Kneeling, I held his precious head with one hand and thanked God through tears… waiting, and knowing that the next contraction would bring my baby boy into my arms. As I waited, I was completely enveloped in peace and gratitude.
Category: Children
Seeing Beyond the Mess
At first glance, this looks like nothing but a huge mess. And – I’m not going to lie – it did make my heart beat a little faster and my eye twitch a bit. At first.But once I exhaled, what caught my eye as I paused from bustling around the house this morning were these…
A Call from Heaven
This evening Charley excitedly – & almost frantically – called to me through the kitchen window. I had just stepped inside for a moment to water some freshly potted sunflower seeds, but it sounded urgent. Through the glass, she pointed to the old rotary phone affixed to our fence and yelled, “Mommy! Hurry! Come quick!…
18 years, 1 Wedding Dress, 1 Beautiful Girl – One More Year
Another birthday gone by, another year with my treasure! Each year, I have so much fun celebrating Charley, whether it’s on a trip across the country or a simple party at home. When the suitcases are unpacked and gift bags are put away, my next favorite tradition is getting out my wedding gown like I…
We Got Rid of Our TV: Day 3&4
If you haven’t heard, we ditched our TV. Crazy? Maybe. But we’ll all find out together. We have a 2 and a 3-year-old that I noticed were relying too heavily on the TV to get through the day. We also have tired mid-thirties parents who were relying too heavily on the TV to get through…
We Got Rid of Our TV: A Battle Against the Habit of Screens
When Charley was born, I fiercely protected her. I don’t think I’m different from any other mother in this… it’s simply a mother’s instinct to give your child the best chance at life. My drive to protect her included her health, her mind, and her development. I was so convicted that I didn’t want my…
Prettier Than the Other Girls
Please stop telling my daughter she’s prettier than other girls. When you do this, you’re teaching her that beauty is on some sort of competitive scale… a concept that doesn’t even exist in her mind right now – – – – unless you teach her. Isn’t there enough jealousy, bitterness, and envy in the world…
18 years, 1 Wedding Dress, 1 Beautiful Girl
If you’ve followed me for any amount of time or know me in real life, you’re probably already aware of how sentimental I can be. In my house are shadowboxes of the kids’ coming-home-from-the-hospital outfits, teddy bears made from my late grandparents’ clothes, bouquets from my wedding that are made from fabric from clothing items…
Best. Play Dough. Ever.
If you’ve followed Charley’s Circus on Instagram for any amount of time, you’ve probably seen our favorite thing to make in the kitchen – Play Dough!! That’s right, move over gluten-free cookies and brownies, we love mixing up a pan of homemade play dough. Many parents wonder when is an appropriate time to introduce the…
Halloween and the Celebration of Evil
“I don’t like that, Mommy!” Charley looked up at me, pointing uncomfortably at the store’s Halloween display. Witches, zombies, skeletons. “I don’t either, baby.” I explained to her that if she sees anything that makes her feel uncomfortable or scared, that she can choose to look away to protect her heart and mind. Since…
Too Short to Ride? Think Again! Disney for Toddlers & Babies
A lot of people assume they have to wait until their kids are older before they can ride rides and enjoy a place like Disneyland. (If you maintain the belief that “they won’t remember anyway,” please click HERE.) The ability of your child to enjoy a magical place like Disneyland doesn’t begin at a particular age….
Charley's Circus 