I want my home to be a refuge my grown children look forward to coming back to as often as they can.
Grammie’s Mary Poppins Bag
I love Mary Poppins! Witty, wise, confident, adventurous, and undeniably magical, swooping in to set things right with her umbrella and carpetbag. Seems to me that is just what a Grammie should be! After my first grandchild was born, I dug out the box in the attic where I had stored away a few favorite …
Dog Poop Brownies
Many years ago I came across this memorable little story and shared it with my children. I’m sure it will be shared with the grandkids at some point in time as well. ~ One day a particular father was listening to his children make their case for permission to watch a movie that all their …
When You Reach the End of the Journey
There are many emotions surrounding the end of a journey. Satisfaction. Relief. Exhaustion. Nostalgia. We took a once-in-a-lifetime family trip back in 2002 and traveled the country for 6 weeks with our five kids, pulling a pop-up camper behind our conversion van and visiting national parks and other sites across the western states. There was …
Becoming Grammie
For years I have watched more and more of my friends enter the realm of grandparenthood, becoming Nanas and Mimis and Grandmas and Lollys and Gigis. What at first seemed strange and incomprehensible – because I couldn’t possibly be THAT old – slowly became acceptable, then appealing, then eagerly anticipated, as my middle son and …
Choosing a Grandma Name
Until my first grandchild was on the way, I had no idea how many possibilities existed for my Grandma Name, or how hard it was going to be to choose one! Whenever someone heard the happy news, “Congratulations!” was often followed by “Do you know what your Grandma Name will be?” Oh. Time to do …
The Story of Gillian Lynne
“The Story of Gillian Lynne” ~ paraphrased from the book The Element by Sir Ken Robinson. Gillian was only eight years old, but her future was already at risk. Her schoolwork was a disaster, at least as far as her teachers were concerned. She turned in assignments late, her handwriting was terrible, and she …
Who Am I Now?
Mother. Homeschooler. Teacher. Guidance Counselor. Chauffeur. Cook. Health Care Consultant. Social Coordinator. When the things that have defined you for so long come to an end, who are you now? I have five children and there are thirteen years between my oldest child and my youngest. The first three babies came within a 5 year …