The highlight reels. It’s typically what we share. Look at these pictures. Looks like pure fun. The enjoyment on their faces. All 3 girls quietly and happily painting. Focused on their art project. But this picturesque scene lasted maybe 3 minutes. Rocks are a big deal around here. I don’t get it but every load of laundry I do I find a rock in someone’s pocket. They refer to them as “the collection.” Painting them is one of their favorite warm weather activities.  They are intent on creating a rock garden. Since the weather has improved, painting them has been of high priority. But with the chaos of last week, it just wasn’t going to happen. So, I promised them we would this week and today seemed like the perfect day. I set everything up outside. I even brought out washable finger paints for Addy so she could participate. And as everyone started painting I took some quick pictures of their fun. But here is what you don’t see: It was windy. Elly spilled the water cup multiple times....

I have been told my life should be a sitcom.   Maybe a reality TV show.   Things tend to happen to me that don’t typically happen to other people, or so I have been told…repeatedly.   After the past couple of weeks, a friend asked me “Teri, did you walk underneath a ladder, carrying a black cat, while breaking a mirror on Friday the 13 th ?”   Um, not that I am aware of, but I get why she asked. Summer is my favorite time of year to just have fun and make memories with my girls. So far, memories are for sure being made, but fun probably isn’t how any of us would describe it. Our first weekend of summer was set to be a beach day.   My hubby was taking care of unpacking the van, as I attempted to wrestle our feisty 1 year old into her swim gear.   Then, beeping of the back hatch as it closes, followed by screaming.   Somehow my 3-year-old ran right into it as it was closing and split her head open.   How it happened?   No one could tell you. ...

I hear the words “being a mom is hard” come out of my mouth and immediately I cringe.   I know I will likely hear a comment that is not going to make me feel much better.   If anything, it will make me feel worse.   I can almost start listing them off: you don’t know how blessed you are; other people wish they had kids; etc.   I thank God every day for my girls.  But…it…is…hard.   So, if you have ever been the person who has felt drawn to scold a mom or immediately remind her of her blessings, I have made this list for you.   See, when a mom says “being a mom is hard,” there is so much more behind those words. What it may mean: I am tired and I haven’t slept in 6 years. I am trying to manage this new phase of our lives. One kid is teething and one kid is tantruming. I feel like I am failing them. I lost my temper today. My kids are growing up so fast. I am not a pinterest mom. I miss the school stuff because I have to work. I hate...

Are you still running with Ahmaud?   Are you saying George Floyd’s name and posting his picture?   Or have you been silent?   The world is on fire.   It has always been on fire, you just couldn’t see the smoke or feel the flames until now.   This isn’t new.   We are just seeing a better camera angle now.   Maybe you had no comments until the peaceful protests turned to riots.   I am going to challenge you to dig deeper.   Explore every option.   Look at the world through more than the lens you are used to.   As a Christian, we are called to more than passiveness.   Putting this into words has been a real struggle.   See, I am a mom.   And I see everything through my mommy glasses now.   On an intellectual level I can understand history and oppression. I teach this stuff.     I can articulate facts quite well.   I have dug deep into real American and world history. I have a wealth of knowledge. ...

Ready to learn more?   Below are several resources available to help you on the first step of your journey.   If you are on facebook consider joining the Be The Bridge facebook group.   Be the Church.   Be the Change in the world.   Be the Hands and Feet of Jesus.   Podcasts   *Scene on Radio-Season two "Seeing White"  https://www.sceneonradio.org/seeing-white/ and Season four "The Land that Never has been Yet"   * 1619   Online Resources, Groups & Classes   Be the Bridge https://bethebridge.com/   https://bethebridge.com/docs/16Tips.pdf   Books Waking Up White and Finding Myself in the Story of Race  by Debbie Irving https://www.amazon.com/Waking-White-Finding-Myself-Story/dp/0991331303/ref=sr_1_1?crid=35M7WZD8RVD7M&dchild=1&keywords=waking+up+white&qid=1591025659&sprefix=waki%2Caps%2C166&sr=8-1   White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About ...

I find myself mesmerized as I gaze at her sweet face as she snuggles into bed. Hair is a mess and her pjs probably don’t match.   Might even be on backwards, inside out or both.   She has a style all her own.   My middle child.   Did I plan her?   Nope.   Had I followed my plan, I would have missed out on the gift of being her mother.   Lucky for me, God had a different plan.   After I had my first child, I WAS DONE.   To say my pregnancy was challenging is an understatement.   And pregnancy was easy in comparison to my delivery.   Without providing the terrifying details and risking traumatizing new moms to be, I will simply say there was nothing typical about it.   It wasn’t so much that I didn’t want more children, as much as I didn’t want to go through any of that again.   So, I had successfully convinced myself that one child was all I was going to have. Right before Ellyana’s first birthday my hubby approached...

All 3 kids breakfast, teeth and hair, dressed. Ready for the day. “Where did all this marker come from? How did you get a marker?” Zoom meeting! Crap, my comput er is still updating. Text teacher. Apologize. Only five minutes late to zooming. I’ll throw in a quick load of laundry. There is a load in the dryer. Just fluff it. How did my kids make two loads of laundry in 2 days? “Mom, I just peed my pants on my zoom meeting.” Add to the laundry pile. “How are you covered in glue? It wasn’t even your art project!” “What do you want sweetie? Do you want Frozen?” “Let it goooooo, Let it goooooo.” “Ok, Frozen it is!” That will keep her occupied for 5 minutes. “Up, mommy.” Or 30 seconds. “No, down. Let it gooooooooooo. Let it goooooooo.” “No, mommy, up, up. Up. UP!!!!” “Down mommy!” “Up, up.” Dryer beeps. I’ll just turn it back on for a minute. “Why are you so cranky and drooly?” “Oh you’re teething.” “Eat, Eat?” Is it time for a snack? Seriously, lunch time! Already? What do we have. Quick. ...