MOAT – Mostly Ordinary, Always Together
A slight change is at hand here at themoatblog – not in content (though maybe with this minor shift, content will be coming back!!) but in context.
Our house has transformed from 5 tweens & teens to no tweens and 2 teens (for a short time). And far from my aching heart’s desire (though I never would have thought that at the onset), my days in the carpool line are coming to a close.
This kid is on his way to college,
this kid high school,
and these three are young adults....
Artist Anne Neilson on B.U.S.Y & her new devotional
What is more beautiful this time of years than angels? Especially Anne Neilson angels!
I mean – seriously.
Anne’s story that began with a paper she wrote in 3rd grade, that hit lots of highs, lows and lots of waiting is sure to inspire you as it did us (Brenda Teele to tears) and put wind in your sails as you travel your own journey. Hers tapped into art, raising kids, then back to writing which is why she joined our SaySomething ncarpool chat – to share about her new...
Happy in Who We Are
A little something I started a few years ago as the kids started to head into adulthood (and before I say, know that the follow-through has been well-intentioned with a side of freedom to be imperfect) is to highlight a Bible for them. Not in some super-spiritual sort...
Safe Places
A friend touched base yesterday, checking in to see how we’re doing. She was such an encouragement as she entered into our sphere while welcoming me into hers. We laughed, we cried and we prayed. She’s a safe place to do such things.
Do you have a safe place? A friend? a mentor? A person with whom you can share real things? A place where you don’t need answers and where you don’t have to brace yourself for answers?
I think we all need safe places.
A safe place ...
Listening, Learning, Acting during tense days
Little acts of kindness can seem insignificant, yet they have such great impact. Especially kindness as it relates to words - spoken as well as heard. Last week my friends with SaySomething Show (our video podcast) got together to do both. We know it's hard to...
What a gift
Last night, our family watched Antiques Road Show together (Saturday night excitement!) A lady brought in a painting that her doctor father had received as a thank-you from a patient to whom he waved payment – since he knew they couldn’t pay. After her dad passed, the woman inherited & treasured the beautiful landscape. She decided to bring it to AR and learned that her treasure is an actual treasure – worth quite a large sum of money.
Overwhelmed, she gasped ...
Forced Exit, Enjoying the View
It’s strange to think about a week ago today.
Whatever you were doing – one thing is certain (for everyone, everywhere) – business as usual isn’t usual right now. Plans have changed, schools & businesses closed, certainty has taken a back seat – in some cases hopped out of the car all together. Clouds have blown in, making it a bit hard to see what’s happening.
Clouds on the horizon can steal our peace.
They appear threatening and can ...
New Year, Book Marathon, changes
These are a few interesting reads I gathered from our shelves. Not all will be on the marathon and a few more will be added. So I’ve decided to do a marathon this year. Not a running one, but my own made up one involving books, 26.2 books for 2020. I'm also working on...
Mercy Invites Dignity & Redemption
We just passed the half-way point of our Heart Cleanse that I might be renaming Soul-Cleanse because that’s what seems to be going on. Something deep at a soul level is happening.
A levity has entered our sphere.
“Have you been doing our little cleanse thing?” I ask Snopes.
“In my head,” she replies.
I nod. And ask, “Have you noticed a levity? I mean, it seems like with the boys, all of us, a lightness is there.”
“I know,” she says – almost wide-eyed – and nods. “Absolutely.”
“I’m not making...
GKM Power Walks
The Heart Cleanse continues (40 day feast – practicing gratitude, kindness & mercy), and opportunities abound.
This offered a lovely morning greeting after a wonderful (yet hard) college send-off weekend in San Antonio last weekend. The boys held down the fort while the girls traveled and dropped off.
Why the open cereal boxes? Why not just close them and put them away (& other counter-stuff for that matter?) I don’t know. But with a genuinely happy heart (GRATEFUL...
When College Drop-Off/School-start Doesn’t Look Like You Thought it Would
It’s about this time of year that social media threads begin to be filled with smiling happy people heading back or off to school. Pics of trips made, roommates hugging, dorm rooms decorated, fraternity & sorority choices announced … and in the younger years: teachers announced, carpools arranged, seats assigned, teams made — fill feeds. And it’s good and we celebrate and cheer as next steps in life are taken.
But not everyone’s picture looks like they...
Heart Cleanse – feast instead of fast
A few weeks ago, just after backing out of the driveway (our neighborhood still has side drives) I was hit with a morning blast of unnecessary rudeness. Such a lovely way to start the day.
A car bossing it’s way down our street for sure wasn’t going to give way. It barrelled at me so close I had to back down the street in order to let it pass. “Really?!,” I might have muttered, then added “…well, Good Morning & happy day to you” even though the driver absolutely ...
To be, or not to be – Afraid
What is it with fear?
This weekend, I went to the movies with my two oldest kids. Shocker of all shockers – we were early! Which means we got to see the trailers. All was fun and fine until my daughter turned to me and said, “Don’t watch this!”
Hilarious that she’s telling me to avert my eyes. The tables sure have been turned. Does that mean I’m old? … Probably best to not answer.
“This is a trailer for It,” she loud-whispers.
I guess there’s a Take-2 for that gem. And though I never saw it (scary...
Perspective-laced photo stroll down memory lane
May. State testing. AP testing. Graduating Senior. Banquets. End of year productions/parties/award ceremonies. Presentations. Plans…. The lists literally go on. These days, I can’t help but wonder where I’m supposed to be and if I’ve forgotten something. Especially things like forms or sign-ups for next year which seem to be in play too.
It’s an exciting time of year. Spring flowers fill gardens and birds are singing (seriously –...
Love Reminders
As February has drawn to an end and we say good-by to our shortest month of the year – the only month that sets aside it’s middle day to celebrate love – here are a few thoughts on love that I find myself contemplating.
After a week of congressional hearings, historic diplomatic talks and loads of regular life walked alongside people (some we love (desperately), some we avoid) love deserves a second take before our Spring calendars hit hyper drive. As sails are...
Practicing neighborly love with Sarah Harmeyer
How can it be February already?! Where did January go? And should I admit that our Christmas tree is still up? (eek!) It’s coming down today – or not.
February is such a great month.
Unique to February, it is the only month with less than thirty days. And, interestingly enough, smack dab in the center of it (literally) is a holiday celebrating love. Which is especially nice after January with its well-intentioned resolutions likely long gone by now.
Resets and resolutions...
A Peek Behind the Veil
“How was your vacation?” a friend asked us yesterday. “Did you go anywhere?” I looked at my daughter standing next to me. We both shook our heads and smile-sighed. It seems like the holiday was months ago.
Sometimes life instantly ramps up and time goes into a weird hyper-drive that is slow motion at the same time. Those times when a day feel like a year and a year speeds by in a day. A time warp that is crazy, but safe. Like in Mario Kart when the bullet-award...
Soul-Hydration for Holiday Stress & Pressure and Weekend Giveaway
For some perspective-TRUTH and soul hydration as we near the holiday that brings with it JOY, PEACE, HOPE filled with and anchored by the kind of love that is wide and long and high and deep, exceedingly and abundantly more than we could ever imagine – here are a few things I’ve gotten to share on web.
TODAY parenting:
HOLIDAY PRESSURED/STRESS? WHY NOT RE-PURPOSE OVERWHELMED?
Ten days and counting.
I was kindly reminded of this fact while driving carpool. A sweet family...
Point of Light – George H.W. Bush, a true American Hero
In the mid ‘80s when Ronald Reagan was President, then Vice President George H.W. Bush came to our home town for an event or two that my civically-minded and servant dad spearheaded. I don’t remember specifics, but a few things I do.
I remember my mom inviting the Bush Advance team over for dinner, offering to wash their clothes since she knew they traveled pretty much non-stop. We gathered around the dining room table that sits in my dining room today and ate whatever she was cooking...
Don’t judge, accentuate the positive and more with June Hunt
With Joy to the World on the tips of our tongues as December sits right around the corner, why not go to a great source of wisdom for her take on joy-filled days. We’re so lucky to have June Hunt in Dallas. And she was a dear to spend some time with Brenda Teele, Julie Hildebrand and I in the car – dear and brave!
We asked her to share her top five tips to a joy-filled life, all of which I hope will encourage each of us today.
Here’s the vodcast:
or podcast:
Thanks for walking...
30 Shades of Gratitude, Lysa TerKeurst & a focus shift
There’s probably a reason Thanksgiving is before Christmas – to help us focus (with gratitude) on all we already have rather than on what we could, would or should have.
“I had a professor once who asked each person in our class to say something that they were thankful for, ” Snopes said while we sat in traffic this week. “So everyone went around the room and said things that you normally think of – like a roof over my head or a nice family. But it was a struggle – especially...
Contemplating Joy – today, before the holidays
In the very near future Christmas songs will be filling the airwaves in the same way holiday decor has hit the retail aisles (why so early?!) In the malls, on the radio, at school recitals, through churches across the globe, songs about peace and hope will be sung. Peace, hope and JOY.
It seems we could all use a nice jolt of each right about now.
Yesterday, one of the kid’s schools was so nice to host a morning coffee for moms – a gathering to get to know each other better and...
17 Years Later – a Kid’s “Why?”
Life’s overwhelming events—with all their headlines, judging, heartache, and confusion (does anyone tell the truth anymore?) —can weigh heavy, especially when a kid traveling alongside asks “why?” The youngest of my five asked why this morning. A radio show teaser prompted his question: Tune in as we reflect on the 17th Anniversary of 9-11.
He doesn’t remember 9-11 since he wasn’t born. We had three kids at that time – ages 5, 3 and 1. I had flipped on the television that seemingly...
Can Truth Inform Life’s Overwhelming Circumstances
“This time last year…” started a conversation with a friend I bumped into last weekend at a wedding celebration.
He & his wife are long-time friends – back in the days when we really didn’t have a care in the world. It might have felt like we did, but gosh did we ever burn the candle at both ends – not carousing, just fun. Those were the days when you could stay up all night, eat at the IHOP at 1AM and still function the next day. Well, maybe not...
Not the Boss of Us – Behind the Scenes Look at a Pub Date
Tuesday August 21 – Not the Boss of Us: Putting Overwhelmed in Its Place in a Do-all, Be-all World’s pub date
5:50 Wake up and try to get a post written to share the fun news about putting Overwhelmed in its place before heading to DFW FOX 4 for morning live interview.
6:00 Sneak in and get Mitty out of daughter’s bed since he must have heard me going downstairs.
6:20 After failing to keep Mitty quiet so everyone can grab as much sleep as possible since school starts...
Back to School Bracket
It’s that time of year again – the time when a day evaporates in an hour with lazy and hazy being quickly replaced by crazy days. Summer is over.
In recognition of all that vies for our attention and in an effort to find sanity in the midst, welcome to the 1st Annual Back-to-School Office Pool – or call it like it is: Car-Pool. With End of Summer’s tournament in high gear and first rounds completed, we’ve swept through the Sweet 16 in the bracket of what will get attention...
An Ode to Back to School
Because back to school is now greeting us at several places of business we frequent, here’s a little poem for those who might be feeling a teensy bit overwhelmed by the prospect of what’s just around the corner. Especially for those who might not be friends with all the forms and appointments and having to be places. Yeah, those things. Plus there are the try-outs, the work-outs, the worries (who will be my teacher) and concerns (when do the schedules come out), the ...
Re-Purposing Overwhelmed
I’ve never been a fan of Life’s Overwhelmed – the one that feeds on stress, pressures, expectations and circumstances. The one that masquerades as life’s new normal.
In my younger years, I took performance pressure’s bait – hook, line and sinker. Then tried to control the landscape by joining my skinny High School locker-buddy on a diet that eventually landed us with eating disorders. Thankfully, Truth – with all its grace and hope and peace and joy – showed up and did what...
An Interruption
This week has been exceptionally difficult for a few families in our neck of the woods. Unexpected and sudden tragedy entered the picture. And relationships were interrupted.
For one family, very regular plans for twin brothers enjoying their last summer with friends before entering college when tragedy intervened. The kids had been playing a game, counting & comparing how many seconds they could hold their breath under water when a girl, who happened to be a life guard,...
Fresh-New
Welcome to the MOATBLOG’s fresh-new look. There might be a few minor tweaks to be done here and there – but I love it. There’s something about a fresh-new look that feels special and refreshing as we melt here in the staggering Dallas heat.
A fresh-new look can go a long way – be it a blog, a haircut, paint on walls or even a closet.
Last week, Barton decided to re-fresh her space. One of her friends calls Barton’s room the tree-house. Covered with windows,...
Enough: Can we ever be it or have it?
The conversation turned yet again to Enough. I kind of have a love/hate relationship with that word.
On the one hand it can seem so satisfying.
When my grandmother was alive, she always kept cookies on hand. Sometimes she would have a coffee can filled with her melt-in-your-mouth sugar cookies. I loved if I saw my name felt-markered on masking-tape stuck to the can’s flimsy plastic lid. They were my favorite. “Did you get enough?” she’d ask. “Oh...
Nice People
“Oh, Kay!” our ever-sweet and delightful school receptionist stopped me as I walked by on my way to grab a kid out of the carpool line. Sometimes after an assembly, we walk to get kids rather than drive through the line. I had stopped several times along the way to catch up with folks, so I was last. My poor kids. Last in the alphabet. Last thanks to a chatty-mom.
“Hi Cindy,” I smiled back at her.
“Kay, I think this key might be yours?”
Huh? A key.
She rustled through some papers on her desk...
Modeling Perfect Imperfection
Singer, songwriter and author Andrew Peterson stopped by Dallas last week to inspire kids and adults alike. I don’t know Andrew, but if I did and if he and his family lived in Dallas, I think we’d be friends. I also thought, oh so many years ago while sitting next to my sister in the Wichita Falls Sikes Center Mall movie theater watching Top Gun, that one day I’d meet Tom Cruise.
I haven’t.
But I did get to meet Andrew. I group-ied in line with his fans (middle...
Carpool Messaging
Carpool heaven.
We’ve gone for years without a dog. Which for those who know our story has been hard, but right. I’m an animal lover who brought everything home to be a pet. And I always thought I’d have horses and cats and dogs – but my path didn’t lead that way.
So we were surprised by this new addition (Mitty) who has made morning drop-offs sweet. I mean how can riding to school with an adorable, though sometimes mischievous, puppy on your lap be bad...
Do’s And Be’s Aside
Smart Phones: Friend, Foe, Freedom
Kids and phones are and have seen the best of times (I mean, really – sitting in a germ-infested doctors office is MUCH less stressful with a kid’s hands occupied rather than free to the room) to the worst of times. We could probably fill the page with the latter.
social media pressures seemingly unavoidable access to damaging apps argument inducer that accompany almost every limitation setting even addictionThere’s also a new term, “nomophobia”...
Great News in Today’s culture
From our family to yours, Merry Christmas! We’re still working on addressing cards and delivering a couple of neighbor gifts – hot chocolate, better late than never, right?!. And, I might have even found a gift or two that got lost in the mix. The still unwrapped items just might be saved for a later since their absence never mattered to begin with.
As expected, the most special gifts were the ones the kids picked out and payed for each other. The best was probably this...
Gift Guide – Simple Rules
“What are you getting the boys?” a friend of mine asked. We bumped into each other at the pharmacy. My fingers are still crossed, hoping we’re done with the flu!
“That’s the question of the hour,” I shake my head. “Funny thing,” I started in, “I was in Tuesday Morning last week picking up a lamp for my mom. Our rearranging of her furniture opened the perfect spot for a lamp by her chair. And I totally scored with the perfect lamp for that spot.”
“I love Tuesday Morning,” she...
The Overwhelming Nature of the Season
I have a tiny vendetta against pressure/stress/circumstance-laden Overwhelmed. I’m tired of things stealing from me, from us – the kids and my friends and people in general.
There are so many examples.
Huge things like the legitimate uproar over kids and smart phones. Jean Twenge recently authored a study/book on the dangers of smart-phone use, specifically to the point of destroying a generation of kids who are “on the brink of a mental health crisis.” I see the articles. And...
The Often Dismissed Importance of Self-Standards
This morning as I parked in front of the house upon returning from a Top-Pot donut run (funny thing about having kids, donuts re-entered my life – I know that’s not the case for everyone, but they’re just so yummy and life’s short and I have such fond memories of weekend donuts when I was a kid, and well, enough excuses/justifications just don’t judge me :) I noticed something that I so wish I had captured on video – integrity and doing the right...
Freshman (college) to Freshman (high school) Advice
The college domino affect started a few years ago in our house.
With five kids, we knew it loomed on the horizon since the days when they were little tykes, convinced that swimming in a plastic pool in the front yard was as close to paradise as one could get. Now those early years of making a dollar stretch a mile, making life-altering decisions (like which Mother’s Day Out is “best” – as if), birthday parties, carpools, sports teams, … fill in the blank – all seem like child’s...
Change – Managing More than Nickels & Dimes
Sure death and taxes are inevitable, but so is change. I don’t about you, but we’ve got a lot going on in this house. New schools (new college, new high school, middle school), new teachers for everyone, Driver’s Ed, teams, hair styles, puberty (‘nuff said!) … seriously the list could go on and on. Some change is fun. Other change – not so much. And, how we meet change, how we handle change can have a major impact on our attitudes, our stress level and our contentment. The thing about ...
Hope
Grief is a funny thing.
Not funny ha-ha. Funny in that though its a concept – it acts like thing, a person, a force. It inflicts pain like a punch to the gut one minute, then it weighs down as if s a 300 pound gorilla scampered up your back to snag a shoulder-ride the next. Then It morphs into twins so it can grab onto both your legs at the same time like a tantrum-toddler hanging on for dear life, refusing to let go, dragging behind so steps forward feel like trudging through quicksand....
Never losing sight of dinner’s deeper nutritional value
Cleaning House Boot Camp: Week 1
“Get ready for some good food, Mom,” dinner-kid shouted to me from the kitchen. “I’m such a good cook, I already have my own bakery. It’s called Jack’s bakery.”
“You’re making dinner,” his sister reminded him, shaking her head at the newly minted, possibly excessive confidence. “Bakeries make desserts.
“Well, my food is so good – it tastes like dessert.” Bam!
The fun & laughter wasn’t so much fun & laughs at our family meeting the ...
A Reset – A Cleaning House Bootcamp of Sorts
Hello sweet moatblog friends :) Sorry for lots of silence.
May bleeding into April and a couple of graduations is probably ’nuff said. There’s that and the truth that most spare time of late has been spent on the vod/podcast front. Our little SaySomething Show
latest episode with Sandra Stanley on contentment is worth the 20 minute-view
has been a blast to put together and hopefully encouraging/informing to folks that tune in. Well those things AND I’m tossing...
THE tale as old as time
For years my uncle, Eugene Brock (namesake for our 4th child) rounded up writers to share op-ed for our home-town newspaper (Wichita Falls Times & Record News) during Holy Week. Very sadly, my uncle Brock went home to the Lord earlier this year, so my cousin Alan Brock took over the helm. What an honor and privilege to have been included in both their line-ups. Here’s what was on my mind this year. I hope you have a very blessed Easter. Thank you for blessing my life as we walk...
Spring-Signals that Inform Life
Recently we sat in the car at a red light waiting for green. I was going on hour 2 of carpool – not because we were traveling outside of a 3-mile radius of our house, but because staggered school-end-times plus drama practice plus track practice result in lots of wait.
I looked out my window and saw this tree:
“Boy, that tree looks sad doesn’t,” I said to my shotgun rider.
“It looks dead,” she replied.
But right next it stood an almost exact replica...
A Facts-of-Life Chat
“Oh – should I roll up the window?” my shotgun passenger sarcastically asks. We were about to get on Central Expressway.
I respond with an eye roll.
“I’m not going to let you forget,” she laughingly nods. “What else have you told me that isn’t true. Hmmm… I wonder.”
Several years ago, when the kids were much younger, likely at the end of a long day, probably when a kid in the far-back seat was bothered/crying because...
A Giving Lent
God has been a part of my life for almost as long as I can remember. But Lent wasn’t a significant part of worship in the churches we attended. So, I was intrigued and curious when I would see my Catholic or more liturgical friends show up on Ash Wednesday with a cross on their forehead.
So, with the season of Lent at hand, chatter about what it means and why it’s observed bantered around our carpool drop-off this morning.
“What is Lent,” floated the youngest.
“It’s when you fast...
Eggs vs Goldfish
“Why do eggs make you so full so fast?” asked the kid sitting next to me. He needed to be sharp for the day ahead so I added some eggs to his waffle breakfast.
Reaching for all my scientific expertise I answer with the usual, “I don’t know” followed by a guess – “probably because it has protein.” Then teasingly/truthfully add, “Those eggs will for sure keep you going longer than your food of choice – Goldfish.”...
Kids, Social Media & All-Things-Internet with Kathleen Fischer
Around here, it looks like our 2017-February will be our new January since the days certainly passed, but it was so fast (probably due to some wheels that came off) I’m not sure I saw January coming or going. AND with The Say Something Show taking on a life of its own, all the writing that has been in my head hasn’t quite made it to the fingers and a keyboard. So, I’m combining the writing and the show since TONS of what people have been sharing still lingers in my thoughts....
Obedience to Perfection or is it to Faith
One of the more fun things I’ve gotten to do this year (aside from the Say Something Show) is hang out with the MOST (Moms of Students) crowd at First Baptist Grapevine. We’ve been using the analogy of clothes to talk about identity issues in the context of the Lord’s vs the world’s views. This Sunday, we’re talking about shoes (“obedience”) – the action/taking steps. Which can look a lot like and lead to performance issues ...
Hydrating for Holidays – More on Gratitude
The opportunity to practice thankfulness seems to have no boundaries – even though it is often overlooked. Not only do opportunities amply avail themselves, scientifically documented benefits come along for the ride.
According to Forbes,
As we hydrate for the holidays...
Hydrating for the Holidays – Tip #1, Gratitude
I don't know if it's coming off the crazy election period or if the extended Texas summer (we hit upper 80's on Wednesday!) has us stupored by holidays zooming in from around the corner. But rather than let stress/pressures knock us down why not fight to find the...
Powering Down Perfectionism
It almost goes without saying that the days of yesteryear seemed so much less stressful and rude and judgmental and on steroids than the days of now. Pressures certainly existed back then and likely did their best to trip up even the most laid-back of folks. Rude and...
Teens/Parties & Generation Love from a Couple of Wise Women
I've heard from a couple of incredibly encouraging folks who asked if I'd post the latest Say Something Show episodes. Kathleen Fischer, author, registered nurse, certified life-coach, speaker, and a mom and encourager to many parents AND kids, stopped by to share her...
Surrendered Wellness and the Fine Line Between Fitness & Health
I just love thinking about the idea of Surrendered Wellness. Bobby Rodriguez, our guest on the Say Something Show (which is such a by-product of what we've been doing here at themoatblog - together - thanks to you guys for walking it alongside me and others!)...
Mind-Sight is not 20/20 – and Lysa TerKeurst
One of the things we’ve been talking about around our house of late is mind-sight. Mind-sight is a little something that involves seeing as well as hearing since it focuses on the way our minds picture situations. With me it can range from the way I see myself as I...
Competition at its Finest – with a side of propriety & decorum
As the school year gets off to a start - I thought I'd share something that brought great joy (and a few tears, cue the tissues!) in our home over the weekend. In the shadow of the Olympics a little baking competition in Great Britain came to a conclusion. In the...
The Other Side of the Trees – Thoughts on Heaven
On a recent drive down Florida’s I-95, I turned to the passenger riding shot-gun, “It seems kind of boring and ugly and sort of claustrophobic, doesn’t it.” Relentlessly guarded by a wall of trees, the road leaves a lot to the imagination. “All of the above,” she...
Busy Life meets Calendar Strategies
Inboxes around the world are beginning to see Sign-Up Coffee & Back to School Sign-UP's creep into the mix, a tell-tale sign that Summer is almost over. The busy-life calendar threatens most homes. In May, The New York Times' Laura Vanderkam weighed in on the...
To be, or not to be – Happy :)
I remember several years ago, talking with a medical professional about the happiness level of one of our kids. I was concerned. He wasn't. Holding our 10-pound, almost 12-inch thick file, he gently smiled at me as wisely said "With as many personalities as you have...
Household Hashtags
I recently was reminded about an article I did a few years back in DMagazine’s DMom on hashtag musings. It made me chuckle. So – much to the chagrin of my kids who can’t help but roll eyes at their #soyesterday #notcooI mom - I added a few new and am recycling some...
Living the Days-After in Dallas
“Mom.” I heard my son’s voice, but didn’t instantly react. “Mom?” he gently asked, “Did you forget to sign me up?” With his name absent on the season finale Champs Swim Meet heat sheet, I didn’t blame him for wondering. I’ve forgotten before. But this time, the...
Kids, Summer, Screens & Keeping the Peace
A Facebook SOS went out this week from my friend Missy (mom of 4 tween/teens): I need some help setting up guidelines and restrictions with screens during the summer with my 4 kids. (Screens=tv, computer, phone, video games, etc). Help! It's especially an issue with...
A few end of School-Year Favs
With May coming to an end and summer shouting a big HELLO :), I thought I'd share a few of my favs from commencement, award ceremonies (I'm not kidding) and EOY carpool contemplation. Sherly Sandberg's Cal Berkeley Address: Today I will try to tell you what I learned...
HuffPost :) What to do when what’s heard doesn’t match what’s said
Leaving a graduation ceremony and subsequent reception last night, I glanced at the clock, “Wow, that lasted a long time.” “I’m sorry,” said my daughter riding shotgun. “Why are you sorry?” I nonchalantly asked. Then quickly realizing that I was entering the strange...
Hello … It’s me and it’s May
Hi. My name is Kay. I have definitely been MIA. (And apparently, I"m a poet - this is where I need a laughing-crying emoji. Seriously, I think I could communicate 100% emoji, kind of like hieroglyphics- or not. But that's another story for another day.) Anywhooo - I...
Time-Change and the Power of Perspective
Why is the Spring Forward time-change so hard? It was like waking the dead this morning. And it’s only an hour difference. I think perspective could go a long way to help my sleepy-heads (and me!) Really. Because truth be told, if we lost an hour and due to a nice...
Lessons on Leadership from the Fruit Bowl
They say that love makes the world go ‘round. I think a kind word does too. A kind word plays by the same rules as love –it considers someone else's interests as much, if not more, than our own. These days we sure could use come kind words in our world of...
Regular in a High Octane World
“How was the basketball game?” I ask Jack – whose name probably needs to be aliased since he is getting old enough to be aware. “Not good,” he answered. “What?” I was surprised. He has so much fun running around, shooting for the hoop and hanging out with his friends....
Something to Talk About
Walking by a hearse with a teenage daughter isn't on my Top Ten list of things I'd like to do. Sitting next to a teenage daughter at the end of a row of her grieving friends, struggling with disbelief, in a sanctuary anchored by a simple casket - not on that list...
Eyes on 2016
My road - the one paved with good intentions - never ceases to be plagued by detours. And detours can be distracting. Distracting and deflating. Mostly due to focus issues that can arise while on life's little detours. Because detours can tempt our focus to settle on...
#hydratefortheholidays Water Station 1: Others
Well - the holiday marathon has certainly begun. And I hope that our little hydration effort has been a help. If nothing else, thanks for humoring me. It has helped me on many fronts - even yesterday when a whole line of cars started honking as a stoplight turned from...
Internet Silver Linings
I'm weary of so much that comes with the Internet of Things these days. A couple of the things that make me the most tired are: The underlying (explicit) push toward personal branding and image manipulation/control. I guess I'm still mulling over that topic from this...
#hydratefortheholidays: pic behind the pic
When recently asked about intro-info beyond regular bio stuff by a group wanting to be consistent with my "image", I couldn’t help but reply with a slice of real: I have no management over an "image" :) Except that I manage to constantly embarrass my kids. One asked...
#hydratefortheholidays: It’s the thought that counts – even on Black Friday
“Guess what today is??!” Jack excitedly asked as he came downstairs for breakfast. “The day after Thanksgiving?” I ask back. “Mahhmm!” he exhales. “How can you not know? It’s like a HUGE deal.” “I don’t know,” I shrug. “What day is it?” “It’s Black Friday!” “Ohhh…”...
#hydratefortheholidays: Tip #6 – Look Up
Having Thanksgiving at the end of November really does put a kink into things. On the one hand, aren’t we supposed to be planning December since IT STARTS NEXT WEEK? But on the other, what about the Turkey? and lazy, and food, and football, and raking/jumping into...
#hydratefortheholidays: practice JOY today
In a few short weeks (they seem to be getting shorter and shorter – which makes me sad since all I want these weeks to do is linger), Christmas songs will be filling the airwaves. In the malls, on the radio, at school recitals, through churches across the globe, songs...
#hydratefortheholidays: Tip #5 – Exercise
Last year I had the unfortunate opportunity to meet face-to-face a not so fun diagnosis of Shingles. But, with all that is going on with my friends and their much more life-altering diagnoses, I really didn't care much about it. Still, for anyone going through...
#hydratefortheholidays: Practicing Thankfulness
Don’t panic. Even though the words, “Can we get together next week? The Friday before Thanksgiving?” might have been spoken today [What?! Friday before Thanksgiving?! Next week!! EEEK!], there’s still time. Breathe. Truth be told, in most other years, Thanksgiving...
Focus on the Family & #hyrdratefortheholidays – Eyes on Others
Being the calendar-challenged person that I am, or it could simply be the flaky-factor that seems pervasive in all I do (or forget to do) - I kind of forgot that the super wonderful folks at Focus on the Family are airing a conversation we had about finding...
#hydratefortheholidays – Sacred in the Ordinary
For the most part, days are ordinary. My sister in law said it well earlier today when we were doing what we do – phone chat. We touch base almost daily. Not so long ago, my brother would go through the phone bill, get frustrated with the costly long-distance minutes...
#hydratefortheholidays: Tip # 2 – Addressing Unnecessary Rudeness
This morning I woke with a mixed heart. I had either had a dream or was praying - I'm not sure, but it involved one of my friends who is dying. I actually have more than one friend who, according to regular expectations in life, should not have that word a part of...
#hydratefortheholidays: Why? & Tip #1 – Declutter
Christmas in October?! “Ahhhww!...” I couldn’t stop the audible groan. “I can’t believe it.” “What?” my son riding shotgun looks up. “Christmas lights. Already. Up and on!” We were on our way to pick up his brother from practice. “Wow,” even he was taken aback. “Has...
Warning Signs – More than a Safety Measure
The weather in Dallas has been a tiny bit crazy of late. Our summer had so much fun, it decided to stay way beyond it's welcome, refusing to leave until recently. The third week of October was the first week of Fall without 90+ degree weather. Not only have we...
Fifty equals Freedom
Yesterday was my birthday. And according to many of my very heart-warming and wonderful Facebook/text/email/phone messages (thank you for ALL the b-day love!!), it's a "landmark day." Yes, I'm 50. Though fifty could feel old (I must admit I’ve had a few moments...
Re-Purposed School Supplies
As long lines, endless forms and other back-to-school pressures weigh heavily on the minds of kids and parents alike, it's time to start searching for ways to dial it down. So, in the aisle during one of our multiple trips to Office Depot, amidst eye-rolls, audible...
So-long Lazy, Hazy… Hello Crazy
Like a blast of arctic air, the end of summer has smacked us in the face - leaving us stunned, feeling like the Bullet Train has literally hit and run. (Can someone get the license plate on that thing?!) Good-bye lazy, hazy days of summer. Hello crazy,...
More on Manna Living: Grace in the Dark by Sandra Stanley
If you don't follow Sandra Stanley's blog, I think you'd like it. She and her husband Andy live in Alpharetta, Georgia and dearest of dear friends with my brother and his wife Chris - my childhood best friend (boo-hoo-hoo - you're Texans for goodness' sake - why...
The Undeniable Power of a Smile
On Monday, I had such a fun time getting to chat with Chris Fabry on his life radio program from Moody in Chicago. Actually, it has been a privilege throughout the summer to be able to chat with several terrific hosts about the topic of finding contentment in the...
The Battle with Best and Pressures of Perfection
Among the many sickening, literally nauseating, stories in the news this week (i.e. #anotherboy), I found myself grieving over this from the New York Times: Tears literally rolled down my cheeks as my heart ached/aches for kids (like Kathryn DeWitt whose story is...
To See, or To Be Seen – Is that the question?
"I'm not on social media or Facebook or anything," a friend told me yesterday when we bumped into each other at the grocery store. Both of us racing in for a quick-grab (that instantly became not-so-quick) stopped & paused to catch up. "So," she continued, "it's...
Taming Technology
"When I was your age... (fill in the blank)." We've all said it. It usually involves some reference to hardship. I said it on a recent drive to my brother's lake house. Mine went a little something like this: "When I was your age, my brothers and sister and I endured...
Torn Seats and All
"There's a side to you that I never knew, Kay Wyma," my friend Brooke smiled. We were last to leave the morning gathering. "Yes," she continued, "I learned a few things about you last week - from your car." New things about me from my car? My mind raced to grab hold...
Metaxas and Modern Day Hansel & Gretel
Yesterday, I was listening to Jay Richards on the Eric Metaxas Show. They were chatting about economics, about U.S. domestic issues and about Greece. Quick promo: Eric is SUPER nice to have me on his show today. He's a terrific host - fun, thoughtful, smart, hilarious...
GPS
"I think I need to go right," I said to Barton who was riding shotgun. "No," she rebuked - well, maybe not rebuked, firmly replied. "Just keep going straight. She will tell us when to turn." The "she" is Barton's GPS voice that was leading us through the streets of...
Top 10 Tips for Surviving Swimsuit Shopping … and a few thank-you’s
June 21st, the official start of Summer, is just around the corner. And if you haven't already done it, swimsuit shopping is staring you down. Because, it’s that time of the year, again. Groans can be heard coming from mall dressings-rooms across the globe. “I hate...
The Meaning of Life
"What's the meaning of life?" The question floated my way from the back seat. It was lobbed to me by my sole passenger whom I had just retrieved from a birthday party at Lil' Ninjas. He's 8. I thought he was being silly. "What do you think the meaning of life is?" I...
USA Today: Graduates, Listen to your mom: Column
USA Today was kind enough to share a little carpool commencement speech. Here's a snippet and a link to read the rest. What advice would you add? (Join the conversation here OR better yet on the USA Today site.) With a 600-word limit - and an editor that made a few...
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