parenting

Living the Truth

| Laura Lee Bonde

The other day, one of the neatest and one of the worst things happened. Over the past year or so, I’ve been learning a lot more truth and have made it a point to live out all that I’ve learned: in church, on the streets, in my home, etc., and one thing I especially like is the way my kids learn at home.

I never make my kids go to church. I used to guilt them into going on Mother’s Day, Easter, and Christmas, but even that stopped. I never wanted to force them and always felt like it was my job to teach them at home.

When I say “teach,” I’m merely explaining how I live by example. I don’t set them down with a bible, paper, and a pen. I live what I believe and then explain why I’m living it. Sometimes, they don’t listen, but sometimes, they do. Continue reading →

“A Little of Everything”

| Laura Lee Bonde

I know what it’s like to be loved
I know what it’s like to be hated
I know what it’s like to be forgiven
I know what it’s like to be resented
I know what it’s like to be welcomed
I know what it’s like to be in the way
I know what it’s like to be remembered
I know what it’s like to be forgotten
I know what it’s like to taste fear
I know what it’s like to breathe faith
I know what it’s like

A Dinner Worth Waiting For

| Laura Lee Bonde

Sometimes life gets in the way of living. If I sat down and thought about it, there would probably be something to do in the form of worship, prayer, study, etc. every night of the week, and there have been times when I have been caught up in that. Well, this week, I really want to go to a worship thing on Saturday evening, so I’ve been staying home from other events, and it has truly blessed me.

On Monday, after stopping by to check on Lee, I came home to my Carolyn being home. Normally, she’s with her dad. He took so long to pick her up that she ended up staying with me, and we shared some one-on-one time together: we cried (about Lee and my pulled heart); we laughed together…it was good. And last night, I spent some one-on-one time with my Katie. Continue reading →

“So Not Normal”

| Laura Lee Bonde

Normal was cussing
calling names
screaming
slamming doors

Normal was drinking
passing out
missing life
passing by

Normal was forgetting
not wanting to move
crying
over selfish desires

Normal was laughing
at work but
yelling
at home

Normal was darkness
without light
without hope
without love

and then I met Him
fell in love with my kids
encountered His Love
changed my mind

to create a NEW normal

FREEDOM

Free POOP

| Laura Lee Bonde

It’s not what you’re thinking.

Yesterday morning, Nathan wanted to take Mentos to school because they’re allowed to eat them during testing, so we stopped at Food4Less to pick some up. Do you ever have trouble deciding what to buy? Nathan was quick about it, but I was in the snack aisle, debating. Later on, I wondered if my debate was all part of God’s plan to put me in the right place at the right time.

As we headed out of the store Continue reading →

Bananas and Mayonnaise

| Laura Lee Bonde

When I had lunch with Lee on Tuesday (the day I actually remembered to pop the popcorn, the day I wasn’t sure if he’d be there), we had such a good chat. We always do, but because I had gone through my personal loss of our friendship by not knowing if he’d be there, I appreciated our chatting all the more, and we had a lot to talk about. Continue reading →