Walking in Knoxville: A Guide for Hikers
Writing about hiking used to be a pretty big chunk of this blog. Not so much lately, as I fell off the fitness wagon. But fall is a great time for walking–it’s beautiful as well as cool. So to inspire myself, and as a resource to any Knoxvillians or...
Shopping at the Farmer's Market
My mother used to take us with her to the farmers’ market when I was a little girl. Â This is how I remember it: We’d drive into a big warehouse on the way home from church. Â We’d stay in the car while my mother got out to shop. Â Through the windows...
Pleasant Forest: A Tale of Two Cemeteries
Pleasant Forest Cemetery is a hard one to miss. Â It’s enormous, for one thing, and it’s on a well-traveled road. I’ve driven by it many times and it’s been on my list to visit for awhile. Â Occasionally my graveyard trips are serendipitous and...
This Is What Democracy Looks Like
Lorelei and I had the opportunity this week to join in a local march in support of refugees and immigrants. Â This peaceful and patriotic event began in Market Square–Knoxville’s downtown gathering spot–with a silent vigil. Â Then all of...
Protest is Patriotism
Protesting is as American as the Boston Tea Party. Â The First Amendment to our Constitution includes the rights to speak freely, to assemble, and to petition our government for redress of grievances. Â That sounds like a pretty good description of a protest march like...
Pink Salt Riot
Catholics Online
Life in Every Limb on Facebook
Very interesting article, but what strikes me most is the idea that the reason we have kids is to make us happy. I am not saying that my kids don't make me happy, but that's not what my primary motivation for having children was.To me, the opportunity to be a co-creator of unique human beings is the primary reason to have kids. What do YOU think?
Since I share a post yesterday sharing what I DON'T know, today I will tell you what I DO.I wrote this many years ago, and nothing has happened since to change my mind.My basic parenting philosophy for ALL kids, from birth to adulthood can now be boiled down to just this: Love them and make sure that they KNOW you love them.That much, I know I did right.
THINGS I KNOW: Raising Teenagers - Life in Every Limb
lifeineverylimb.com
In an uncertain world, there's a certain appeal in believing that there is anything we are sure about, and pride in celebrating and sharing lessons learned and wisdom gained. And I do know a lot of th...
I first wrote this when my boys were 15 and 16. Let's just say that I had no idea then just how terrfying teens could be.Having by the grace of God raised five children to legal adulthood (my baby is 21), I can tell you that I still know very little. I have regrets and things I wish I could go back and do over. But my kids survived, and they still come home.
The Terrifying Teens - Life in Every Limb
lifeineverylimb.com
The thing about being the mother of three preschoolers is that eventually you will be the mother of three teenagers. You hear a lot about the Terrible Twos, but what about the Terrifying Teens? With t...
This falls into the annoying category of "they grow so fast" posts (spoiler alert: I have MORE), but, y'all, they DO.The "baby" in this story was 19 when I first posted this well over ten years ago, and my actual "baby" is 21 now and spending July in Germany. I've got one grown son in Philadelphia and one in San Francisco. I have no clue where all that time went.
She'll Be Gone - Life in Every Limb
lifeineverylimb.com
It's late, and I haven't had time to post anything today, so I thought I'd share something I wrote a long--VERY LONG--time ago (about 15 years ago). [edit: this happened in 1993] The incident I recoun...
I wrote this a long time ago, and I stand by it today. Maybe I am not 100% sure about the secret to a happy life, but I definitely know what it isn't.
The Secret to a Happy Life - Life in Every Limb
lifeineverylimb.com
The following is a reprint of a column that appeared in The East Tennessee Catholic in 2002. When I was pregnant with my third child, friends, family, and strangers in the mall all seemed desperate to...
