Last week, I sat in the dentist's chair to repair a chipped tooth. For the second time. Or maybe the third, I can't remember. Too many times for a tooth.It is truly one of the most humbling positions, sitting in the dentist's chair. Reclined at what feels like 45° with accoutrements of napkins, cotton balls, and [...]
Fall carries some grief with her when she comes.That surprises me every year. Like an accidental tradition, I become a bit melancholic when I realize that the glorious window of leaves ablaze and brisk-not-cold temperatures is closing. And similar to other seasonal transitions, I tend to look back and wonder whether we chose wisely and maximized our opportunities.Was [...]
Dear Amelia, Happy first birthday, sweet love! It’s been a precious, soul-filling, challenging, emotional, reflective, and joyful year with you. Your dad and I prayed for you for a long time. There’s a reason we tell you that you’re a joy, a delight, and a dream come true. One day you’ll hear more about that. I’ve thought [...]
We're keeping it brief this month. Before sending this letter, I looked over your names and thought about your current seasons of life. Some of you are planning for or adjusting to marriages and babies and new degree programs and other huge changes. Some of you are doing the same deal you've been doing for a while. Some [...]
Luke 18:35-41As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted [...]
It is approximately 4pm.With Amelia on my hip, I rifle through the pantry to get a jump on dinner. The measuring spoon occupying her curious hands drops to the floor for the fifth time in three minutes. Breathe. I bend low and return it to her tiny palm.And while it seems so trivial, another part of me feels the significance of that decision to [...]
After a few days of concentrated time at home–After I confessed my own flippancy from the prior weeks–After I began to accept that my paid work would be completed (or not) around Amelia's day–After I realized that grocery runs needed to be strategic– I noticed the conflict. – It feels strange to taste and see the apparent goodness of [...]
One mid-afternoon a few weeks ago, the warmer temperature beckoned me outside. Amelia was about due for a nap, so I secured her snug against my chest, walked down our lane and back, and headed toward the wooden swing in our woods that overlooks the ravine. After rocking for a while, we emerged from the woods into [...]
The Christmas tree still stands in the living room corner because parting with the lights is an annual struggle. But I completed a simple year-end reflection, welcomed the new year by going to bed at 10pm, and have since been thinking about goals and resets and not confusing fresh vision with what I perceive to be the ideal version [...]
Maternity leave is a weird time to start something new (for obvious reasons). So is the month of December, with all her festivity and glow. But there comes a point when you realize that, actually, there is no good time, and if you don’t step into the thing now, you might not ever. – Amelia came [...]
Mallory R. Manning 