Dreams Deferred, or Waiting on a Promise?

I got that pang again the other day, the "it's back to school time and I don't have a job" sinking feeling in my gut. I've felt it too many times, often enough to have a name for it. I am glad for the past year at home.  As I've said before, I think I...

Living Deliberately (or A Mom Who Reads)

Disclaimer:  I promised this wouldn't turn into a "mommy blog" and I intend to keep it that way.  This post will use the word "mom" a lot, and because of that I debated whether or not to share it here.  I decided, yes, it applies, because it's less about my daughter and more about how...

Reflections from the Pause Button

I should write something. That thought has passed through my head multiple times over the past few *ahem* months since my last update.  I've tried a few times.  I came close to a complete post once, but nothing ever came to fruition.  And yet, I still keep getting new followers and new comments on old...

Two weeks old, Eleven years in the making

Hanging on our wall next to our wedding photos is another picture of Dan and I, taken exactly eleven years ago on Feb. 7th, 2004.  It's us on our first date - an 18 year old me in a recycled prom dress with a 20 year old Dan before he rocked his current beard-and-shaved-head style.  We look so different,...

Breathing Room

It's been a busy several weeks. Subbing has kept me on my toes - I haven't worked every day, but I'm working more often than not. Most of my work comes from the neighborhood public school, which is a convenient location, but I've been less than impressed with the school itself. In a town of...

Failure and Flexibility in Intentional Young Adulthood

A friend recently sent me a book recommendation with the comment that she thought of me when she read it because she knew I had "a passion for intentional adulthood."  I don't think I've ever used that exact term before, but it is a good description.  Growing up doesn't just happen.  Careers, education, and success...

Mass Judgements and Media Hype

We live in a world that thrives on media hype. Forget the details and facts. Forget context, background, and objectivity. Forget innocent until proven guilty. Instead, a video/picture/tweet of something offensive goes out and becomes viral, and suddenly the public at large decides it's time to voice its outrage. I'm going to try to write...

Lady in Waiting

It's amazing how much time we spend in life waiting.  I've waited for jobs, for apartments, and for answers that never came.  I've waited for phone calls, for a student to finally get it, and for things to finally settle down. Right now I'm waiting for the ultrasound that will tell me my baby's gender...

Activism: Goofy Games and Guilt Trips?

I'm really bothered by social media based activism.  When did we as a culture decide we needed fads to inspire us to give? I've had this topic sitting in my mind for a while.  I wanted to pick a good time to post it - not in the middle of any frenzy where it could be...

The Big Update – and why it’s taken me so long to write about it.

I've dropped a lot of hints that things are changing in my life, and I've wrestled a lot with how and when to make this announcement online.  In the end, the best way is to just come out and say it. (OK, deep breath...) If you haven't figured it out by now, I'm pregnant, due...