Trading “power rage” for peace

“NOOOOOO. Not again!! Please???” Muffled grunts and a loud, “MOMMYYYY!!! NO POWERRRRR!!!!” The day my child raged at the fan was an eye-opener. Later she told Grammy she loves the outside of our new house, but the inside is “funky.” I’m sorry… what??? Funky?!? What is funky about the house we poured so much energy, […]

Signs and wonders

Christmas Eve found us in Delaware excited to go see everyone at church one last time. A mere week later we would be leaving for Papua New Guinea, our heads and hearts anticipating the coming separation. Part of the excitement was simply Christmas Eve anticipation. There’s the underlying thrill that typically defines Christmas Eve for […]

The day Rey chose Ray

The bright red numbers on the clock didn’t lie and the deep stillness that accompanies the minutes between night and morning, unsure which they want to be, all told me it was much too early to get up. It was going to be a long day and I should sleep. I rolled over sure I […]

Illicit haircuts

I could see Ray sliding by out of the corner of my eye. That she was guilty of something was clear as day. What exactly, I was less sure of. We were in the middle of quiet time and I couldn’t imagine what she was trying to keep from me. She crab-walked towards the kitchenette, […]

Whale shark therapy

The obsession started well over a year ago. Not princesses, not unicorns. Not horses or puppies or kittens. Whale sharks. Those behemoths of the ocean had the hearts of two little girls in Papua New Guinea as soon as they learned of their existence. I’m fairly certain the fascination started with an episode of Octonauts […]