On Growing Up and Letting Go

“Is this what being an adult is like?” he asks me, fresh from a frustrating 18th-birthday morning spent with his dad at the DMV at the bank, battling bureaucratic bullshit and accomplishing exactly nothing.  We look at each other, John and I, and John says, “Pretty much.” He’s so excited to be 18, so ready [...]

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Am I a Junk Food Junkie?

How many of you remember this song: My husband was listening to a playlist of “one hit wonders” this afternoon while we were working.  I don’t guess I’d heard that song since it enjoyed its run on the charts back in 1976.  The idea that bingeing on junk foods is a lot like getting high [...]

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Bacon Love

I’m supposed to start writing about Diet Rehab today.  Instead I am writing about bacon!  Do you see a problem here? When I was growing up, there was always a cup of bacon grease in the refrigerator, but the only time I remember my mother using it was when she made green beans.  But I [...]

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Music and Memories

Humor me–listen to the song first. I’ve spent the last couple of hours indulging in a rare occupation for me–listening to music.  I don’t own an iPod (well, I have an iPhone now but I don’t use it for that).  I usually don’t turn on the car radio.  My CDs, cassettes, and records are all [...]

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I Want a New Drug

“Junk food is as addictive as cocaine.“ That’s a pretty provocative statement, and it comes straight from the press kit for Diet Rehab, a book by Dr. Mike Dow, the cohost of Freaky Eaters, which would probably impress me if I watched t.v.  I don’t know yet whether I believe it or not, but I [...]

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It’s a First

I’ve got the tree undecorated by the end of the Feast of the Epiphany! Yay me! And I did it all by myself, because Emily went back to college yesterday. The tree is still in the house but I’ll have it out within the hour. Just waiting for one of my teenagers to help. Below [...]

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Because Truth Matters

Let’s get this straight from the very beginning.  I’m not planning to vote for Rick Santorum.  I disagree profoundly with most of his positions.  So the defense that follows has nothing to do with my personal political leanings.  It has to do instead with my passion for the truth, the same passion that leads me [...]

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Note of Thanks

I’ve posted variations on this theme on Facebook, in my church bulletin, and in various letters that have gone out to the many communities that helped our family recover from the fire that destroyed our home and belongings four months ago.  In case I’ve missed anyone (I know I have) I want to offer thanks [...]

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Back to the Grind

So Christmas vacation is over and today it is back to the grind. Back to bath times, bedtimes, and waking up in the dark. Back to rushed mornings and fighting traffic. Back to daily stops at Taco Bell and Weigel’s. Back to signing papers and stressing over homework. And, worst of all, back tomorrow to [...]

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Christians who AREN’T

So I’m taking my son and his girlfriend to the mall this morning, and find myself behind a car with the bumper sticker above.  Looks like a nice Christian sentiment, right?  Especially considering it was accompanied by one of those Christian fish symbols some people put on their cars (there was one on my late [...]

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