The Whole Kristen ca-Doodle

It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.  Albus Dumbledore Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling Patriotism I want to start by telling you that I am a patriot.  I love America, and many of the ideas on which it was founded, the many great things it has done/is doing in the world, many facets regarding our way of life, American "ingenuity", and you know, apple pie.  I respect our flag, its beauty, its symbolism, the hands that sewed it.  My soul sister, fellow PTA mom, hippie-chick, fellow progressive feminist friend and I took extra time one day when leaving our school building with children in tow to refold the flag that had been taken down at the end of the school day and folded incorrectly.  Practically no one would've known or noticed, and our kids weren't really paying attention.  It wasn't really about it being a teachable moment for us, and it wasn't done out o

Someone once told me, that the last good night's sleep I would ever have would be the night before I found out I was pregnant.  Truth.  Anybody's who has been pregnant knows that it comes with discomfort, and lots and lots of bathroom trips.  And leg cramps.  And husbands who wake you up, because you are sleeping flat on your back.  (Side note:  Don't do this.  Yes, technically laying on my back wasn't ideal, but at. least. I. was. asleep.)  And then we had babies, who were/are lovely and beautiful, but totally sucked at sleeping.  I was in Zombieville for like 5 years. I know I am in the minority in that I have never watched The Walking Dead .  I assume it is just about my life when my kids were babies? And now, my kiddos are almost 7 and 9 and pretty much sleeping through the night consistently.  One of ours has a little GI/urinary issue, AND is afraid of the dark, so I do get woken frequently to escort her down the hallway to the potty.  Also, our 11-year-ol

Wanna know one of the approximately 75,000 things that amazes me about children? Sure you do.  It astonishes and impresses me how quickly and easily children, especially young children, can befriend each other.  You might've noticed it too, on a playground, a birthday party, meeting up with your adult friends and their kiddos, or even the first day of school.  Even when another child is a perfect stranger, after a bit of a warming up period, longer for some temperaments than others, those two (or more!) strangers are soon best buddies.  It is like all they can see in each other is a potential playmate.  I imagine their unspoken dialogue like this: Click here to download the Let's Be Kids doodle. It is a beautiful, magical skill that seems to unfortunately fade as we age.  With wisdom, with age, with growth, with knowledge, with experience, somehow also comes a degree of mistrust, a tendency to withdraw, a dangerous habit of comparison, and perhaps too much of a relia

People Won't Know Their Welcome Unless You Say They Are I once told my dear friend, our church secretary at the time, this, when we were discussing open and affirming congregations.  The thing is, if you are part of a group that has been historically held to the periphery of society, or in some way made to feel less than, or been explicitly told that you are an abomination, it would be really hard, it would take extreme bravery and courage to enter any place, but expecially a faith community that didn't go out of her way to offer you a specific welcome.  So, IT DOESN"T MATTER IF YOU WOULD WELCOME THEM ONCE THEY'RE THERE or not!  Leaving a church after three decades and becoming a visitor in others has opened my eyes to how much bravery and courage is involved in visiting new faith communities at all.   So I picked one that displayed obvious welcome.  One that flies a rainbow flag, one that hangs a banner welcoming refugees and immigrants.  I am none of those thi

Once upon a time I got a degree in Human Development and Family Studies and was employed as both an Infant/Toddler Classroom teacher and as a Preschool Teacher.  I have always loved people, especially tiny people, and learning about their development and how to support their development was a natural turn for me.  I developed many close bonds with many different kiddos, after all, I spent 8 hours a day with them 5 days a week.  I knew which baby needed to be rocked a little extra, which one needed her binky, which toddler loved to have his face tickled, and who really needed to be sung to during a diaper change.  I knew which little guy was having a hard time adjusting to a new place and needed to be tucked under my wing and be my little shadow for a few weeks.  I knew which little girly would be my copy cat, naming her imaginary boyfriend Jicheal when I mentioned my husband was named Micheal.  I knew which little squirt would challenge the "Where is tall man?" verse of th

I love personality quizzes.   I recently became intrigued by the  Enneagram types , have been known to investigate my  Meyer-Briggs type , and even found out my  Hogwarts house .  You might think they are bologna or worthless, and you might be right.  But, I think they are insightful, reflective, thought-provoking, convicting, and frankly, fun.   I also love spiritual gift inventories, which I participated in during an adult study at church once upon a time, and in another study, some time later, I participated in a study about defining my faith.  Those things are life-changing, eye-opening, and somehow super comforting.  To be sitting in a place where you are really understanding what and why you believe what you do is incredibly peaceful, even when some of your answers are I don't know .  Furthermore, it allows you to more easily identify when or why those beliefs change.  I recommend taking that journey if you are offered it.   Faith Essentials Recently

Tomorrow is the unofficial, official start of fall. Today is Labor Day, and that makes tomorrow the day after Labor Day.  Which means, goodbye summer, hello fall!  Even though the equinox isn't until September 22, we kind of just agree to pretend that tomorrow is the official first day of fall, no matter what the calendar or thermometer say.   I love fall. I really love all the seasons (which is a good thing, living in the Midwest), but I fell in love with Fall again because both of my daughters have their birthdays in this season, also because of mellowcreme pumpkins.  I love those little boogers.  (Both my daughters and the candy.) Frame this cutie and it makes the perfect addition to your fall decor. Click here to download 5x7 Golden Fall doodle. I also love pumpkin spice lattes (basic), boots, sweaters, crisp temps, fall scented candles, pot roast, the pumpkin patch, the changing color of leaves, and Halloween. Nothing beats a mild, sunny fall afternoon follow

Sometimes me think what is love, and then me think love is what last cookie is for.  Me give up last cookie for you. -Cookie Monster Click here to download Milk and Cookie doodle. I love baking. But, I am not a master baker or anything.  I mostly just enjoy the fruits of my labors.  There is one thing I have baked at my mother's side, as a child, and now flying solo, so often, that I figure I have pretty much mastered by now.  My mom's cookies. Now, to be fair and honest, we don't use an original recipe, we use one by a famous French chef by the name of.. via GIPHY Oh, what's that you say?  That's Nestle Tollhouse?  Well, yeah.   Here is where you can find that recipe.   Also, on the back of pretty much any bag of semi-sweet chocolate cookies.   Confession:  I am not a brand loyalist.  I buy what is on sale.  Even store brand.  I have found that personally, it doesn't make a difference. PLEASE NOTE: I make some adjustmen