cultivating the beautiful ordinary by sharing our tales and our tables
Staying in line is important when you are little. If kids get out of line and go their own way, things could get dicey. As the youngest of eleven kids, I learned to follow early. For me, following was easy and natural. You don’t have to think too hard, and you stay out of trouble…
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I returned to the Red Tent this year with the intention of engaging its themes through the lens of losing Mom, feeling confident in my decision. Approaching this fifth post, my mind is filled with questions and doubts, threatening to derail the intention that began this process. Is this really a good idea? Am I…
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“I hate my life,” I cried to my husband. “How can this be my life? How did I get here?” He, in his kindness, began to make suggestions: “Why don’t you go on a trip? Or why don’t you go on a drive? Book a massage?” But inside, there was an inner knowing. I love…
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A long time ago, there was a prophet named Elisha, who had his bald head so far up into heaven that he was able to perform many miracles. This is not about him. He had a servant named Gehazi, who had his head so firmly fixed on this earth that he was shrewdly able to…
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You might think I am a little crazy right now. It’s sunny, seventy degrees outside, and I am in my driveway, sitting in my car writing. It’s not comfortable or spacious, but it feels like home. I know the soft feel of the dark seats, how they stick in the summer and are cool in the…
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When I was a girl, my grandmother used to buy me the most beautiful books. I’d sit and study them. I’d weave myself into their magical illustrations and storylines—the heroes within, the longings of main characters, the mythical power of nature’s forces—and I’d get lost in the rhythm of beginning, middle, and end. I’d imagine…
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I watched a nine-minute video about pruning my tomato plants this past June. Planting tomato plants for years, I typically harvested a fairly small yield. This summer, however, I decided a different approach. My body and mind were awakened as I learned about suckers and how they sap energy from the growing crop. How did…
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Recently my friend Addie started her sophomore year of high school. On her first day a teacher asked the students to gather in small groups and introduce themselves by sharing their walk-up song with each other. When her mom told me this, I was walking at the park, and I wondered, “What is my walk-up…
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As I navigate the deep end of the pool, each stroke propelling me forward, I can’t help but draw a parallel to life’s journey. It’s a constant balancing act of letting go, surrendering to the unknown depths, while also setting boundaries to protect my own well-being and navigate the currents with wisdom and resilience. Amidst…
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She teaches me what it means to go with my gut Trust instinct Heed a muse Frolic I planted an apple tree. Can I make a bath bomb? Let’s catch lightning bugs.
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