It's been a while since honest Kathryn hit the blog. But, it's nearly midnight and I figured why the heck not? This pressure that we've been feeling lately in the parenting gig has ramped up, big time. What with the homecoming dances and PSAT tests, Quincieneras and student council elections, select sports teams and music lessons all vying for our attention. I don't think we do it on purpose. I don't think parents wake up each morning and say, "What can I ...

Teenage boys. Raise your hand, and a can of deodorant, if you have one. Recently, after we did a room shuffle with all the kids, the teenage boy landed his own room after 12 years of sharing a bedroom. He was pretty stoked. I'm not gonna lie. This room began as the nursery, was transformed to a little boy's room for our youngest son and now it's home to the resident teenage sports enthusiast. He and I had a blast ...

Choosing birthday themes with my kids has to be one of my most favorite parts of being a mom. What can I say? I like to party. While all the bigs were away at summer camp, Luke and I snuggled on the couch and hit up Pinterest. And that's when we spied it. Shark bait. Or, more accurately, a shark/beach party theme. I think he fell in love with the watermelon shark and I swooned over his shirt. Love at ...

Three weeks, three funerals, three of our school families are changed forever. A student, a sibling and a mother are no longer with us Earthside. I have learned more about death, dying, tragedy, grief, community and compassion than I thought possible. But this isn't just fodder for the blog. This is real. These were real lives. Real people who were loved, cherished and honored. People whose presence will always be missed. Growing up, funerals weren't really something our family did. ...

For years, I have said, "I wish I could just freeze this age." But after our school experienced two very tragic losses to children in as many weeks and we prepare for another family to lose a mom to cancer, I'm realizing what I desire most for my children has changed: to grow up, seek new adventures, love God and live a fruitful life It's time for my usual letter to the birthday kid, so here goes. Dear Luke, With ...