Explore

Family

Family

And then there was one

September 10, 2023

There used to be three little faces in this picture. Like clockwork every year. All decked out in their new sneakers, shirts, and backpacks. But this year, there was only one. Just one, on the first day of school. As I sit back and think about the past summer and the launch of child number two out into the world, I am also thinking about the launch of…

Family

Bird Number 2 Has Left the Nest

August 27, 2023

And he’s off! It has been a week of saying goodbye… and hello. Tears and smiles, hugs…and packing. The ground has been unsteady all summer, but it’s finally firming up again.   And it feels GOOD. Every time a child heads out into the great blue yonder, a piece of a mom’s heart gets torn off and goes with her child. All summer, this piece of my heart has…

Family

It’s Irrational… My Feelings for the Dog

July 30, 2023

The kids say I take more pictures of the dog than I do them.  It’s true. I talk to her, and I find myself staring at her. I hug her, I kiss her, I make over her constantly.  She absolutely is the object of my affection. My dog. Trixie. Do you know we have a joke in the office about the dog having seasonal depression??  I swear, whenever…

Family

When It Rains, It Pours

July 9, 2023

When it rains, it pours.. …and even on the 4th of July, hiccups and clouds can come rolling in when you least expect it. That is exactly what happened this year for us. We had a triple threat this holiday week:  A tree fell on the car, the refrigerator at the camp died, and it poured for all of our 4th of July festivities.   Typically, the 4th of…

Family

Oh, how they grow

June 26, 2023

In the blink of an eye, it’s high school graduation.   How did this happen so fast? Where was I? I was changing diapers, doing laundry, and cuddling away a fever. I was running crazy schedules around practices and games, helping with homework, wiping away tears, and enjoying the little kid’s laughter. I was planning birthday parties and silently praying while watching them launch off of a bicycle jump…

Family

Memorial Day Weekend in New Hampshire

May 29, 2023

Memorial Day Weekend in New Hampshire. Nestled up near the Canadian border, Pittsburg sits unassuming.   It’s crufty, worn, and strong like the old barns that dot its landscape.  The old barns are a nod to the farming landscape that used to be abundant, vibrant, and thriving as a way of life. Every year I get to trek up to this country. I think about the family members I…

Family

Siblings: For Better or Worse

April 23, 2023

(From the archives-It’s been dusted off and polished up) The other day I drove by a local farm. Two of the brothers were out in front of the barn working together.   One brother was on the back of a tractor, and the other brother appeared to be holding something for the project. Seeing them pulled at my heart as I thought of my boys. Were those brothers peacefully…

Family

A Weekend Visit and a Nugget

April 17, 2023

I had a great weekend with Tyler at Purdue for FarmHouse Mom’s Weekend. This year was even bigger and better, with more moms–which was great! We put together a flower arrangement and cookbooks of our favorite recipes.  I can’t wait to start cooking! I always enjoy my time with Tyler, and out of it, there is always a nugget to share.   As I sit here and write, I am…

Family

Peeps and J.M. Fields

March 27, 2023

It’s Easter season, and I do love Easter candy! When I think of Easter, it always comes back to my sisters and me spending Easter at my grandparent’s house on Cross Street with my cousins and the EB! Easter egg hunts, the ham dinner, and going to church are solidly there in my mind with pictures to boot! But, in a close second for memories is my mother,…

Family

And like that, it’s almost over

February 12, 2023

Dear Jakey, Watching you play basketball has been one of the greatest joys of my life.  Seriously, it has.  I am your biggest fan! Through primary basketball, AAU, DAGS, and Varsity.  Late nights coming back from practices and weekend-long tournaments, it has been so much fun, and I wouldn’t trade that time with you for anything. Your feisty defense and serious offense—you never let up, always working hard…