Category: middle age
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Grateful for the Few Remaining Drive-Ins!
It’s remained an annual tradition with my family of five. With 22 yr. old twins and a 20 yr. old (along with 10 others we invited this summer), we again drove over an hour to our favorite drive-in for a night of family fun. It’s something that we all look…
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Joining the Rat-Race Mid-Life
Over 20 years ago, I sat on the tarmac in Iowa waiting to take off and return home from a business trip. I was in my first big-girl job post-college, and after receiving a promotion, was promptly sent to various cities to work with administrators in the Midwest and Northeast.…
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Why Isn’t Parenting Considered a Profession and Why Are We So Embarrassed by It?
If you’ve read this blog lately, you know I’ve been traveling a bit. Conversations among a wide array of human beings, each simultaneously living strikingly similar yet vastly dissimilar family lives fascinated me. A perpetual student at heart, I enjoyed every small talk chat and lengthier conversation surrounding the literal…
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2 Ducks. 2 Universities. 2 Weeks.
My daughter graduated from college on Saturday and my son will graduate in two weeks. If you read this blog regularly, you know they are twins and we were jumping with joy a year ago when my daughter’s university finally listed the graduation date and it was different from her…
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Monday Gratitude
God blessed us with an awesome long weekend visiting our youngest at college. The flights were smooth, the family time precious, and the weather…warm and sunny! “Give thanks with a grateful heart.” Henry Smith Photo: time.com
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The Coming and Going During the College Years
Nearly three months ago, I walked through the brisk November air into the sliding glass doors of the airport, traveled up the escalator and stood outside security, waiting for my youngest to get off the plane. It was two days before Thanksgiving and my hands had not been on my…
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Remembering to Play When the Kids Are Away
“It is a happy talent to know how to play.” Ralph Waldo Emerson I read this quote recently and thought of my kids who are all really good at “play”, even though they are now in their early 20’s. They are all playing college sports. The girls still play Just…
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Like Moses, My Arms Got Tired
Exodus 17 11-13 As long as Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed; but when he lowered them, Amalek prevailed. When Moses’ hands grew heavy, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur held his hands up, one on each…
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Our Many Characteristics
My youngest called from college, distressed about boy #1 talking to boy #2 on her behalf. She did not approve. She believes that any young man worth dating in the future would need to personally get to know her – through her. The conversation progressed into fully analyzing the words…
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Determined to Enjoy the Breathtaking Beauty of Nature, Despite the Profound Pain of Life
I had an early morning errand to run. The dawn hours were filled with thick fog. As I drove back down the street toward my house, the sun began to rise, peeking through the few remaining leaves on the trees lining the country road. I slowed down to fully embrace…
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You’re Middle Age When…Clothes Shopping
You try something on in a dressing room and don’t bother to look in the mirror until you’ve determined it is comfortable. I took 10 items into a dressing room a few days ago. Whether I put on pants or a top, I immediately did a few yoga stretches, squatted…
Tales from a Mid-Lifer 