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unexpected unexpected

family

Parenting

Dear Spring, I Hate You.

Dear Spring, I hate you. I know that millions of people are celebrating your arrival right now, and I respect …

Melanie DaleMarch 21, 2014, 8:32 amMarch 21, 2014 3
Adoption, Parenting

I Am Not Doing a Great Thing

Friendly Stranger: Two of your kids are adopted?  What a great thing you’re doing. Me: (shifting uncomfortably) It’s a joy. …

Melanie DaleMarch 19, 2014, 11:56 amMarch 19, 2014 4
Parenting

Booger Slugs and First Impressions

Sometimes your first impression is as a giant booger slug. Our church is overly friendly, which is an excellent quality …

Melanie DaleMarch 17, 2014, 11:28 amMarch 17, 2014 1
Parenting

8 Weird Ways to Relieve Stress

Stupid question of the day: is anyone else a little stressed out?  Anybody’s eyeballs bugging just a little too far …

Melanie DaleMarch 14, 2014, 10:34 amMarch 14, 2014 4
Parenting, Relationships

The 2 Most Powerful Words in a Relationship

Sitting in the sunshine watching our kiddos dig in the dirt, my friend shares about struggling with anxiety, that heart-pounding, …

Melanie DaleMarch 12, 2014, 10:08 amMarch 12, 2014 10
10 Things, Parenting

10 Ways to Screw Up Your Family Photo

Yesterday my family survived what is inevitable and mostly unavoidable in the parenting world.  Family photos.  When you hear these …

Melanie DaleMarch 10, 2014, 9:55 amMarch 29, 2016 6
Adoption, Parenting

My Daughter Wouldn’t Say That She’s Blessed

I read a post a few days ago called The One Thing Christians Should Stop Saying, by Scott Dannemiller.  Anyone …

Melanie DaleMarch 5, 2014, 8:23 amApril 6, 2019 11
Parenting

Cows, Coffee, and Giving the Finger

I spend an hour and a half in the car with my kids every morning.  I don’t think I have …

Melanie DaleFebruary 28, 2014, 12:44 amFebruary 28, 2014 5
Parenting

Another Snow Day May Kill Us

Is anyone else coming a weensy bit unglued with all the snow days, ice days, and it’s-just-really-cold days? Of course, …

Melanie DaleFebruary 16, 2014, 11:04 pmFebruary 16, 2014 6
Parenting

My Marriage: It’s Always Been Poo

It’s Valentine’s Day, and people all over are at their romantic best, scrambling for flowers, chocolate, and dinner reservations.  I’ve …

Melanie DaleFebruary 14, 2014, 7:29 amFebruary 14, 2014 6
Adoption, Faith, Parenting

I Choose Love…Even When My Kids Are Turds

I love being a parent.  I don’t always love parenting. All three of my kids have popped out of whack. …

Melanie DaleFebruary 10, 2014, 11:08 amFebruary 10, 2014 2
Parenting

The Blank Spot in My Memory

I think my Mommy Brain has hit a new low. Earlier this week I had a blank spot in my …

Melanie DaleFebruary 7, 2014, 12:47 pmFebruary 7, 2014 18
Faith, Parenting

My Dad’s Legacy

I love women so much, but today I find myself incredibly grateful for the men in my life.  Do you …

Melanie DaleFebruary 5, 2014, 12:49 pmFebruary 5, 2014 6
Adoption, Favorites, Parenting

A Story Behind the Picture

Since Atlanta is still snowed in and I’m off my minivan-driving schedule for the time being, I decided to try …

Melanie DaleJanuary 31, 2014, 9:36 amMarch 29, 2016 20
Favorites, Parenting

Most Embarrassing Mom Moment

Taking small children into public restrooms is always horrifying on many levels.  There’s the germ issue.  The sheer amount of …

Melanie DaleJanuary 27, 2014, 9:56 amMarch 28, 2016 37
Adoption, Favorites, Parenting

I Felt Failure

I could feel the tears stinging the edges of my eyelids. My husband had just made a simple observation, that …

Melanie DaleJanuary 24, 2014, 10:01 amMarch 29, 2016 20
Parenting

New Contest: Backpack Horror Stories

I somehow managed to schedule both my dentist appointment and my gynecologist appointment for this week.  And the moron award …

Melanie DaleJanuary 17, 2014, 2:08 pmJanuary 17, 2014 15
Adoption, Parenting

Screwing With Birth Order

I have a lot to say about adoption, birth order, and the beautiful and difficult things going down in our …

Melanie DaleJanuary 10, 2014, 12:05 pmApril 6, 2019 9
Parenting

Mom and Dad Do New Year’s Eve

Most years, Alex and I celebrate New Year’s Eve by sitting on the couch.  That’s it.  Just sitting.  We make …

Melanie DaleJanuary 1, 2014, 12:00 pmJanuary 1, 2014 5
Parenting

From Man-to-Man to Zone Defense

Logging into my blog, I’m completely chagrined to discover that I haven’t posted in twelve days.  Twelve?!?  Where does the …

Melanie DaleDecember 30, 2013, 1:26 amDecember 30, 2013 8
Adoption

My Labor Pains Came By Spork

An hour and a half before boarding a flight to Amsterdam, I found myself sitting in the airport food court …

Melanie DaleNovember 26, 2013, 7:04 pmNovember 26, 2013 6
Adoption

We Are Spending Thanksgiving In…

Me: (tossing husband brand new coat) Come take a selfie with me! Back in August I bought a couple of …

Melanie DaleNovember 21, 2013, 9:21 pmNovember 21, 2013 1
Adoption, Parenting

A Letter to A–

Dear A–, I miss you.  This summer you burst into our world and made everything technicolor and bubbly.  Without you …

Melanie DaleOctober 24, 2013, 8:57 pmOctober 24, 2013 20
Parenting

A Completely Made Up Story That In No Way Actually Happened

This is a completely made up story that in no way actually happened ever and definitely not this weekend to …

Melanie DaleOctober 13, 2013, 5:36 pmOctober 13, 2013 3

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