This week is one way out of balance. I’ve decided those are the times God most shows up. I am desperate for Him, and He meets me in my desperation. Over the weekend I got 24 hours to hang out with my writing friend Tricia Goyer. It was such a treat and delight…but if there’s anyone on the planet who …
A Day in the Life
Sometimes it’s fun to step behind the curtain and see what life is really like in Oz — err — Putman mayhem. It also helps everyone to see just how insanely normal the life of this writing mom is. 7 a.m. Wake up thanks to the 2 y.o., but played possum as much as possible until 8. Not easy with …
Distractions R Us: Three things to do when life distracts
I’m in the middle of line edits for Shadowed by Grace. As often happens, life has thrown a few curveballs my way during this crunch time. Maybe it’s because my husband’s traveled, I’ve had three finals to grade and classes to wrap up, and homeschooling to fill my days. Maybe it’s bad news that filled my head. What doesn’t change …
Living with No Regrets
Since January 27, my grandfather and uncle died…exactly one week apart. It’s one reason I haven’t posted as consistently as usual. My grandma doesn’t have wifi on the farm, and it was important to spend time with her. One theme that kept ringing through as we (my parents, siblings, cousins, extended family) walked through this dark time was that we …
Friday Countdown: Three ideas for winter weekends
This photo makes me nostalgic for the days my older two were the ages of my younger two. Ah…if only we had snow like that this year! The weekend is upon us and one of the challenges when the weather is bitter is what can we do? Here are a few ideas and I’d love to hear yours, too: 1) Grab …
A Great American & the Brandenburg Gate
When we were in Germany, the place I had my pinch me moment was the Brandenberg Gate. In no small part that was because of the speech Ronald Reagan made in 1987 at that spot. I went to college while the wall was collapsing. I thought I would get a Ph.D. in international relations with an emphasis on the former …
How Important is Family?
Shucking Corn with Grandma This week my kids and I made the trek to Nebraska to visit family. Anytime we make the trip it is a drive with a capital D. It takes 14 hours to get from our home in Indiana to North Platte, Nebraska, where my parents, siblings, and their families live. To my kids, it’s a time …
What Makes a Job Great
Watching the Olympics got me thinking about my favorite job in college. Back during the 1992 Olympics I worked for the smallest NBC affiliate. It was a great job for someone who loved journalism and thought that was where her future lay (there’s a reason my first contemporary heroine was a tv reporter). That was an amazing time to work …
Me? A Swagger Wagon Mama?
I honestly never thought this day would come. I put it off until my oldest got too tall to climb into the backseat of our Chrysler Pacifica. I LOVED that vehicle. I put off this day until I got tired of not being able to take other kids with us to events. Until I got tired of paying for rental …
Exercise: I think I can, I think I can
I don’t know about you, but I often have grandiose dreams about the exercise goals I can accomplish. Then reality sets in and I have to acknowledge I am a mother of four – two of whom are small. And I don’t have a gym membership. Even so, physical fitness is important to me. When I don’t find a way …
