On my son turning 12 and me spreading the Nutella correctly

My youngest son Augustin Heinz Martin turned 12 a couple of days ago. Can we just slow life down for a while. It’s moving too fast.   But, Gus was ready. His birthdays are a big deal for him and they are a big deal to me as well. It’s his last year as a “tween.” Sixth...

It’s hard, it gets better, keep on keeping on – On parenting

After the recent winter concert of my sixth grade son at his middle school, we went out for ice cream at the local Baskin-Robbins with about a dozen other families from the community who, like us, were celebrating the wonderful holiday musical event. It was my...

Hospitality is one Christmas Tradition we cannot let disappear

We recently had two families over for a Christmas dinner and cookie making session. Though Christmas is such a busy time of year, I so want to be deliberate about inviting people into our home for fellowship as a way of maintaining traditions, and maybe establishing...

Mom, can we just go alone?

The other day, my twins, still 16, were heading out for their co-ed soccer game “Under the Lights,’ which  means they were going to get to play where the regular competitive school soccer teams play, the ones who compete against the other high school varsity and...

Sarah on her mom: “My beautiful mother, friend and role model…departed for Heaven”

My daughter Rachel emailed me from Tanzania asking if I had heard about Sarah and Michael’s mom, Kathy Bernert.   Heard what? I wondered, already fearing the worst.   Knots starting tying up in my stomach.   Sarah and Michael’s mom, Kathleen Carol Bernert, 51, had...

16 and driving – My twins and I Navigating the Doubly Exhilarating World of Independence

My twins are 16. Oh my. Wow, and double wow. My two blue-eyed blonde boy bundles were born five minutes a part on a crisp fall day 16 years ago. One arrived at 10:32 a.m., the other at 10:37 am. One placenta, the doctor told me. “What does that mean?” I pondered, deep...

Pin It on Pinterest