Thirteen years ago when I found out I was pregnant with Austin just two weeks before Mark’s vasectomy surgery, we had to laugh. By that time, I had been leading a large moms in our community for six years. And Hearts at Home was just two years old. God...
It was a beautiful wedding. That’s about all I can think of to say today. I’m pretty exhausted today and just soaking in the reality of being here at home with my husband, my two boys, and the reality of a new normal.Motherhood…it’s the only...
Mid-August we received our boys’ school bus pick up and drop off times. From day one Kolya’s high school bus has been almost to the minute on time in the morning and the afternoon. Austin’s junior high bus experience has been less predictable. Pick...
This article was first published in 2002 when my youngest entered kindergarten (and before we adopted child #5!). But it’s still pertinent today, and I was reminded of that after receiving two emails from readers this past week who were struggling with this...
It’s hard to believe that I experienced my last labor and delivery 13 years ago today! My baby is a teenager!In Savage birthday celebration style, we started the day with cake and ice cream for breakfast!Happy 13th Birthday, Austin!
Life is hard. We want to shield our kids from the hurts of this world.But we can’t.For the last three semesters of college, Erica has had an art professor she absolutely loved. “Joe,” as the professor instructed the kids to call him, had been that...
My kids have started school this week. Kolya is a freshman and Austin is in the 8th grade. Next week Austin turns 13. He’s my baby!Last night Austin said he didn’t want me to tuck him in anymore. (Tonight he told me the same thing, but 10 minutes later he...
Communication Strategies for Parentsby Jill SavageWhen our youngest son was in preschool he sat at the kitchen island telling me about his day at school. I was busy fixing dinner so I multitasked while listening to his story. Finally, he stopped and said, “Mom,...
It’s the last week before school starts so this week I’ve really tried to be conscious of the “yes” mom opportunities that come my way. Tuesday night both boys had a friend spend the night. “Mom, can the four of us sleep on the trampoline...
Well, we’re in the midst of wedding plans around here. Erica and Kendall’s wedding date of September 25 is fast approaching. It’s honestly been a pretty relaxed process mostly because Erica and Kendall are pretty simple and easygoing. The colors are...
Family Mealsby Jill SavageAs a mother, there are many days that I long would love to hang a sign that says “Kitchen closed”. Between meals and snacks, the focus on food can be overwhelming. When I find myself frustrated with the amount of time I spend in the kitchen,...
We don’t have the pleasure of living near our extended family. And it seems that every time we get to see our family, it is because we have a family event to attend or some other functional purpose. At the beginning of the summer I proposed a “Family Fun...
Today was a busy homemaking day. Kolya and I froze 8 gallon bags of summer squash and zucchini from the garden. In the past I’ve given away our excess and not really taken the time to freeze it, but this year I’m both giving away and freezing....
Our youngest son, Austin, is at church camp this week. It’s his second year to go to the week-long camp in Clinton, Illinois with his friend, Mason. (Mason left, Austin right)Last year I made sure that Austin received a letter or a postcard from someone in the...
“Mom, can we fill up the horse trough and swim?”PS–No, we don’t have horses. The previous owners left the horse trough in our barn! PPS–Join the “yes” mom challenge here!
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