Mundane Faithfulness

Parenting

Kara’s Collection: Unbalanced

Kara’s Collection: Unbalanced

from an article originally posted May 5, 2014...

My dear sister in law brought me an essential oil after I had my double mastectomy. It’s called balance. She would put in on the bottom of my feet at night to help calm me before bed after my horrible surgery. Last night, I nearly bathed in the stuff. I see the word balance, and I feel like I need this magic potion. Except I know it isn’t magic, I know it can’t change my story. But I felt so very unsteady last night. I nearly drained the little bottle of calming oil.

Kara’s Collection: Big Mama Love

Kara’s Collection: Big Mama Love

rom an article originally posted May 2, 2014...

Years ago my dear Mickey offered me advice at the just right moment. That advice took deep roots and has followed me through my parenting. Mickey was my greatest champion of nursing my babies. When I felt weary and wanted to stop I would call her for her encouragement.

But she told me children moved from nursing to nussing, as she called it. She explained that even when the special time of nursing stops, the gentle time with mama needs to continue. When Jason and I have our special places to sit and read, my chair is always the oversized one. Simply put, it has space for each of my babies to sit close. And this close time never ends.

Kara’s Collection: Pink Tutu Love

Kara’s Collection: Pink Tutu Love

From an article originally posted January 8, 2014…

The early years of parenting were filled with angst and struggles over sleeping. I read books, asked friends, spent hours poring over the issue of sleep with my babies before Ella even arrived. I would read these books that had endless tips on how to get a wee babe to sleep all night long. Obviously, that sounded delicious. Amazing. Sign me up!

Kara’s Collection: The Chief End of Man

Kara’s Collection: The Chief End of Man

From an article originally posted December 16, 2013…

I can’t sleep. My mind refuses to shut off tonight. I spent the day enjoying the small graces of my life. A slow morning with friends, food, the kids, a fire, and a movie with my oldest daughter. She snuggled close and held my hand through the movie. It felt like an important day. Tonight, as I was reading to my son, he rubbed his feet against mine just the way I do every evening. Jason used to try and hide his feet from me in the covers. Now my habit is a part of his evening routine.

Kara’s Collection: Proudly on the Naughty List!

Kara’s Collection: Proudly on the Naughty List!

From an article originally posted December 5, 2013…

I have been quietly struggling with the paradox of the American holiday we find ourselves in the midst of today. I do not wish to enter the Santa-no-Santa debate. It is one Jason and I have wrestled through and come to a comfortable peace in our home. The debate is intense and often unkind;  it’s almost as unkind as the political conversation in our nation. For that reason, I have backed away. But I will comment on a heart to the holiday that I think is troubling.