What full circle looks like

by Lisa-Jo | Sep 13, 2011 | Callings, Faith, Family, Kids, Marriage, Motherhood

Fifteen years ago I stood in the same place I stood last night. I was 21 and about to fall for the Midwestern boy with the green eyes who was trying to steal third base. Spring on the Washington DC mall – it was a cherry blossom love story. I couldn’t have known. I...

For when the walls are closing in

by Lisa-Jo | Sep 6, 2011 | Faith, Family, Kids, Motherhood, Raising Boys

He comes to find me in the dark. Eyes squinted against my bedside lamp, he whispers, “Mama. Mama I gotta be by you.” Bad dreams and hot summer nights drive him out of his bed, down the hallway and into mine. And I, I who crave space like oxygen at the end...

Balancing the happy ending

by Lisa-Jo | Sep 5, 2011 | Callings, Kids, Motherhood, Raising Boys

The lovers in movies kiss in shades of intimate sunset. Wind and light and time stand still for them. Their moments are filled with space to breathe and exhale and savor. They hold hands. They look long and deep into the insides of each other’s eyes to interpret what...

One way to quiet the nagging voice of mother guilt

by Lisa-Jo | Aug 25, 2011 | Callings, Faith, Motherhood, South Africa, Travel

Sometimes the specter of mother guilt chases so hard after us it’s hard to hear anything else. It’s always there nipping at our heels, whispering in our ears, weaseling into our heads. Right when we think the day’s gone well, it slips into bed next to us and reminds...

Because parents have to be brave first

by Lisa-Jo | Aug 24, 2011 | Daughters, Faith, Family, Motherhood

One of my favorite things is learning from other moms. I can sit for hours soaking in their war stories and encouragement. Yesterday Christie shared about how to survive some of motherhood’s worst storms. Today, as Jackson and I gear up for our first year of...

A word on weathering the storms of motherhood

by Lisa-Jo | Aug 23, 2011 | Daughters, Faith, Motherhood

My friend Christie has known me since before I had kids. I now have three. And she’s one of the few people with whom I can share my hard, ugly days of motherhood and always find help, empathy, encouragement. I asked if she’d share about weathering some of...