Category: thankfulness

From the Blog

pregnancy and parenting

To the Self-Critical Parent: You’ve come so Far

I was leaving the bathroom of a busy cafe, waving my watery hands in the air rather than pausing to insert them into the dryer, when I brushed past her. Actually, knocked into her, elbowed her, buffeted by her, are probably more accurate descriptions of what took place. She was standing to the side of the toilet doorway, the generic white plastic change table extended from the wall, wrestling a tiny, red, mid-air-bicycle-pumping footed newborn out of one nappy and into another. Basically she was trying to dress a young wild bear.

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anxiety

Declutter Me: Ambitioning a Quiet Life

‘That’s what we do. We make mess. We’re a messy family.’ Five year old E sums it up with characteristic bare-to-the bone directness as we stand side by side and watch our freshly washed floor endure a new littering of crumbs, toys, unknown sticky substances, and yes… yet more spilled-milk.

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Memories of my brother

Sky song for my parents

It’s 5:30pm, an overcast September evening in early Spring, and I’ve escaped the holiday house we are staying in with our three kids for a moment to take a short walk. There’s music playing through my headphones, because, in my opinion, sunset and surf always look at their best accompanied by music, especially if its slow, and raw, and acoustic. And I’m also naturally lazy and I need the music to carry me forward until my feet find their rhythm.

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thankfulness

Reflections from 13 Years on: A Wedding Anniversary Post

Sixteen years ago I saw a guy with a backpack across a crowded church. He was tall, dark and handsome (and in retrospect very, very young. If you doubt me at all, check out our pre-digital, pre-grey hair wedding photos…) But there was something about that guy even then.

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campus living

Time to ‘Fly’: A November message to those about to move on….

This morning the kids found a baby bird hiding under one of the outdoor chairs in the garden. Though wild, it acted tame, even allowing the kids to pat and stroke its little back, all the time keeping its soft wings held close to its side. ‘Lets call it princess,’ suggested W (princesses being the in thing in the garden lately). Thankfully, they decided on Benny. It soon became apparent why little Benny bird was so quietly and complacently settled under the seat.

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Faith

These are days you’ll remember…

Memories are never just free-floating. They have backdrops. They happen in place and time. Memories of people take place in the context of other people. Some memories stand out more than others, are more defining than others. Because they helped define you. And there are some memories you don’t ever want to stop remembering. It’s these memories you want to take with you into the future. To pass on to future generations. Because there’s just so much goodness there to be had.

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Friendship

A letter to friends, old and new: Thankyou

Dear Friend, Old friend, new friend, true friend. If you are reading this, you know who you are. I want to write here now to say that I am so glad that our paths crossed when they did, all those many years ago, or only just recently.

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loss

My Brother’s Lead, My Brother’s Legacy

Anyone who has lost someone close to them knows what I mean when I say there’s a hole in my heart that won’t ever be filled. At least not on this earth. My brother Greg’s absence is an abyss not only within me, but also in the family landscape. It is always there, but at times it seems more dangerous or delicate to walk around it, like at birthday, or on the anniversary of his accident, and at other significant events.

Read More
pregnancy and parenting

To the Self-Critical Parent: You’ve come so Far

I was leaving the bathroom of a busy cafe, waving my watery hands in the air rather than pausing to insert them into the dryer, when I brushed past her. Actually, knocked into her, elbowed her, buffeted by her, are probably more accurate descriptions of what took place. She was standing to the side of the toilet doorway, the generic white plastic change table extended from the wall, wrestling a tiny, red, mid-air-bicycle-pumping footed newborn out of one nappy and into another. Basically she was trying to dress a young wild bear.

Read More
anxiety

Declutter Me: Ambitioning a Quiet Life

‘That’s what we do. We make mess. We’re a messy family.’ Five year old E sums it up with characteristic bare-to-the bone directness as we stand side by side and watch our freshly washed floor endure a new littering of crumbs, toys, unknown sticky substances, and yes… yet more spilled-milk.

Read More
Memories of my brother

Sky song for my parents

It’s 5:30pm, an overcast September evening in early Spring, and I’ve escaped the holiday house we are staying in with our three kids for a moment to take a short walk. There’s music playing through my headphones, because, in my opinion, sunset and surf always look at their best accompanied by music, especially if its slow, and raw, and acoustic. And I’m also naturally lazy and I need the music to carry me forward until my feet find their rhythm.

Read More
thankfulness

Reflections from 13 Years on: A Wedding Anniversary Post

Sixteen years ago I saw a guy with a backpack across a crowded church. He was tall, dark and handsome (and in retrospect very, very young. If you doubt me at all, check out our pre-digital, pre-grey hair wedding photos…) But there was something about that guy even then.

Read More
campus living

Time to ‘Fly’: A November message to those about to move on….

This morning the kids found a baby bird hiding under one of the outdoor chairs in the garden. Though wild, it acted tame, even allowing the kids to pat and stroke its little back, all the time keeping its soft wings held close to its side. ‘Lets call it princess,’ suggested W (princesses being the in thing in the garden lately). Thankfully, they decided on Benny. It soon became apparent why little Benny bird was so quietly and complacently settled under the seat.

Read More
Faith

These are days you’ll remember…

Memories are never just free-floating. They have backdrops. They happen in place and time. Memories of people take place in the context of other people. Some memories stand out more than others, are more defining than others. Because they helped define you. And there are some memories you don’t ever want to stop remembering. It’s these memories you want to take with you into the future. To pass on to future generations. Because there’s just so much goodness there to be had.

Read More
Friendship

A letter to friends, old and new: Thankyou

Dear Friend, Old friend, new friend, true friend. If you are reading this, you know who you are. I want to write here now to say that I am so glad that our paths crossed when they did, all those many years ago, or only just recently.

Read More
loss

My Brother’s Lead, My Brother’s Legacy

Anyone who has lost someone close to them knows what I mean when I say there’s a hole in my heart that won’t ever be filled. At least not on this earth. My brother Greg’s absence is an abyss not only within me, but also in the family landscape. It is always there, but at times it seems more dangerous or delicate to walk around it, like at birthday, or on the anniversary of his accident, and at other significant events.

Read More