Watching my daughter, Serrah, practice the running man in the middle of the Kitchen, K-mart parking lot, and everywhere we went; had Maggie, her older sister, rolling her eyes constantly. I, on the other hand was trying, unsuccessfully to learn it with her. We were a constant threesome now, Serrah my roomie... Continue Reading →
Yes, My Darling, Elvis Has Left The Building
"When I grow up, I'm going to marry Elvis," my seven-year old daughter, Maggie stared dreamy-eyed at the tv. Elvis in all his glory was singing "Love Me Tender." Oh, my. Who could blame her. My heart was melting with hers. How can I possibly break this to her? I started with the safest answer,... Continue Reading →
Little Runaway Lamb
I stared out over the sea of the soccer complex across the street from our house, young athletes and referees on the field, spectators lining the edge, so many camp chairs, blankets, people. Beyond that was a playground, where our babysitter had been playing with the kids, where Emily, our daughter with Downs syndrome, was... Continue Reading →
A Little Boy’s Treasures
“You know, Gramma, what might seem like garbage to one person, could be really important to someone else,” six-year old Ben with his big round sober blue eyes looked earnestly up at my mother. He was beautiful, full of innocence, and had a perchance for garbage. Clean-up week was my worst nightmare. Ben celebrated it.... Continue Reading →
Alligator In The Dark
"Maxieee. Where are you?" There was a pause, and then a shushing sound." I listened carefully, trying to decipher where the "shh" had come from. It was only a matter of two more heartbeats, "I'm right here!" It wasn't fair, I suppose. No, it wasn't at all. Four-year-old Max could often be counted on to... Continue Reading →
Driver’s Seat
I sat five-year old Emily on the hood of the car to tie her shoe, certain that my other three blonde heads and one brunette had exited the vehicle. As the car began to move, my eyes flew to the steering wheel to see the giant round blue eyes of my four year old, Ben... Continue Reading →
Millennial Brady Bunch
I've been unable to write for a very long time, fixated on one thing... the divorce. How can I write about something so monumental, and do it right? I will say what is lovely and good and sad and right. We married young, we had five kids within five years, we weren't college educated. We... Continue Reading →
Crystal Springs
My young husband and I stood beside our broken down station wagon, each holding an infant up for passers-by to see. We had four-month-old twins. Along with our infant twins, we were traveling with our three little girls, ages five, three, and two, as well. They have to see how desperately we need help. Surely... Continue Reading →
Madeline Louise
"Mama, there's puppies next door! Daddy, come see!" Maggie and Serrah, heralded their news in stereo. Great. OK, let's go have a look." We were in Bismarck celebrating my younger sister, Carmen, graduating high school, with my family. The neighbor handed puppies over the fence to Maggie, Serrah, Lyle, and I, "They're eight weeks, yellow... Continue Reading →
How You Yike It? Huh!
I turned around, completely taken by surprise. How in the heck? My nine-month-old baby boy was standing directly behind me, a hesitant smile on his lips, and eyes that were pleading with me. I groaned, "How did you get out of your crib?" He had practically beat me out to the kitchen. "That was really... Continue Reading →
Love My Messy Life 