Kids

From a mom of 4 wild ass monkey boys: “I want a girl just like you in my family.” From a mom of twins whom I’ve still never met, pre-teens at the time: “I wish my girls could know you.” From a kindred spirit gal in Louisiana: “I like you. You’re like when little kids…

When I was 5 years old, my grandpa built me a dollhouse. Even as a little girl, I remember being amazed at the intricate bricks that formed the two-story-high walls and the individual shingles that topped the roof. The front side had a tiny front door which, if you pulled on the tiny handle, opened…

“Is it okay for me to jump?” he yelled. I watched him pump his legs back and forth, swinging higher and higher until he was holding steady at a significant height. He and his brother had formed their own sort of Olympic game, gaining momentum and then jumping from their swings to see who could…

You’ve probably seen this, since apparently it’s been viral for a while.  I don’t know how I missed it, since the internet is my most frequent stomping ground (ugh, depressing).  Anyhow, it was new to me. Take 10 minutes to watch this short film called “Caine’s Arcade” about a 9-year old boy who built an…

We live in a predominantly Hispanic area, and I love the kids who live a few doors down from us.  They’re always outside running around in the yard, yelling to each other in Spanish – yet effortlessly switch to English when I walk past. The other day, I was passing by with the dogs when…

Mission of Hope recently acquired 55 acres of land from the government in Bercy, which is about 30 minutes north of their main campus.  On this land, they are planning to build a school, a medical clinic, a church, an orphanage, and a conference center – a planned community.  Just like Florida! In the meantime,…

I have a friend named Emily.  She is all sorts of lovely. Emily has a little sister named Ellery, and Ellery has a blog.  Or, rather, their mom keeps a blog on Ellery’s behalf. Please.  Do yourself a favor and treat yourself to What Ellery Says. My favorites? This one. And this one. Here‘s another….

You know how sometimes, a long-forgotten memory will make its way to the surface for no apparent reason?  All of a sudden, the scene is playing in your mind – like a film projector on an old bed sheet, nostalgic home video remembrances of life before you knew the things you know now. The other…

Yesterday, I got some fantastic news. Tyler got the Red Ribbon at preschool! I can’t really remember what that means, except that only one kid gets it at the end of every day.  It has to do with some sort of virtue, I think – like sharing, or listening, or helping, or being kind.  And…