Lisa Ridgely

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2012-02-09T15:00:00Z

Motherhood has led me through moments that have elicited an extensive range of emotions, often in the course of a single day. Some I would relive again and again; others I would not opt to repeat but for threat of death. Yet, a moment's worth is not determined by how much I enjoy it, and the truth to be found in each moment, even (especially) the difficult ones, has immeasurable value. I might not enjoy each moment I spend parenting, but I aspire to appreciate each moment—to recognize its worth—whether for the happiness it brings or for the insight it offers.

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2012-02-01T14:00:00Z

We've had an unusual winter thus far, weather-wise. The most significant snow of the season came oddly early, when six inches appeared in late October. Since then, there have been a few dustings and one storm that brought a couple of inches, but no notable snowfalls otherwise. I typically welcome snow, the sparkling solace in the stretches of wintry gloom. But this year, instead of snow days, a number of spring-like days punctuating the winter have provided a cheery respite. The temperature fluctuations have been frequent and sudden, with sunny sixty degree days nestled between cloudy, frosted ones. In the midst of a bleak season (of weather or life), it is easy to slip into thinking of the 'now' as the 'always', but these days have been insistent in reminding me that there exists something other than a dreary snow-less sky. Just a wisp of warm breeze transports me to a windows-wide-open spring day, unwrapping feelings bundled away from winter's bitter cold.

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2012-01-17T15:05:00Z

Good Night

2012-01-13T13:30:00Z

Each night after Josh reads her a story and kisses her good night, Madilyn lies tucked under her fuzzy pink blanket and cuddled up with any number of stuffed animals, and I snuggle beside her for our nightly bedtime routine. We first sing "You are My Sunshine," often together, although sometimes she just listens sleepily while I sing to her. After the song, I ask what her most favorite and least favorite parts of the day were. And she always begins by saying she has two most favorite parts, and one is "this part right now."

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2012-01-04T20:34:58Z

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2012-01-01T05:00:00Z

While considering plans, goals, and resolutions for the upcoming year, I noticed that most of my aspirations center on things that I want to do every day. This led me to examine the various elements that form my daily routine and then to make list of twelve things I want to do, and give focused attention to doing well, each day of 2012. Some are new daily practices I want to develop, some are things I already do every day and want to do better, and some are current good habits I simply want to be sure to continue. None of the items are particularly year-specific; none carry deadlines; none even have a point of completion or a definitive ending. All are intentions that I hope to embrace life-long, and dedicating the effort to purposefully making and keeping them routine will be beneficial this year and each one to follow.

Happy New Year!

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2011-12-22T17:00:00Z

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2011-12-16T14:20:37Z

Until a few years ago, our Christmas decorations were all perfectly color and style coordinated. Then Madilyn came along, bringing with her a trail of preschool projects, church crafts, homemade treasures, and a yearly special store-bought ornament. I hesitated to allow that first pink princess bulb she had chosen to adorn the tree, upsetting the whole scheme. But then, every time I saw it, I thought of her and the happiness it gave her. It brought everything decorating should: joy, personality, memories—and, because of that, it became beautiful to me.

Now, each year, our perfectly color and style coordinated decorations are covered by a growing layer of Madilyn-induced ornamentation. There is a bright blue construction paper heart sitting dead center on the tree. The table centerpiece is a gingerbread house constructed from a milk carton, graham crackers, and a mish-mash of candy. Snowflakes and stars with pink and blue sparkles hang in the windows. We have a rainbow of colors, an assortment of styles, lots and lots and lots and lots of glitter, and there can't be any decorations more perfect than these.

Potato Candy

2011-12-12T14:41:08Z

Each Christmas for as long as I have known, my grandmother's delicious dessert spread has included a plate of potato candy, a pinwheel-shaped treat made from mashed potatoes, confectioner's sugar, and peanut butter. The candy is incredibly sweet and very soft, with a texture similar to sugar cookie dough.

Growing up, I never knew anyone else who made potato candy or who even knew what it was. Then, the first Thanksgiving I spent with Josh's family, his grandmother and the children gathered in the kitchen after dinner with a bowl of leftover mashed potatoes to make...potato candy! Amazingly, this obscure little treat was a part of both of our holiday traditions.

My grandmother's potato candy comes in the form of bright white dough, carefully spread with peanut butter, then perfectly rolled and sliced into a pretty swirl. In Josh's family, potato candy is a post-dinner event, with tiny, sticky fingers pressing dyed dough, messy scoops of peanut butter, and little hands trying to roll it all up together, then eagerly reaching for each piece as it's sliced.

And both versions are equally delightful.

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2011-12-07T23:27:00Z