You know summer is on its way when the Victoria’s Secret swimsuit catalog arrives in the mail. Most of us have a love/hate relationship with this particular catalog. In order to view a really excellent selection of beachwear, we are forced to confront a minefield of our own insecurities in the form of Photoshopped, airbrushed […]

Oh Juan Pablo. Ay, ay, ay. The worst-ever season of The Bachelor ended explosively Monday night with Rico Suave Juan Pablo sending contestant Clare home just a few hours after inexplicably telling her that he could see them getting married and having babies together.  That left Nikki as the last lady standing.  J.P. rewarded her […]

Just before bedtime a few weeks ago, my nine-year-old daughter surprised me with some news. “I’ve decided to call you Mom instead of Mommy from now on,” she informed me. “What?” I asked. “Why?” “Because ‘Mommy’ sounds babyish,” she said. “What do you have against babies?” I asked her. She giggled and gave me a […]

Each Friday, I’m publicly thanking someone who’s made a difference in my life or the lives of others. Read more about this project here. Ray Emanuel was a postal worker here in Nashville who turned what could have been a very ordinary job into something quite extraordinary. For years, Ray intercepted all the letters addressed […]

When my six-year-old really, really wants something (which is about every five minutes), he’ll do just about anything to get it. ‘Anything’ in his mind means rushing toward me at full speed, tightly wrapping his arms and legs around my body, and begging as though I’ve just announced that I have the last golden ticket […]

I thought all those ‘What to Expect’ books I read back when I was pregnant had totally prepared me for parenting – But as it turns out, not one of them devotes so much as a paragraph to the scalp-tingling, fire-breathing, white hot rage every mom experiences when her precious, perfect child is…. REJECTED. Before […]

Last week, the drummer in the band I sing with at church died unexpectedly– Obviously, he’s been on my mind quite a bit over the last few days. Primarily, I’m heartbroken for his family and close friends…. but I’m also really bothered by the fact that I never thanked him for what was, in retrospect, […]

As Americans, we all know that bigger is better- and in the South, at least, nowhere is this more evident than at church. Megachurches are where it’s at here in Nashville, with their supersized sanctuaries and celebrity pastors and virtual Internet services, and for many years my family went to one of the biggest, fastest-growing […]

On the day that your last child is born, you’ll find yourself filled with a jumble of emotions. You’ll feel relief to have finally given birth, pride and joy in the healthy baby in your arms– and sorrow at the realization that you’ll never again experience the primeval miracle of growing a baby inside your […]

EDIT: This list contains some great Netflix shows- BUT I have an updated (2016 edition) list with 70 amazing Netflix TV series, movies, and documentaries as well! Be sure and check out this post, too. You’ll be glad you did! I have a love/hate relationship with Netflix. I love it because I can now watch […]