Our family has many special memories in Hawaii, so we were thrilled when my sister announced she was getting married on Maui. Even better: the wedding would take place in February, which guaranteed a respite from another dark, frigid Alaskan winter. We would wake up in snowy Anchorage, and a mere six hours later land on the shores of a tropical paradise. Getting there wasn’t … Continue reading Just Mauied
Earlier this month, my parents celebrated 50 years of marriage. They’ve never been ones to make a big hoopla about their anniversary, but this one warranted something special. There was no way my siblings and I were going to let fifty years go by without a celebration. A party was out of the question. Our folks would never go for it, there’s still this whole … Continue reading Silver & Gold
Happy Anniversary to us: 2020 marks 18 years of marriage and 26 years together! And with COVID-19, I mean together. All days, all nights, always. (Actually, as of now Clark is still going into his office daily, but we are following all the “hunker down” orders in effect for our community.) We never make a big to-do of our anniversary, so it wasn’t a huge … Continue reading Frame by Frame
Today I’m feeling particularly grateful for my husband, who is currently at the grocery store rounding up everything we need for dinner tonight. We tag team meals a lot – both the cooking and the shopping. It’s been a weekend full of gratitude with him. The kids didn’t have school Friday, so he stayed home with them and offered to watch a friend’s daughter as … Continue reading Gratitude #6: The Hubs
Today my friend Jeanette added a photo to Facebook. It was taken 20 years ago at her wedding: I am Puffy Sleeves #3 and #4 to the right of the bride, and Clark is the guy behind me who used to have hair. This photo captures the day – 20 year ago – that Clark and I became a couple. Dave and Jeanette matched us up … Continue reading Twenty Years Already?!
Sunday was our 12 year wedding anniversary. My friend Nancy offered to watch the kids, but we decided it would be fun to get spiffed up as a family and head out to a fancy restaurant together. Just the four of us. It was a decent plan, but when the big day rolled around no one wanted to leave the house. So we scratched baseball … Continue reading Happy Anniversary to Us!
If you ever find yourself in need of a good fairy tale, just flip on a commercial for one of those big box home improvement stores. Lowe’s and Home Depot would like us to believe that home projects are magical family bonding experiences. Have you seen the Lowe’s commercial featuring a young, attractive couple skipping through the store aisles before giddily loading their truck with … Continue reading Green Pastures
This weekend we participated in “Homer Sea Week” with our children’s school community. It was a 3-day family field trip, and nearly all of our kids’ classmates made the 5-hour trek to Homer to explore tidepools, observe shorebirds, and connect with other families. The teachers put together an amazing activity booklet to entertain kids on the long drive to Homer. It was decorated with student … Continue reading Homer Sea Week: The Prelude
On Sunday Clark decided to take the kids hunting. A light dusting of snow had fallen the day before, so apparently the conditions were ripe for tracking without trudging. Clark has been dreaming about this day since the kids were conceived (probably longer) just as much as I’ve been dreading it. Don’t get me wrong: I’m grateful Sam and Maggie have a dad whose greatest … Continue reading Bunnies and Pachyderms
Growing up, I would often hear women refer to themselves as “football widows.” It never resonated with me, since college football was more of a lifestyle than a hobby in my family. My mother and grandmothers and aunts were very much alive and present on game days, cursing and screaming throughout every play. In fact, when I look back, the whole world seemed a few … Continue reading Classic Marriage
Profoundly Ordinary 