Category: Parenting

First Day of School Pics

Leslie3 Comments

I tried to achieve the perfect first-day-of-school photo. I really did. But as my children love to do  whenever I want to create a moment or make a memory “extra special,” they decide it’s the perfect time to be silly. When will I learn?

silly teens 2

I was trying to take individual photos, but the other wouldn’t get out of the way. AND, because it was already 7:15, we didn’t have the luxury of time.

silly teens

So. I demonstrated the pose I wanted. Somehow, my demonstration was hilarious to them (because I am a total spaznerddweeb) and I ended up with this photo.

first day of school

Good enough.

 

Throwback Thursday: Mother’s Day Edition

Leslie1 Comment

I was looking through an old family album recently when I came across a drawing I made for my mom one Mother’s Day. It is a pencil sketch of a tulip with sentiment and instruction at the bottom. This photo is the property of Leslie Wiggins

A few pages later, I found another one.

This photo is the property of Leslie Wiggins

And in a box of old photos, I found a Mother’s Day poem written by my little brother:

I love you, Mom.

You’re the best.

If you were to leave,

It wouldn’t be that best.

So true.

I kept digging through that box and found some precious photographs of me and the women who mothered me.

Mom & me circa summer 1978:

This photo is the property of Leslie Wiggins

I spent a lot of time at my grandmother’s house after I was born because Mom was finishing nursing school. My great-grandmother, who I’m named after, lived in a trailer on my grandparents’ property, so I spent a lot of time with her, too. Here’s a picture of the three of us:

This photo is the property of Leslie WigginsHelen, my grandmother, is holding me, and her mother, Imogene (“Mama Gene”), is standing behind us.

I was also heavily mothered (in a good way) by my Aunt Carol.

this photo is the property of Leslie Wiggins

I must have just had a bath. Actually, it looks like I just finished peeing on my aunt’s leg. And it was hilarious.

I’m so grateful for the women who had the greatest influence on me during my most formative decade+ of life. Happy Mother’s Day!

Thankful Thursday

Leslie6 Comments

I am thankful for technology. It gets used a-plenty for evil, but good, God-honoring usage abounds.

My six-year blogging anniversary is coming up. And one of the things I always wonder about when I read a blog is, what is she really like? I know it’s easy to build an expectation about what a person is like in person based on her blog. I remember speaking with a blogging friend in another country and her first reaction to hearing my voice was to laugh at my southern accent. Yes, I am quite southern sounding. I’ve tried to use y’all more when I write so that my readers aren’t completely shocked to hear my voice. Also, meeting people who’ve only read my book reviews is sometimes awkward. I’m not sure what about expectations, but I feel like I’m never as interesting as they thought I’d be. My temperament is more slow-to-warm-up, I think.

Yesterday, I had the privilege of Skype-ing with the lovely Becky Pliego. She offered some very important things to consider as I read and review books. I am thankful for her friendship and look forward to talking more. Her blog tells me she loves the Lord and is pursuing him diligently. But what it didn’t tell me is that she has a beautiful smile and her face radiates joy. (And she doesn’t sound anything like Salma Hayek).

Today, after the kids had breakfast and their assignments for the morning, I hopped on Skype to attend Bible study at Lisa’s house. She is leading us through Kathleen Nielson’s 1 & 2 Thessalonians study. I was nervous about it because, first of all, I was still in my jammies and hiding out in the laundry room. Second, I was meeting her Bible-study friends for the first time. It was a little weird for them, I’m sure, when Lisa welcomed them into her home, then said, “Here, I want you to meet my friend Leslie,” while shoving her laptop in their faces. I kid. I think I was sitting on her kitchen counter, and they bent down to say HI. It was all very fun. It’s raining all over Alabama today, and a couple of them said that the next time it’s raining on Thursday , they’ll Skype-in, too.

Lisa satisfied all of my expectations for her Bible study. The women gathered in her living room are lovely. Lisa was prepared, thoughtful, Christ-centered. What I didn’t expect, though, was just how much scripture she has hidden in her heart so that it comes out with ease in her conversation and prayer. What a grace to the body of Christ where she lives!

So, I am thankful today for my computer,
the internet,
services like Skype,
long-distance friendships that are coming a little closer,
kids who do their schoolwork quietly and obediently (a miracle!),
the Gospel,
and the Spirit of Christ that brings us all together.

Family Read-Alouds

Leslie1 Comment

A “Thankful Thursday” post

On days that I do not leave the house, even if I’ve done several chores, I don’t really feel like I’ve done anything. Today I loaded, unloaded, reloaded, and ran the dishwasher. Fed the family a couple of times. Sorted and began washing the laundry. Made a run to the grocery store. I am thankful for the energy to do the things I needed to do today. And that I didn’t forget the things I needed to remember to buy from the grocery.

I spent a large chunk of my day reading out loud to the children. They wanted me to finish reading HP and the Deathly Hallows before we see the film (my requirement).

I am thankful for children who will sit and listen to a good story. There are two things I really love about reading aloud. First, the kids always ask for Karl and me to “do the voices.” Not only are they entertained, but it utilizes our latent talents in the dramatic arts.

The second thing I enjoy about read-aloud time is watching the kids get into the story. Many times today I had to stop reading so that they could do their own rendition of a few lines or pantomime the action. They do this with every story we read, but especially when I can make the character come to life for them.

Reading together is a simple pleasure that, one day, I am sure I will miss terribly.

I am thankful that we’ve already read a lot of books together over the years.