We’ve been reading the Norman and Saxon sagas of history in our studies. Being that I have girls, I didn’t count on much interest in that subject this year, so it was a surprise to recently overhear our eldest chiding a sister with, “Would you quit being a Norman baron?” …and then misunderstand a conversation…
It all started with a book. We found Jane McGuiness’s Prickly Hedgehogs at our local library and picked it up for the sake of its vibrant, gentle illustrations and simple narration. Our children ate it up. Shortly after we returned it, however, our son Kai entered what will henceforth be known in our family as,…
Editor’s Note: Here, from the archives circa 2012, is gem worth re-reading! My daughter knows I’m thinking about her because, every night, I move the turtle. Let me explain. One night our family watched a documentary about the life of a sea turtle. Afterwards, their little plastic toy turtle (named “Sparky”) became a focus of…
Well, I guess we won’t be riding elephants. Today’s naptime brought me two children cozied into their restorative alone-time, and a lot of information about Bali’s most horrifyingly destructive tourist activities. It didn’t start out that way. I’d tucked the kids in, then began researching fun things to do on our family getaway to Bali….
I caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of my eye as I made my way through the crowd milling about in the children’s Sunday school pickup area. She beelined toward me, auburn ponytail bobbing behind her, a bright smile on her face. It was the 11-year old daughter of a friend, who…
“It’s just that if you’re not disruptive everything seems to be repeated endlessly.” Robert Adamson, Australian poet “Disruptive” sounds like something that needs to be disciplined. It’s not a very attractive term, but there may be a redeemable quality to it for parents. And since I really like the title of this post, I intend…
We used to live in a small town in Virginia just off the Chesapeake Bay. Many a day when William got home from work we would be ready with bathing suits on and lifejackets in hand. Taking along dip nets and pails, we would jump into our little john boat and head out the mouth…
I was not raised as a woods-traipsing boy. Central Florida, where I spent much of my childhood, can give you a great deal on theme park tickets or a killer ocean view, but you’ve got quite a drive ahead of you if you want to find a forest to get lost in. It wasn’t until…
There is a calico cat that treads about our backyard like a fancy hobo. He’s scrawny and haughty both. I did this picture after a conversation my wife and I had about him. If you are the parent entrusted with bedtime story duties, perhaps you might conjure up a journey for him and see where…
“Perhaps there is nothing more delightful in the romance of boyhood than the finding of some secret hiding-place whither a body may creep away from the bustle of the world’s life, to nestle in quietness for an hour or two. More especially is such delightful if it happen that by peeping from out it, one…
You are holding on tighter than he is. The palm of your hand is sweaty when you finally let go of that foam-padded bike seat. The brightly painted bicycle wobbles, but this time it doesn’t fall down. That little head turns and flashes a toothy smile. You shout, “You’re doing it! You’re doing it!” Your…
Oh, young man, I want you to rise up early and seek the face of God. To reach over to your bedside table, still bleary with sleep and grope for God’s word, hungry to put just one line of it into your awakening soul. I want you to hear the voice of the holy Spirit…
