Red Tent Living

Blind Party Guests

By: redtentwomen June 22, 2018June 22, 2018

Day to Day, relationshipsenvy, Natasha Stevens, the south, southern hospitality, jealousy, misunderstood, aunthenticity, party2 Comments

It was a sweltering summer day, but the thought of those handmade Kool-Aid grape popsicles in a cup were worth the task of visiting the sick and shut-in. “Why is she blind, and how can she make such good popsicles if she can’t see, Nana?” I asked with my purple stained hands grasped in her…

Freaks and Geeks

By: redtentwomen June 21, 2018June 17, 2018

Day to Day, relationshipsauthentic, becoming, belonging, fitting in, Identity, individual, Mal Arnold, relationships1 Comment

As a little girl, I struggled to fit in with the world around me. I was a homeschooled, loner bookworm. I never fit in with my metal mouth, roller bangs, and frizzy hair. My clothes never felt at home on my body. I was constantly watching everyone around me while staying quiet, lest afraid of…

Who Are We Not to Be?

By: redtentwomen June 20, 2018June 13, 2018

Monthly Themes, relationshipsaffirmation, Beauty, body blessing, envy, female relationships, Glory, Rachel Blackston10 Comments

A tulip doesn’t strive to impress anyone. It doesn’t struggle to be different than a rose… Look at little children in kindergarten. They’re all different without trying to be. As long as they’re unconsciously being themselves, they can’t help but shine. –Marianne Williamson On the last week of kindergarten, with parents and grandparents present, our daughter’s…

While I Wait

By: redtentwomen June 18, 2018June 17, 2018

Day to DayAnchor House, Anna Smith, Change, Moving, Restore One, Saying Good Bye, Transitions1 Comment

A few weeks ago I felt the Spirit’s prompting to make a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies. The invitation did not feel uncanny; I love nudges to create. Instead, I was curious about the message I would receive in the process. Baking chocolate chip cookies is a ritual I practice during seasons of the…

Only Crazy People Do This

By: redtentwomen June 15, 2018June 13, 2018

Day to Day, Intentional Living, relationshipsBethany Cabell, Dairy Free, Food Sensitivities, Gluten Free, Naturopathic Doctor, raising boys, Sugar Free, Toxin Free Home4 Comments

My son stood in the kitchen, yelling at me, “I just want to eat DAIRY!” His rage was unannounced, and I quickly attempted to figure out what he meant. As I asked clarifying questions, he only seemed to become more agitated until he finally broke down and started crying. While quietly comforting him, I understood…

In Celebration of Grief

By: redtentwomen June 13, 2018June 10, 2018

Day to Day, relationships, FaithClaudia Hauer, Death, Grief, Loss, Saying Goodbye4 Comments

We have had a terrible dry winter and spring in the southwestern desert. Day after day has dawned with clear skies and a relentless sun. The land has grown parched. The pine trees in our yard have turned brown, and the threat of fire looms across the mountains above our town. It has become a…

Wilderness Moms Club

By: redtentwomen June 11, 2018June 10, 2018

Day to Day, relationshipsBe Held, Christy Nockels, Hope, Kelsi Folsom, Mothering, River of Grace, Single Mom, Toddlers, Twins5 Comments

It’s been one month since he left. I stood in the airport taking in every detail of him that I would miss for the next seven months. We walked hand-in-hand from the check-in gate to security, marveling that once again we would be saying goodbye. Although we spent the year leading up to our wedding…

My Version of Magic

By: redtentwomen June 8, 2018June 6, 2018

Intentional Living, Monthly Themes, Uncategorizedauthenticity, be yourself, Dinner Party, Generations, magic, Mallory Redmond5 Comments

Wear something you feel magical in. I read the invitation once more before blankly staring at my closet. Weeks away from graduating with my master’s degree, I was feeling physically exhausted and emotionally drained. There was very little I was feeling magical in, aside from, of course, my bed.

All The Words

By: redtentwomen June 7, 2018June 10, 2018

Day to Day, Intentional Living, relationshipsGift of Writing, Journaling, Julie McClay, Own Your Gifting, Personal Growth, Speak Your Truth, Writing4 Comments

Your story was so well-written! I smiled. It felt good to have my writing affirmed following the pain of sharing the words with my training group. The hard processing part was over, and we were relaxed, preparing to leave for lunch. I laughed and replied lightheartedly, I’m a good writer!

Bring Your Bathing Suit

By: redtentwomen June 6, 2018June 6, 2018

Monthly ThemesAdolescence, bathing suits, fitting in, God's Love, Identity, Janet Stark, Love, pool party, self-consciousness11 Comments

The year was 1980, and I’d been invited to my first boy-girl party with classmates from school. It was the end of my 7th grade school year and invitations to girls-only parties had been few and far between. The addition of boys to the mix only heightened my excitement and dread. Even more anxiety inducing, however,…