How we can be world-changers. You and me.Recently, I've talked a lot about New Years' goals and all kinds of ambitious plans here on the blog. If you're an Enneagram fan, you're not surprised that I'm an Enneagram 3...also known as "The Achiever." And I confess, I love it. I love dreaming, writing, creating, and sharing. And when it's done, I can't wait to do it all again.But over the past few weeks I've been shifting my priorities a bit, and in case
family
Merry Christmas from Hawaii {greetings, photos, and a note to read before the New Year!}
Merry Christmas -- or Mele Kalikimaka, as we say in Hawaii -- from our home to yours...I hope you are having a wonderful, peaceful (we can try!) hope-filled Christmas season. I love to imagine where each of you are and what Christmas looks like in your world. I know (from taking an unofficial Facebook poll) that many of you will have a white Christmas this year, and our family is totally jealous really happy for you. It's summertime for my southern hemisphere readers, so your Christmas
Coffee Date: Back to School, My Son is Going to College, and I-could-use-a-hug-Edition.
Aloha Friends!Man, did summer fly by or what!?And how are you? Refreshed? Worn out? Ready for a new season ahead? I want to hear, so please don't forget to make it to the bottom and leave me a little update! (That's part of the deal with coffee dates! )I'm excited to catch up on things...So grab a seat (and your favorite beverage!) and let's dive in! First, let's get the painful exciting part over with: By the time this goes live I will be in California, getting Josiah
A Conversation about Home.
My first morning back from my 5-week trip to California, I did an Instagram/Facebook post sharing the morning view from my living room in Hawaii...^^ deck reconstruction (still) in progress... ;)Along with the photo, I shared this caption:When we are on the mainland, the conversation never fails to come up: Should we consider moving? There are so many pro's to that idea: we'd be closer to family, lower cost of living, so many more opportunities for kids and school and travel
When Your Kid Argues about Everything {5 tips}
Hi Friends! I'm just barely back from nearly five weeks in California. It was such a fantastic trip, with some great surf, (Luke had some great heats, and took 2nd place in the National Air competition! :)) and a thousand more memories made. While I unpack suitcases and hug my boys a repeatedly (five weeks is way too long!) I wanted to share one more READER FAVORITE POST from my archives. This may be the post most discovered through google-searches, proving that I'm not the only mom with a
Birth Order: What Middle Children Need Most from Their Parents
I seem to have a pretty good sample for a study on birth order...Josiah, 15 (below, left), Jonah (on the right, below,) 13, and Luke (center, below) almost 11.Levi, who arrived six and half years later, throws me for a bit of a loop. I always say he must fall somewhere between a first born, and a baby. (And a Tasmanian devil, but that's another story.)But really, I have always been intrigued by the topic of birth order. Not only do I have a great sample to study in my home,
What to Expect When Your Son Starts Puberty
Aloha Friends!Luke and I are all settled here in San Clemente, Ca., gearing up for a weekend surf contest (Luke) and a series of speaking engagements (me. :) ) If you happen to be in Orange Country, check THIS POST for a list of speaking times and locations, with links for more info!Before we head into a busy weekend, I wanted to share one more post from the blog archives. This covers an important, and timely topic which I know is relevant to many of you now. Puberty. And rest assured,
Five Ways to Avoid Mother’s Day Disappointment
5 Tips for avoiding Mother's Day Disappointment Aloha Friends! So...I was not planning to publish this post again this year. Since I wrote it a couple of years ago, and shared it again last year, I thought I'd take a year off. :) But the Today Show Site just published it on their Parenting page, and I had a number of readers tell me they hadn't seen it before...So, I thought I better share it... It has been one of my most read and shared posts (top 10 at least), and it is truly
