The kids have grown up going to Harn Park, a block-long park in Oklahoma City that doubles as a crabapple orchard. In spring, the blossoming trees that line the edges of the park create an elegant public space. What I love about the park is that in our compact, urban neighborhood, it offers an...
Back in July, I threw a carnival birthday party for my daughter Bridgette. We rented a dunk tank and a miniature pony for the kids to paint. Bridgy loved it all, but the dunk tank would have probably been enough! I underestimated how much the kids were going to like it and the poor pony got a...
My deeds, my hands, this mess in guilt we silence our questions I say my prayers nevertheless did I do it right, don’t you leave me yet… —Tanya Davis, Please Bless I am painfully aware of the sentimentality in my writing. I can’t turpentine my way free of it. You’d...
Pick Your Own Food in Central Oklahoma For the past few weekends we’ve escaped the concrete jungle to find our rural fix at pick-your-own farms across Central Oklahoma. The built environment can suck the life right out of you and I’m desperate for these short getaways. In fact,...
This year for Bridgette’s birthday, I gave her a beautiful Soufeel charm bracelet. Unlike the stuffed animals, clothes and gadgets that will eventually end up at Goodwill, the bracelet can stay with her throughout her lifetime. It’s something she can pass down through the...
We stole away to Southeast Oklahoma a few weeks ago to celebrate the end of school and the start of summer. All our dreams packed into both Jeeps because one isn’t big enough to carry all these hopes. Hopes for a perfect weekend. a perfect cabin, a perfect campfire. Next summer, Juliette...
It’s a joy to share with you pictures of our daughter Bridgette’s First Communion. It was one of the best days of my life as we celebrated her receiving the wine and the bread and the gift of everlasting life. In keeping with tradition, the first grade moms at Bridgy’s...
If I had to advise parents, I should tell them to take great care about the people with whom their children associate. — St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Mrs. H. was the crabbiest teacher I had. She taught at the old East Kermit Elementary School in West Texas. I tried to find it recently, but...
What we have here are boy troubles. Yep. Serious boy problems. This tangled Slinky will never walk down the stairs again. An entirely separate problem would be if you bought this thing and your house didn’t have stairs. Bwahhh! By the way, this is the prize you get at Chuck E. Cheese after...
In 1974, our family moved from Los Angeles to Colorado Springs. Our new house was a yellow split-level on London Lane in Southboro. The house next door was bright blue and there lived the family Barlass. Peggy was the youngest of four kids and lucky for me, we were in the same grade. We became...
The tween and teen years can be filled with trials and tribulations. Often, when I tuck my kids in bed at night and help them say their prayers, I tell them to keep Jesus in their hearts forever. I remind them that I will not always be there to chase away the dark clouds, but, Lord God will always...
Juliette is my beautiful teenage daughter. Sweet and classy and with a big heart for all God’s creatures great and small. She had her junior prom last week. I’m so proud of the young woman she is becoming. She’s gearing up for an exciting trip to Europe this summer. When she...
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Hello, Jill! It's so nice to receive a message from a majorette. No doubt, it was a grand experience for…
I was the majorette at my Catholic high school (William V. Fisher Catholic) in Central Ohio. Fall 1993-97! Loving these…
Thank you so much. This post was one of the hardest I ever wrote because the trip was difficult. I…