Yes, Missouri is home for us now, but I was a Kansan from the time I was five months old until Ken and I moved to Missouri two and a half years ago. My dad and brother and sisters still live in Kansas, along with many beloved friends, so when we go back to Kansas, it still—and always—feels like going home. I grew up on a farm in Rice County, a farmer's daughter. I still wear that label … [Read more...]
Almost a Member of the Family
I painted our coffee table last weekend and as I stroked a brand new, beautiful shade of dusty aqua onto the old nicked, scarred white paint, I couldn't help but think of all the memories that little ten-dollar table held. When I bought this curvy table at Goodwill twelve years ago, we had just bought our first home. The table was two tones of cheap wood, desperately in need of refinishing, but … [Read more...]
A (pre-)Valentine Givaway
Okay, so it isn't quite Valentine's Day, but I've been decluttering this year, cleaning out drawers and desks and cupboards, and when I came to my old 2015 calendar, it was just too pretty to throw away. So I made a garland of paper hearts from it, and that got me in the mood for Valentine's Day, which, quite honestly, is my favorite holiday of the year!I posted a few photos of my garland on … [Read more...]
Follow Your Nose!
"Nothing is more memorable than a smell. One scent can be unexpected, momentary and fleeting, yet conjure up a childhood summer beside a lake in the mountains." ~Diane Ackerman Research has shown that the sense of smell is more closely linked with memory than any of the other senses. It’s also a sense linked with emotion. If you close your eyes and think about your childhood home, likely it will … [Read more...]
Home Sweet Home
This spring, my home has been a crazy place. Having five children, one dog, and four cats is liable to make any home crazy. But add to that homeschooling, a multitude of after-school activities, out-of-town sporting meets and debate tournaments, and evening meetings and speaking events. In addition, we're in the beginning stages of doing a major remodel on our kitchen. After almost eight years … [Read more...]