While things have been a bit quiet here at thisoddhouse.org for the past few weeks, they have been far from quiet at This Odd House in McHenry. In the midst of some sicknesses and the end-of-semester stress, we have also been celebrating the season in several special ways. We put up our tree. And while… Read More BIG NEWS!
“Time is dead as long as it is being clicked off by little wheels; only when the clock stops does time come to life.” –William Faulkner Our official wait for our daughter Amelia began on an island. The island of Great Chebeague, off the coast of Maine. In the summer of 2006 we mailed our… Read More Island Time
Guest Post by Andie Roeder Moody Today I’m thrilled to share this piece by another friend and former student, Andie Roeder Moody. I fell in love with Andie’s heart and her writing when she joined my Creative Nonfiction class a few years ago. Here she offers some lovely thoughts and some powerful Biblical truths… Read More Turn, Turn, Turn
Guest Post by Alicia Reisinger Today I am honored to share this piece from my friend and former student, Alicia Reisinger. When I decided to try a guest blog series, Alicia was one of the first people I invited to contribute because she is a gifted communicator. Alicia knows story. She also knows what it… Read More Waiting for Navy’s Lips
Last spring the Hidden Pearl coffee shop opened in downtown McHenry. Just two blocks south of us on Green Street. It changed our lives. And our hopes for the neighborhood. Which has endured its share of economic downturn fallout. As well as a major fire. Over the summer, every time Peter sent me off to… Read More Instant Gratification Nation
Guest Post by a Fellow Foster Mom I’ve had several prolonged periods of waiting in my life. A few of the more obvious ones are this: In my 20s, I waited several years for a much-desired career change. I waited until I was 30 to marry. And I was approaching 40 before I became a… Read More Waiting in Fosterland
Guest Post by Jamie Janosz If you’ve visited here in the past couple of weeks, you know that we’re in the midst of a series on the subject of waiting. I started the conversation here with a little story about our Amelia, wreaking glorious havoc in the waiting room. And since then, we’ve been blessed to hear from others who have spent time… Read More Life in the Waiting Room
Guest Post by Cara George Back in June I wrote a post about a quick trip our family took to Texas. For a wedding. The wedding of Cara and Ryan. I knew Cara first as a student. Then as the president of a drama team that I advise. Then as a mentee as Peter and… Read More Waiting…and the Meaning of My Name
Guest Post by Caitlin Burdick Last week I started a conversation here around the topic of “waiting.” And I shared a little story about my three-year-old to get the ball rolling. Since then, I’ve heard from many of you–mostly via e-mail and facebook–who have spent time in the proverbial waiting room. And some who are… Read More Waiting for Glory
This past month things have been quiet here at This Odd House while I’ve been readjusting to the teaching life after a luxurious sabbatical year. It didn’t necessarily feel luxurious at the time. But now that I am back in the thick of academic life, I have an even greater appreciation for that gift of… Read More In the Waiting Room
