Search Results for: blog going back to hades

Parents and Falling Back

Despite the collective groans from millions of parents across the nation, who detest the end of daylight savings, I for one will be embracing the extra hour of time we are gifted with tonight. Still, as a mother of an early rising 6-year-old I am not guaranteed an extra hour of sleep, but I’m grateful for the bonus hour nonetheless. I realize that I am in the minority on this one, especially as a parent. Many moms and dads with young children complain that their youngest kiddos don’t grasp the concept of an extra hour of sleep time, and end … Continue reading →

Back-to-School Bedtime Routine: Mommy vs. the Sun

Bittersweet sun, how I loved you. And by loved I mean worshipped. And by worshipped I mean in the unhealthiest ways possible. My love affair with the sun began as a young girl. Growing up in Hawaii, that scorching ball of fire in the sky was a constant companion. Not only did its rays provide me with a luminous glow that made my dingiest white shirts look radiant, but the sun also had a way of warming my inner being. Our adoration for each other deepened after I moved to the Upper Midwest. (Nine-month long Wisconsin winters will do that.) … Continue reading →

Going Back to Hades

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In a previous blog, I described the place where our adopted boys were living when the state took them into custody. I think about taking our oldest back to see the area. At the proper time, a visit will help him let go of his experiences there. He and I talk about where he came from occasionally. It does not happen often because he generally avoids the subject. He would usually rather talk about my experiences and friends. We have discussed every scar on my body. We have talked about my parents and siblings. He asks a lot of questions. … Continue reading →

Anxiety-Fueled Depression: Patricia’s Story (Is It Yours Too?)

For those living with chronic anxiety, there often comes a time when it just gets to be too much. You can only ride the ups and downs of anxious thoughts for so long before a sense of hopelessness creeps in. A heaviness of depression blankets every anxious thought. Paralysis sets in. Patricia’s story is a perfect example: Patricia lay in bed, dreading waking up, let alone getting up. At least in sleep she could escape for just a little while. Waking up meant gearing up, gearing up to somehow face another day. Patricia didn’t know exactly how she was going … Continue reading →

On Busting Lamps

When my wife and I were still expecting we moved into a new home to accommodate for our soon to be born son. We needed some more space, fewer stairs, and not as many neighbors on all sides (floors and ceilings included). This move was largely a good thing but our new residence was lacking some key features: lighting. I’m not sure if it is simply the floor plan or the electrical work, but much of our living room would be bathed in darkness if we didn’t supplement with some lighting of our own. These particular areas are even away … Continue reading →

Choosing Your Wedding Colors

When I was a little girl, I was absolutely insistent that I was going to have pink for my wedding color. Then I decided that lavender was really the way to go. Then I thought I’d do burgundy … but with some pink thrown in for good measure. By the time I was actually engaged, I’d been through so many colors of the rainbow, I had no idea what I wanted. I was working in a floral shop at the time, and one day, a shipment came in of the most beautiful flower I’d ever seen. It was alstromeria, which … Continue reading →

A Touch of Asia

I recently heard from a reader who wanted me to know that she and her family related to a post I wrote about scrapping untraditional holiday traditions. Apparently, they spend every Christmas Eve dining at their favorite Chinese restaurant before going home to open gifts. The reader’s comment made me think about expanding on the idea of scrapping Chinese dining experiences. Asian design is very popular in scrapbooking. In fact, you can actually purchase scrapbook kits that feature an Asian theme. DigitalScrapbookPages.com offers a Good Fortune kit that features a gorgeous Asian layout with traditional red, gold and black designs. … Continue reading →

Countdown to What?

All right, here it is: we’re making Christmas crafts. Yes, really. And it’s not because I am insanely organized. Far from it. It’s because I know that Christmas will come and we will not be organized, December will fly, and there we will be, with no Christmas presents to give to special teachers and other relatives. As I’ve mentioned before, my daughter and I are rapid-fire crafters. We don’t like to spend a lot of time creating crafts with intricate details – let’s just say that no one will be getting fancy lacework for Christmas, as least not made from … Continue reading →

Adoptions and Genealogy

If you are adopted, or there is an adoption in your family tree, you are likely to encounter some challenges in conducting genealogical research. There is quite a bit of legal red tape surrounding many modern-day adoptions, and older relatives may be unwilling to speak about adoptions because in the past, it was often considered a taboo topic of discussion. Whether you are an adoptee looking to contact your birth parents or you are just looking for information that will enable you to research your family tree, the challenges are the same. Beginning in the 1930s, the court system began … Continue reading →

Coloring Your Hair At Home

I have never liked the color of my hair. When I was younger I was told that the color of my hair was “dirty dishwater blonde.” Who wants to be told that their hair is the color of dirty dishwater? I can’t say for sure but I have feeling the desire to change my hair color began back then. After I had my first child I was ready for a change. I wanted to be a cute blonde. It would require having it professionally done, which cost a lot of money. Within five weeks my dark roots would begin to … Continue reading →