The Gypsy Mama — Snapshots of life lived between countries, callings, and kids.

Five Minute Friday: Tired

December 2, 2011

This week got away from me. Literally. It hiked up it’s skirt and belted outta there before I even realized it was Monday.
I haven’t even had five minutes to write.
But today? Today is Friday. And on Fridays around these parts we stop, drop, and write.
For fun, for love of the sound of words, for play, [...]

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A transcontinental wedding wish for my brother & new sister-in-law

November 28, 2011

{My oldest little brother got married this weekend. In South Africa. I wasn’t there. But I was. Because words have wings and love can span oceans.}
Joshua, I don’t know if you’ve ever been my little brother.

You’ve always been the rock, the hug, the guy that knows how to comfort his sister when her mom died, [...]

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Five Minute Friday: Grateful

November 25, 2011

On Fridays around these parts we stop, drop, and write.
For fun, for love of the sound of words, for play, for delight, for joy and celebration at the art of communication.
For only five short, bold, beautiful minutes. Unscripted and unedited. We just write without worrying if it’s just right or not.
Won’t you join us?
1. [...]

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Happy Thanksgiving: What Are We Grateful For?

November 24, 2011

How about you, friend?
What are you thankful for today?
{And have you discovered my friend Ann’s *free* App for counting each of the gifts we’re grateful for? Download the free app at iTunes and for android devices.}

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When did you first believe you were a writer?

November 23, 2011

When was the moment you first believed you were a writer?
My friends over at Write It, Girl, asked me that this week.
I’ll share my answer if you’ll think about it and then come back and share yours too. I’m super curious.

When was the moment you first believed you were a writer?
I never thought I wanted [...]

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The hard work of liking our kids, not just loving them

November 21, 2011

There are frayed edges of motherhood that aren’t often talked about. Those places where we’re holding onto our temper with one hand and the belief that things have got to get better eventually with the other.
One night that place rocks me hard as I rock my baby girl in one arm and cell phone cradled [...]

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Five Minute Friday: Grow

November 18, 2011

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Because somedays everyone feels covered in ick

November 17, 2011

Don’t worry, this post isn’t about potty training. Or about gastro intestinal bugs. You don’t have to be a mom to relate to this post.
Because some days, I think, we all feel covered in ick.

There’s the slimy goopy ick of worry that I feel my feet squishing around in.
There’s the impossible-to-scrape-off ick of constantly being [...]

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The Raggedy Ann love

November 16, 2011

She keeps me up. Again and again and my eyes stop focusing properly. All I want is sleep.
And I whisper to her in frustration, “It’s a good thing I love you so much.”

I love you at 4am when everyone’s asleep but us.
I love you when you projectile vomit all over me in public.
I love you [...]

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The truth {about “fine”} will set you free

November 14, 2011

I’m seven months since the last baby was born and still fighting with my jeans.
She’s wearing hers like a perfect fit and I can’t help but say what I’m really thinking, “Man, you look great. You just look so good. How’d you do that? How’d you get back to the pre-baby shape so quick?”
And I [...]