article all about babies and how to get them to sleep better from the get-go.  It was full of what I hope will be helpful advice for anyone who happens to read it.  I felt good about it.  Which is probably why the universe decided that I was getting too uppity and should be leveled down a few notches from my high-sleeping-horse.  Last night was a

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-25393748976017878212012-01-18T08:28:00.000-06:002012-01-21T16:43:16.551-06:00

It's strange: with the girls, I was always SO aware of the time passing and their babyhoods rushing past without pause.  I was sad about it.  I tried to gather that time to me in thin strands that, together, would be strong enough to HOLD STILL.  But now, with this third baby, it's different.  I'm not mourning his superfast growth (because it IS superfast) as much as I am appreciating it.  I'm

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-79602224929889675172012-01-17T08:54:00.000-06:002012-01-17T08:54:00.101-06:00

As far as kitchens go, ours wasn’t a shining example of perfection. Every counter-top was filled with the detritus of what had been intended as a simple dessert recipe for the kids and me to prepare together.  Along the way, flour had been sprinkled over the floor, bowls had tumbled from the cupboards, and eggshells had been crushed down the side of a cabinet.   My older daughter stood

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-10455765839781247232012-01-13T09:44:00.000-06:002012-01-13T09:44:39.801-06:00

to banish the pumpkin to the forest, don't you? (Also -- I have a sudden craving for a frozen pumpkin milkshake.  Or a slushy.  Or a pie.  Yes -- frozen pie...) What are you dreaming about on this January Friday?

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-20150629191611043072012-01-12T09:28:00.001-06:002012-01-12T09:28:56.255-06:00

At the store, I hastily bought ingredients for some unknown decadence.  Flour Brown Sugar Eggs Butter Cinnamon Vanilla Cream Dark Chocolate And then at home, I searched.  I wanted the perfect recipe.  Something that says eat me, you fool, because I'm so delicious that you'll die a thousand deaths in a split second and then be reborn JUST for the express purpose of taking another bite. 

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-64641571539577772182012-01-10T09:07:00.000-06:002012-01-10T09:07:00.469-06:00

This business of bedroom sharing has led to an abundance of stuff all shoved into one small space.  Toy bins are double parked and shelves are overflowed.  The closet is a nightmare. But the girls seem to love their shared space, so we persist.  Well, okay: they actually have no choice.  It's either bedroom sharing or one girl moves into the bathroom.  Which I understand will happen anyway upon

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-32389690002398235582012-01-08T08:36:00.000-06:002012-01-09T08:36:16.034-06:00

Even though the New Year is already a few days old, I’m just now getting around to making my resolutions.  (It’s a good thing one of them isn’t ‘be more punctual’; I’d fail miserably.)  Many of my personal goals are those that could easily be shared among any parent of young kids.  These resolutions aren’t groundbreaking, by any means.  In fact, their promises are so simple and universal as to

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-46650214895993553662012-01-06T08:05:00.000-06:002012-01-09T08:37:04.514-06:00

In the dream, I'm half-blinded with fuzzy vision.  I stumble from room to room or from person to person, searching for help with my sight.  Pastels and floating lights cloud my path, like tinted cotton balls packed around my eyeballs. And there is always some urgency.  Some necessary reason that my sight MUST be restored soon, or else... There might be a storm approaching, with wind whipping

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-60943905806715181322012-01-05T09:09:00.001-06:002012-01-05T09:17:11.542-06:00

Today is the day we usually pour out our hearts at Bigger Picture Blogs and share the moments that have helped us glimpse a bit of the most important things in life.  The joys and frustrations and worries and realizations and exhalations that make life life.  But instead of writing something new today, we'd like for you to head over to Bigger Picture Blogs and link up with your own favorite

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-5866119392743657202012-01-04T09:09:00.000-06:002012-01-05T09:19:02.741-06:00

Picture it if you dare: a fussy baby who will not be consoled.  The baby is healthy and comfortable if perhaps a bit tired, but nevertheless, she will not stop crying. She’s been rocked and jiggled and danced.  Lullabies have been sung, positions have been changed, and blinking toys have been dangled.  Each new distraction or change in motion comes with the certainty that this is what the baby

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-85296435977273728782012-01-01T22:33:00.000-06:002012-01-05T09:19:19.210-06:00

Once upon a time, I received a camera for Christmas.  It was an intelligent beast in my incapable hands, confounding me at every turn.  Still, I was besotted with its clarity of focus and impressively hefty weight.  So I snapped some photos.  I felt the limitations of my ignorance.  And I resolved to get better. Now, one year later, I am no better but perhaps even more besotted.  After my

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-14320821341442645652011-12-30T10:29:00.001-06:002012-01-05T09:19:38.120-06:00

The apple corer lay in a glistening puddle of juice on the kitchen counter.  Bits of pulpy, crushed apple poked from its center, and a few blackish-brown seeds tumbled into the puddle.  Mia and Lauren sat crunching on apple halves.  While I cleaned the kitchen -- a task that is never actually complete around here -- they talked.  About birthday parties and pajamas and stories.  Then, before I

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-30311245584993794282011-12-29T10:06:00.001-06:002011-12-29T10:14:34.194-06:00

11:38 PM We are wrapped in an incomplete darkness, soft and warm.  The thinnest sliver of white light is slicing from the closet door.  Landon is heavy in the cradle of my arms while he sleeps through a midnight feeding, slow and deliberate, if not fully aware.  From the hallway, the low hum of the heater keeps the night from falling into silence -- the constancy of air rushing through vents

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-61033835478756277452011-12-27T21:18:00.000-06:002011-12-27T21:18:39.393-06:00

Oh, the noise, noise, Noise, NOISE! Just kidding.  We actually had a fantastic Christmas, with only a (great big) bit of craziness.  The usual amount, for us.  But the fun!  That was above average. Have a look-see:     And then we broke for Christmas Tea and waffles.  Seriously.  There was time for that because I refused to go batty over the mountains of gift wrap littering our living space. 

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-39312400983591354662011-12-23T09:56:00.000-06:002011-12-23T09:56:15.260-06:00

*sigh* Great gracious.I do apologize that you've had to witnesssuch craziness around here.But rest assured... I'm here to keep things normal.I'm here to be angelic.I'm here... to open presents. And if everyone around me is driven wild by Christmas,I'll just have to remind them... to be cool. Just.  Be.  Cool.And have a VERY Merry Christmas!

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-8851307520420559372011-12-22T00:01:00.009-06:002011-12-22T08:29:31.634-06:00

The overnight rain had finally dripped and blustered its way into a watery horizon when I woke up yesterday morning.  Sunlight glanced in around the edges of dusty window shades, promising brightness and joy. Mostly, the sun's predictions were correct; the day was wonderful. The first day of Christmas break, with all of my kids home at the same time, without schedules or commitments or the need

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-51991662813577454772011-12-21T09:18:00.000-06:002011-12-21T09:18:25.868-06:00

Yo, yo, yo!It's gettin' crazy up in here!Mom's playin' Christmas carols like, WOW! I mean, I love a good Santa songbut...when Mom starts dancingwell...things get all WHACKED OUT!! So I figureif you can't beat 'emJOIN 'EM. Merry Christmas!

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-14761086810784139942011-12-20T09:10:00.000-06:002011-12-20T09:10:08.484-06:00

Oh, snap!  It's almost Christmas,and Mom has yet to bake anything...wrap anything...or decorate anything!(Except the tree, I mean.) Could it be?That she is using all of her veritable mom-perfectionto cuddleand snuggleand laughand coo...with ME?! Yup.Pro'lly so. Merry Christmas, ya'll.Peace on earth and... Peace out!

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-79965543573323496792011-12-19T09:27:00.003-06:002011-12-19T21:10:31.945-06:00

While I'm basking in the sweetness of my new baby, I've asked some friends to share their birth stories at This Heavenly Life.  Danielle of Sugar and Snails shares her story today and -- as usual for sweet Danielle -- it's beautifully told.  Be sure to make her feel welcome and then hop over to her blog to get to know her better.  You'll be so glad you did. I had my first baby in a hospital.

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-30346716501880761832011-12-18T10:50:00.000-06:002011-12-18T10:50:49.636-06:00

“What’s the most important thing humans need to have to be alive?” My kindergartner’s eyes twinkled across the dinner table as she anticipated stumping me with some newfound knowledge. Since beginning school, she’s taken a know-it-all thrill in relaying her newest educational conquests each day. “Did you know that baby bats…” she’ll begin. “And the quarter has Washington’s picture…” she

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-73540765880763330292011-12-17T09:27:00.000-06:002011-12-17T09:27:05.628-06:00

HMQM: Oatmeal!  I want oatmeal for breakfast! Me: Good choice!  Do you want it white or brown?  (Royal code for 'made with milk or water'.) HMQM:  White!  And I want it to be three inches of sweet, okay?  If it's only ONE inch, just add a cup of brown sugar.  Then, if it's only TWO inches, add another cup.  Then when it's THREE inches, it will be sweet enough for me to eat it. Me: ...okay...

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-11701086160987635432011-12-15T11:55:00.000-06:002011-12-15T11:55:30.607-06:00

At the EXACT same time that Landon and I were using the hospital for a small and unpleasant vacation, Lauren was at home.  Being terribly sick. Her cheeks both held bright, red splotches of color and her lips were vibrant in their heat.  Glassy-eyed, she slept and threw-up and cried and stared into space for three days.  She didn't eat.  By the time I came home late Friday night, she'd lost

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-87875599640745268162011-12-13T08:29:00.001-06:002011-12-13T08:29:00.130-06:00

I've got one for you: What do you call an unwelcome visitor in the midst of the busiest season of the year? Pneumonia.  In a two month old baby. ------------ The hospital room contained three noises: the rattle and choke of Landon's mucousy lungs as he tried to fall asleep in my arms, the intermittent pump of his IV, and the rasp of the rocking chair's rear upswing as we rocked.  Justin

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-12634794950902523312011-12-12T08:24:00.001-06:002011-12-12T08:24:00.194-06:00

While I'm basking in the sweetness of my new baby, I've asked some friends to share their birth stories at This Heavenly Life.  Today, I'm proud to have Lucy the Valiant tell us her story -- in true Lucy-style.  Make SURE you visit her blog and poke around in her archives.  She's magic, Lucy is.  Magic. Okay, so, my birth story! Brace yourselves! It’s kind of…gross.  At the time, I was so

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-30614722958123087632011-12-11T10:37:00.000-06:002011-12-11T10:37:13.564-06:00

I remember sitting by a snow-blown window on Christmas break with a chapter book in my small hands, reading for hours.  I remember treasuring the stories so much that I couldn’t imagine any greater joy than reading.  Now, a couple of decades later, nothing much has changed.  I would still rather read a book than do almost anything else, except perhaps, share this love of reading with my kids.  I’

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-27343003171215264952011-12-06T22:06:00.000-06:002011-12-06T22:06:07.314-06:00

...Brightly shone the moon that night, though the frost was cruel... Cruel it may be, yet lovely - Whispers of crystal and ice.Feathered,frozen, fragile;fragmented with gleaming light. It is a damp breath exhaling -cold silence trembling down.Caressing,covering,crispening;ruining green into brown. Need an outlet for your creativity this Christmas?  Inspiration that may channel your unshared

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-50652437265784290492011-12-05T09:12:00.001-06:002011-12-05T09:12:00.050-06:00

While I'm basking in the sweetness of my new baby, I've asked some friends to share their birth stories at This Heavenly Life.  Today's story comes from Londa at The Sneaky Mommy, where she writes about all things wonderful: her sweet family, faith, simple tips and tricks, and DELICIOUS-looking recipes that always make me want to go bake something immediately.  Be sure to stop by and say hello!

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-5222430976960079302011-12-04T14:26:00.000-06:002011-12-04T14:26:48.992-06:00

Her bedroom looked as if it had had its lid removed and its contents stirred with a spoon.  A giant, preschooler-shaped spoon.  Every toy she owned peppered the carpeted landscape and she stood in the middle of it all, staring with worry at my bulging eyes and gaping mouth.The massive destruction she’d caused made my insides curl up and whimper.  Cleaning up the mess would require painful amounts

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-13074757742870867902011-12-02T10:25:00.000-06:002011-12-02T10:25:42.561-06:00

 For all the sweetness of THIS calm face... THIS one makes me positively giddy. Landon is the smileyest baby I've ever met.  His favorite game to play is to stare into the face of the nearest person, smile exuberantly, and wait for their return smile.  This game never gets old. Which means I'm the smileyest mama this side of the blogosphere.

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-14403075004383266112011-11-29T08:49:00.001-06:002011-11-29T08:49:00.324-06:00

Step 1: Agree to take a road-trip on a holiday weekend with a 7-week-old baby boy and his two sick sisters.  Wait patiently on the morning-of to ascertain that the 5-year-old will be able to travel without (a) vomiting or (b) crying.  Hit the road. Step 2: Be sure to forget 3 out of 4 toothbrushes and mom's deodorant.  Remember the snack bag at the expense of proper hygiene. Step 3: Plan to

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-60925593650424195222011-11-28T09:10:00.001-06:002011-11-28T09:10:00.579-06:00

While I'm basking in the sweetness of my new baby, I've asked some friends to share their birth stories at This Heavenly Life.  I'm so happy to share Robin's birth story today!  If you've never met her, you must remedy that now; Robin is an outstanding writer and storyteller, a generous and supportive friend, and the best kind of mother.  You NEED Robin in your life -- get started now at her blog

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-70004716871408639542011-11-27T20:20:00.000-06:002011-11-27T20:20:21.280-06:00

Patience is not my strongest trait.  Compassion, sure.  Being routine- oriented, definitely.  Helpfulness, hopefully.  And I think all of those are valuable parts of my life as a parent.  Sadly, I suspect that if a few extra doses of patience were added to my repertoire, I might be unstoppable.  A virtual super-mom, with my cape billowing behind me as I zoom from task to task, from loving moment

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-43523897718676877112011-11-25T13:10:00.001-06:002011-11-25T22:42:47.386-06:00

:::  Oh, Thanksgiving.  It went like this: baking all morning while the baby napped restlessly, joining the extended family for late lunch and elbowing each other through the food line to hurry up!, partying our way through the annual ping-pong tournament, holding a (still) restless baby (and finally downloading a white-noise app to my phone to help him take a tiny nap,) trying one bite of every

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-31686401523229222752011-11-22T12:47:00.000-06:002011-11-22T12:47:38.697-06:00

Today marks the six-month anniversary of that horrible, no-good, dirty F5 tornado.  Its memory is so sharp that I almost feel like it needs a name, like a hurricane would have, to designate it from any other tornado.  But we don't really need an official name for it.  We already have several that will do in a pinch.  Most of which aren't safe to use in polite company... I thought today's

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-43506437851867082132011-11-21T09:04:00.002-06:002011-11-21T20:44:25.307-06:00

While I'm basking in the sweetness of my new baby, I've asked some friends to share their birth stories at This Heavenly Life.  Today's story is from Amber at Making the Moments Count.  Amber is never afraid to share her heart, during either joy or sadness.  Be sure to make her feel welcome! To Emily: Your ArrivalThough I was a week late on my period, I refused to take a test.  At least until

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-78580197479717576872011-11-20T21:35:00.000-06:002011-11-20T21:35:03.987-06:00

The scene is a familiar one: I stand at the kitchen counter, slicing and dicing ingredients for a meal, or cleaning up leftover dishes.  My hands are full and my purpose is intentional.  The kids are watching something on TV in the other room, when I suddenly remember an instruction that needs to be given.“It’s time to go clean your bedroom before bath time,” I might call out over my shoulder. 

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-46573248829697342092011-11-18T09:45:00.001-06:002011-11-18T09:45:00.514-06:00

Going... Going... Gone. (And mom is mean enough to STILL snap photos while his irritation grows...)

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-38876112948222955162011-11-17T09:14:00.000-06:002011-11-17T09:14:18.689-06:00

This is the loveliest time of the whole year.  Maybe even the loveliest day of the whole year.  The sky is full of wispy white clouds that blend invisibly into the endless blue, and the wind falls down in gusts.  Nothing is standing still; everything shudders and rattles to the thrill of autumn’s rhythm.On the blacktop road lies every color of leaf.  They are, allegedly, dead.  But to be alive

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-23084205277271146212011-11-14T09:14:00.001-06:002011-11-14T09:14:00.397-06:00

While I'm basking in the sweetness of my new baby, I've asked some friends to share their birth stories at This Heavenly Life.  Today, Dwija of House Unseen writes about her crazy-wild speed race of a delivery.  After reading this, you HAVE to stop by her place and get to know her better; she's a wonderful writer with a heart of gold. If you’ve never been in labor in the front seat of a

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-80610492235708654922011-11-13T08:57:00.000-06:002011-11-13T08:57:19.295-06:00

Taking the entire family out to a restaurant is nothing if not an adventure.  No matter how well-behaved your children usually are, there’s always some element of the unknown to be contended with.  Will someone refuse their pricey meal?  What if the order takes longer than expected to arrive?  Will a drink be spilled?  (If your kids are anything like my own, the answer to that will be: yes. 

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-79495038594817054432011-11-10T00:34:00.001-06:002011-11-10T00:34:00.147-06:00

Dust flirted with carpet fibers and cracker crumbs in multiple locations on our floor.  Diapers and hair accessories and colored pencils and yesterday's worksheet and a novel and batteries competed for space on the coffee table.  The scent of spit-up milk permeated the air thanks to a cast-off and forgotten burp cloth slung over the back of the couch.  Nothing was perfect. My five-year-old was

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-16795128394255486082011-11-09T08:44:00.001-06:002011-11-09T08:44:00.141-06:00

It's probably meant to be a helpful tip from experienced parents to newbies.  They offer it with knowing nods and smiles, helping those below them on the parenting ladder with this crucial advice: Sleep when the baby sleeps, they say.  Once, I acknowledged this with wide, doe-eyes and a tremulous heart.  Oh, of COURSE!  THANK you for your help!  Now, though, I know better.  When experienced

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-14986861130395111512011-11-07T09:00:00.001-06:002011-11-07T09:00:12.137-06:00

While I'm basking in my new baby's sweetness, I've asked some friends to share their birth stories at This Heavenly Life.  Today's story is from Brook of Redhead Reverie.  She's honest and kind and funny -- be sure to visit her blog and get to know her! It was April, and spring had sprung in Iowa. I was getting closer to my due date. Baby boy number two would be making his appearance at the

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-90346902897985264282011-11-06T14:04:00.000-06:002011-11-06T14:04:16.986-06:00

In the backyard where we sat reclining in lawn chairs, the shade speckled the grass.  The weather was so perfect and serene that it was hard to reconcile the moody children around us with the sun-drenched sky.If there was something to be argued about that morning, my daughters were on top of it.  They bickered over tiny disagreements, and to say the least, I was irritated.  My mom, however,

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-85776166908411627512011-11-05T10:12:00.000-05:002011-11-05T10:12:00.138-05:00

Nobody needs to know I'm still wearing the t-shirt I slept in last night...I thought. We were on our way to gather Mia from school; Lauren in a dress-up costume, buckled in next to Landon who was half asleep and half indignant at being placed into the evil car seat again.  We were a motley crew.  The wind blew up a ruckus outside, shoving new-fallen leaves every which way, and I was glad for

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-9216383421975092772011-11-03T10:56:00.000-05:002011-11-03T10:56:40.974-05:00

I'm sitting on the kitchen floor, in what is very apparently intended to be a Doctor's office.  There are Fisher-Price-colored tools and implements strategically placed and readily available for the next examination.  My examination, it seems.  A three-year-old physician enters the room on feet that march with purpose.  She tosses her hair over one shoulder and purses her lips.  Her stethoscope

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-32697788200274864372011-11-02T13:50:00.000-05:002011-11-02T13:50:29.170-05:00

Lauren was completely oblivious to the rest of the room.  I mean, sunk up to her eyeballs in concentration and so deeply involved in her coloring sheet that nothing short of a hailstorm (or maybe some fireworks) could have distracted her.  There was no penetrating her sphere of absorption.  I tried.  I wanted to talk to her about her morning at preschool or about how excited she was for

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-59087483446515471762011-11-01T14:03:00.000-05:002011-11-01T14:03:46.501-05:00

In short-captioned photos, because the day was too long and tiring for this mama to have many intelligible words to share.  But when the pictures are THIS cute... I don't think you'll mind. One Kindergarten parade for a shy peacock... One sleepy, snuggle-worn baby...(Thanks to Alita, Hyacynth, Melissa, and Lenae for the gorgeous sling!) One Kindergarten class party... One Preschool class

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-25601815267707270112011-10-31T09:30:00.001-05:002011-10-31T09:30:01.510-05:00

While I'm basking in my new baby's sweetness, I've asked some friends to share their birth stories at This Heavenly Life.  I'm so happy to share today the sweet, calm homebirth of Baby E, from my dear friend Hyacynth.  She writes at Undercover Mother about her family, her faith, and her heart.  All of which are beautiful. The Story of Baby E. {Originally posted on Undercover Mother, 9/7/09}

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-51850297693101279302011-10-30T09:44:00.001-05:002011-10-30T09:44:00.086-05:00

When there’s a brand-new baby in the house, there are dozens of important tasks to be taken care of.    Making sure the baby is fed and safe, learning how to breastfeed, getting to know the baby’s sleeping habits, and keeping the rest of the family fed and clean are only the most basic items on the list.  Add frivolous ideas such as housekeeping or outings, and it’s very possible to become

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-39363788631188262892011-10-27T09:45:00.002-05:002011-10-27T13:08:01.397-05:00

My Bigger Picture Moment today is all about allowing myself to be random.  To let loose with the things I think about all day while nursing, dozing, and wondering.  To relax about trying to make sense -- I may not.  I'm seeing the Bigger Picture in simple, scattered thoughts.  I'm telling my friends the things I've been meaning to say...very possibly in an unordered and pointless way.  Welcome to

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-56227793474361765622011-10-26T09:17:00.001-05:002011-10-26T09:17:00.450-05:00

Now that he's finally here, we can FOR SURE tell that Landon is, in fact, a boy. See?  No bows! (And we're hopeful that someday he'll have hair as lustrous and thick as his daddy's, although we do love his bare head just the way it is.)

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-79196367830093711702011-10-24T09:14:00.001-05:002011-10-24T09:14:00.130-05:00

While I'm basking in my baby's newborn sweetness, I've asked some friends to share their birth stories at This Heavenly Life.  Today's story from Nicole is such a dramatic one!  She blogs at As Many As We're Given, and you can learn all about her family of blessings by heading over for a visit -- go say hello! Sarah asked for birth stories, and since I've had six kids I figured I was a likely

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-14722571863831166852011-10-23T11:07:00.000-05:002011-10-23T11:07:20.713-05:00

It was ridiculously hot outside, and we’d all been cooped up in the cool house for hours.  While I took the indoor reprieve to allow for getting some work done in the house, the kids took it another direction: they bickered, they roughhoused, they argued, they whined.  To say I’d had enough is so much of an understatement as to actually be better classified as a lie.  I was losing my precious

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-85565827295114488602011-10-20T10:16:00.000-05:002011-10-20T10:16:18.839-05:00

He smiles in his sleep. It could be that his brain is tapping connections to force his tiny, new muscles into exciting patterns of movement, or it could be that he's dreaming newborn dreams of warmth and light and caress, or it could be that he's feeling the burst of a wayward air bubble as it travels through his squishy belly. Does it really matter? He smiles in his sleep, and I smile at his

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-54064569978619540252011-10-17T13:44:00.000-05:002011-10-17T13:44:19.194-05:00

::: I could totally feed twelve babies with these monsters. #ouch ::: You know when you start seeing double and your eyes cross from being so tired?  That's when I can't close them anyway because it would mean taking my eyes off of this boy.  Such a doll... ::: *snore* ::: I miss the postpartum nurses who got me fresh water at all hours of the night. ::: He's a champion nurser -- very

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-54458734524415669022011-10-13T09:51:00.000-05:002011-10-13T09:51:57.208-05:00

But just barely... Because we perish a little from the sweetness... Of this precious boy. Meet Landon Asher.  7lbs, 9ozs of heavenly perfection. Welcome to the family, sweetheart boy!

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-71191354088959618392011-10-07T11:08:00.000-05:002011-10-07T11:08:47.252-05:00

I went in to get a pineapple.  Because: pineapples, right?  I've been popping bites of acidic fruit for days in hopes of jump-starting my labor. Because: I've never been this pregnant in my life. In my shopping cart, Lauren sang herself a song while I tried to keep a calm face.  There was no pineapple to be seen.  The entire, beautiful produce section was void of tropical fruit (for some

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-9602219459466415842011-10-04T12:47:00.000-05:002011-10-04T12:47:53.298-05:00

But I am busy:  Busy taking hikes through the woods with my family.  There were boulders and ravines and streams and ledges and trails and rock stairways...but that didn't induce anything.  At least it was a gorgeous field trip, and maybe -- if I get around to it -- I'll show you some of the pictures.  (By the way, 'if I get around to it' technically means that I'll show the pictures if I fail

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-23510823152529408252011-10-03T08:29:00.003-05:002011-10-03T11:45:06.035-05:00

Breaking News: I don't like having my feet touched.  Not for a massage, not for a pedicure, not fer nuthin'.  There's the tickling issue, but then there are also myriad other things that make me squirm and go all self-conscious.  A weird freckle on the inside of my big toe.  An immovable callous here or there.  The toenails that I try to keep trimmed while pregnant, but Heavens to Betsy...

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-27714501718384397522011-10-02T09:04:00.001-05:002011-10-02T09:04:00.102-05:00

Round one of our foray into parenthood, almost 6 years ago, included the normal bouts of exhaustion and confusion as well as excessive doubt and questioning.  But we weathered all of that with some degree of grace – or luck – and came out the other side of babyhood mostly unscathed.  And even in possession of some valuable new insider knowledge.  It seemed that every baby product out there was

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-61858773061838946602011-10-01T09:13:00.001-05:002011-10-01T09:13:00.103-05:00

I had a dream this week that I was abducted by aliens.  In the back yard at midnight on a clear, dark night, I could see the horizon very clearly.  Stars were pinpricks of light that did nothing to outshine a large, hovering orb in the west.  Five times the size of the moon.    Immediately, my dreaming mind recognized it as a sattelite.  Its lights blinked and twittered in a series of

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-65505686731871906572011-09-29T13:10:00.000-05:002011-09-29T13:10:35.178-05:00

My youngest daughter and I are in a fight right now. Well, not right now; this battle emerges daily for a few periods of time before being resolved happily and melting away into the past, where I'm sure it will remain until, sadly and inevitably, it crops up once more. It's ridiculous. It's the pick up your toys battle.  And I'm just about out of tactical maneuvers.  Lauren, though, has plenty

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-87015493229122339852011-09-28T12:23:00.000-05:002011-09-28T12:23:15.013-05:00

So here I am, in a holding pattern, itching to know if this baby's labor will happen naturally -- without induction, because I'm not allowed -- or if he'll go for a few more weeks and require the dreaded cesarean.  As you can imagine, I'm a ball of what ifs right now.  Surprisingly, I'm finding tons of ways to keep my mind off the worst-case scenario, which is actually not terrible, just...

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-15813660901383640792011-09-27T13:46:00.001-05:002011-09-27T13:56:47.664-05:00

As a reward to ourselves for having a successful yard sale on Saturday, where success equals we didn't have to pack it all in because of rain, we headed downtown to our favorite restaurant for dinner.  This restaurant is lovely for many reasons, one of which is its cozy atmosphere.  But that's not why we go there any chance we get: we go there for the food.  Mmmm....Mmmm....food.  Sadly, the

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-43656132658884722402011-09-26T11:12:00.000-05:002011-09-26T11:12:00.101-05:00

Hey!  It's a Monday, and I've finally taken the time to share something from my Adventure List!  Miracle!  Do you have adventures to share?  Head to Emily's Keeping Time for more details... ------------ To say that it was dark would be a lie.  Darkness implies that there is light somewhere nearby, illuminating a corner of existence enough to see that this place is dark.  Shadowy.  Darkness, to

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-15424561216162259012011-09-25T09:47:00.001-05:002011-09-25T09:47:00.861-05:00

She relaxed after a full day of kindergarten while I scavenged through her backpack with glee; my favorite part of the day was upon us.  Getting to rifle through her backpack is enough to send me into fits of euphoria.  It’s the small glimpses of her day that are seeing me through this kindergarten transition.Because goodness knows, she doesn’t want to actually TELL me about her day.  In the

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-25841330392208269222011-09-23T08:36:00.001-05:002011-09-23T08:36:00.218-05:00

1.  I was rudely awakened yesterday morning by what appeared, by all accounts, to be labor.  Now, I've never had pre-labor before.  With both girls, things happened all at once, and there was no doubt as to whether or not labor had begun.  So when I felt contractions that hurt and came regularly before the crack of dawn Thursday, I was convinced. Using the restroom didn't stop them, laying down

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-64347308472183207642011-09-22T09:36:00.000-05:002011-09-22T09:36:00.215-05:00

It would be a really easy thing to dissect, if I were so inclined.  It would go like this: The sun is perfect outside our window -- highlighting the blue sky instead of obliterating it with too-bright haze.  A breeze that feels like a kiss from autumn falls through the screened window, and I can smell the beauty of the entire world, all at once.  I turn around from where I stand making lunch

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-33249512635551254742011-09-20T09:09:00.001-05:002011-09-20T09:09:01.318-05:00

"Boy, my tummy's full!  I ate TOO much dinner, didn't I girls?!"  I patted my belly with conviction and the girls laughed. "No!  Your belly's full of a BABY, not dinner!"  They tried and tried to convince me, to no avail.  I was sure the bulge in my middle was due to overindulgence, and failed to see their reasoning.  A rousing conversation unfolded. "But, if there were a baby in my belly, I

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-80179873725099157822011-09-18T09:17:00.001-05:002011-09-18T09:17:00.162-05:00

Our three-year old hid from uncles and smiled despite herself at a family birthday party, while our five-year-old bounded about joyfully.  So many people to play with; so little time.  She’d been tickled and chased and teased until she was giddy with attention, her breathless laughter trailing behind her wherever she went.I was sure nothing could interfere with her mood.  Then I heard her

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-47549552458673560852011-09-16T13:55:00.000-05:002011-09-16T13:55:13.784-05:00

It is 8:45 PM -- considerably past the time when my pregnant body told me I should already be in bed -- and I've successfully removed my contacts.  I'm wearing my husband's shorts and a too-short T-shirt, and I'm getting ready for blessed sleep. But instead of crawling into bed, I notice some yucky spots behind my bathroom sink's faucet.  They've been there for months, yes, but at this moment,

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-52367986638919175802011-09-15T13:38:00.001-05:002011-09-15T13:38:00.530-05:00

The drive was too long and the air conditioner was forced to be blasting too loudly because of the sun's hot angle.  I could hardly hear a word the girls were saying from the back seat.  Something about somebody being less than sisterly, most likely.  Something about arguing.  Something about irritation.  And then, I could hear: yelling and bickering and crying about little nothings.  I

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-45709695752146687432011-09-14T16:06:00.000-05:002011-09-14T16:06:21.056-05:00

Between the two of them, they are cream and pink and black and golden all over.They are pieces of my heart, glowing with pride. Between the two of them, they are piggy-tailed and braided and lycra'd into readiness.They are melting into big girls.  Fading from toddlers and preschoolers into ballerinas. Between the two of them are bundles of nerves and excitement, uncertainty and comfort. They are

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-9295993692826586382011-09-12T09:05:00.003-05:002011-09-12T09:05:00.555-05:00

One of the hardest parts about Mia being in Kindergarten all day is that she's in kindergarten ALL day.  I don't get to see her reactions or hear her answers or experience her excitement or notice her shyness.  I can't watch her in that place and it's crazy-making.  I don't just want to be a fly on the wall, I want to be an embedded camera with emotion-detecting sensors and voice-enhancing

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-87323134468247768432011-09-11T09:52:00.001-05:002011-09-11T09:52:00.932-05:00

There’s a tricky little trip-up that’s been happening more and more often in our house.  It seems that my oldest daughter has a very pressing urge to always be correct, and to assert her correctness whenever necessary.The girls could be playing happily together, dancing to a pretend soundtrack when things go awry.  The three-year-old might be rocking out with her best twitching and stomping and

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-77763990487918772532011-09-10T10:28:00.003-05:002011-09-10T10:28:00.058-05:00

So you know there's about to be a new baby at Heavenly House, right?  I mean, I think I've waxed both poetically (or at least emotionally) and fearfully enough to let you all know that we only have FOUR WEEKS left until the due date.  And with that date fast approaching, I've been thinking about ways to keep this space worthy of your time while I'm on a babymoon.  And here's what I think

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-90765185631386245182011-09-09T08:47:00.000-05:002011-09-09T08:47:45.882-05:00

What's particularly exciting about this day -- besides the fact that I'm wearing a shirt that manages to cover my entire belly -- is that it's a special day.  It's the day we get to welcome Lenae into our Bigger Picture Blogs community as a contributing writer and organizer!  You should know by now that she's our newest collaborating member, and you should also know Where She's From.  You

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-21757592843626905882011-09-08T12:36:00.000-05:002011-09-08T12:36:42.573-05:00

For her entire life, she's been the baby.  The rosebud-lipped, sweet-cheeked baby; the darling littlest one.  The girl who holds hands as if it's a lifeline to continued closeness.  The girl who would snuggle for hours if busyness didn't intervene.  There is still that special smell at the very top of her head that makes me remember her when she actually was a baby.  And the curve of her cheek is

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-90378058162094985262011-09-07T08:07:00.001-05:002011-09-07T08:07:00.436-05:00

Since I know you're all dying to be privy to the condition of my uterus*...right?  Well come on over!  Let's discuss!  In bullets! *Don't worry.  I don't think I'll use the word 'uterus' again.  My husband informs me that it is one of the most cringe-worthy words in the English language.  Vulgar, almost.  I'd hate to be vulgar. :.:  Today marks 36 weeks.  Wonderfully exciting and also a bit

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-87818390423807950442011-09-05T14:00:00.000-05:002011-09-05T14:00:18.612-05:00

I was nervous and sweaty as I waited to speak with the nurse.  Looking around the surgery center’s lobby full of cozy seating and serene paintings did little to ease my stress.  This place would be where my littlest daughter would have outpatient surgery in a few days, and my anxieties were overflowing.  The surgery itself would be quick and easy, according to the doctor.  He’d done implanted

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-32466441849463690562011-09-02T14:13:00.000-05:002011-09-02T14:13:05.955-05:00

Do you remember my What We Found at the Library posts?  They were fun, and I sometimes miss them.  Not on the weeks when our library bag contains mostly duds, but since that happens so rarely, I'm constantly thinking, I need to tell someone about this good book!  And with the end of summer here (Yay, Fall!), this is the perfect time to reflect upon some favorites that have made for a good season

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-36251025764703652912011-09-01T00:15:00.001-05:002011-09-01T00:15:00.941-05:00

We have a new plan at Heavenly House for encouraging good behavior.  I KNOW it's hard to believe, but we do struggle with such boring tasks as doing something the first time mom or dad asks.  We have an even harder time remembering that the tone of voice we use is as important as the words we say.  So, in the line of positive reinforcement when a little girl's behavior manages to catch up to

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-28599407107967293682011-08-31T10:33:00.000-05:002011-08-31T10:33:04.444-05:00

Oh, my friends.  I have a cold.  And lest you imagine that to be as inane as it sounds, let me assure you: it is not just a cold. It is a COLD.  An Eight-Months Pregnant, Can't Sleep Anyway, But Now Can Sleep Even Less For Lack Of Breathing COLD.  It is an I Already Look Hideously Puffy So Why Don't We Add Some Red Eyes and Drippy Nostrils Just For Kicks COLD.  It is a Do I Hold My Belly To

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-15352954681204743942011-08-29T11:42:00.000-05:002011-08-29T11:42:07.169-05:00

Emily at Keeping Time has called for participants in her Adventure List project, and I'm trying to organize my thoughts enough to share!  For now, here's my list; I'll add to it when I remember something adventure-worthy, and THEN... I'll take a peek here each Monday (or, as many Mondays as possible) to see what story I want to tell you guys.  You should join in, too!  Make a list of your

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-52441919326990103722011-08-28T08:57:00.001-05:002011-08-28T08:57:00.389-05:00

You know exactly how to order your favorite venti, half-caff, no-whip, iced vanilla soy latte.  And you know that you love your black leather boots better than any other footwear.  There are things about life that you try to maintain in order to keep yourself happy.  You have preferences and plans and ideas.  What would it be like if someone decided, without your permission or input, to suddenly

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-57066276988286004282011-08-26T09:58:00.000-05:002011-08-26T09:58:11.366-05:00

1.  Mia, while playing with her dolls, had quite a world adventure yesterday.  She recounted them to me, and I, being the ever-loving tattler that I am, shall recount them for you: We ran all the way from Africa, so our feet are very tired, and we were chased by lots of animals (because Africa is FULL of animals) on our way to China.  But when we got there!  We realized that we were ALLERGIC to

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-19787931429597664892011-08-25T12:37:00.000-05:002011-08-25T12:37:04.743-05:00

I come here sometimes.  To my island.  It's not usually a planned trip but I keep visiting regularly, showing up on the shores to watch a sunset or listen to the crashing surf.  It's gorgeous here, of course: lush and green and shady in the middle and sun-sparkled and jeweled on the edges.  I can get comfortable here.  Burrow down and be alone.  Forget the world.  Or, try to forget the world.

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-69011478598885894992011-08-24T11:45:00.000-05:002011-08-24T11:45:27.126-05:00

As long as we're spilling things (we are spilling things, right?), I have a confession to make.  It sounds odd, since I've known we were on this treacherous path for several years now, but... the truth is... I'm not a minivan fan. Shocking, I know.  It's just that these child-carting vehicles seem so laden with stereotypes, and even though I fit those stereotypes, I haven't wanted a minivan.

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-80077356642833903912011-08-23T08:58:00.001-05:002011-08-23T08:58:00.166-05:00

Mia, tell me something about your Kindergarten day! "Mmmm...I just...I don't want to!" Well, how about this: did you get to go to the library today?  Or what was the lunch room like?  And did your teacher read you any books? "Yeah.  And we had an assembly in the cafeteria.  That was our second one." Second?!  I didn't even know about the first!  What did they talk to you about in the assembly

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-86528603566748349922011-08-22T07:55:00.001-05:002011-08-22T07:55:00.512-05:00

If summer was the time for embracing spontaneity instead of routine, eating daily popsicles, and sleeping whenever our heads found a spare moment to touch a pillow, the beginning of the school year seems to be the opposite.  We’re remembering what a regular bedtime looks like.  We recall the need for bathing that doesn’t happen in a giant, chlorinated pool.  Things have made a sudden shift back

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-76761160584379048402011-08-20T09:16:00.000-05:002011-08-20T09:16:10.358-05:00

Ring around the Rosie.... Pocket full of Posies.... Ashes, ashes.... We all fall DOWN! We hope you find someplace cool and green to dance this weekend!  Happy Saturday, friends!

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-42782825977653130062011-08-18T09:08:00.000-05:002011-08-18T09:08:14.631-05:00

Once upon a time, there was a tiny baby girl.  She was born a bit early, and her mom couldn't quite understand how something that came in such a tiny package could consume all of her thoughts.  All of her time.  All of her love. But the tiny baby girl grew, as babies are wont to do, and the mom got engulfed in life.  The living of it got all wrapped around the loving in it, and it became one,

This Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.com12