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 →
I Still Believe
The excitement is building. The atmosphere is so charged with it, that it’s palpable. Change is coming. The entire landscape of the world changes when the American people elect a new president. “I voted,” the sticker reads. What does it mean? I did my part, exercised my right? It’s so much more than that. Casting... 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 →
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 →
“Oh, NO, no, no, no! Maggie Ann! What the heck?!” To my complete horror, I watched my eldest daughter, as in super slow motion, walk toward our home from a couple of houses down. She was holding her clothes in one arm. She was stark naked?! Why? What on earth? I closed my eyes, opening... Continue Reading →
Ode to Bubble Gum Medicine and Good Night Juice
Five-year old, Maggie, woke from her nap glossy eyed and red in the cheeks. “Oh, baby, you’re burning up,” I kissed her forehead (the mom thermometer). The alarm went off in my mind. She had come home with a note from preschool letting parents know that there were a few cases of chicken pox among... Continue Reading →
Love My Messy Life 