Heidi Saxton - Life on the Road Less Traveled

January 5, 2011

Categories

Weekend Ponderings

Gifts of the Epiphany

This week we celebrate the Feast of Epiphany, when the Oriental nobles circumnavigated Herod’s schemes and followed the star to the Infant King, and bestowing upon him the unlikeliest of baby gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Although his parents must have scratched their heads as they gazed upon the treasure, within days the sense of it crystallized as they hurriedly loaded their donkey and fled, the wails of their neighbors rending the air as the Holy Family passed the city gates. The presence of the Gentile kings in the life of Christ was an indication that the Messiah had come from the Jews, but not for them alone. God’s covenant … […]

January 2, 2011

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prayer request

Letter from a Birth Mother: Adoption Realities

This morning when I logged on to the computer (it’s been “sick” for a few days now, poor thing), I had a comment on my “Mommy Monsters” blog that I felt deserved a special response. Because “Mommy Monsters” is officially inactive, I wanted to alert my readers to the fact that the post was there in case you wanted to check it out. In the adoption community, emotions tend to run high, and because of that misunderstandings can occur. It saddens me that something I wrote may have added to the burden this young woman is carrying, and my heart goes out to her. She […]

December 31, 2010

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When a Soldier Comes Home for Christmas: A Mother’s Confession

This week the “Mebane Enterprise” posted a touching article about my nephew, Ryan Redner, who with his wife and daughter Bella (whom he adopted when he married her mom) made a surprise visit to my sister’s home this year for Christmas. You can read the article here. On the second page, my sister wrote a special “Letter to the Editor,” which she gave me permission to adapt here. There’s a commercial on the air right now for a certain brand of coffee. A young man comes home for Christmas where he is greeted by his anxiously awaiting sister. He hands her a gift, and she […]

December 30, 2010

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prayer

A Blessing for Not-So-Holy Families

It was like scratching an itch that had been building up for years. Then, the day before Christmas, the proverbial straw landed. Finally, this ol’ camel scratched in the form of a carefully worded e-mail. Ahhhh . . . camel crap. We’ve been shoveling it for days now, with no end in sight. Someday I’ll get around to sharing details, but for now I’ll summarize it this way: Nothing, not even righteous indignation, feels good enough to justify hurting someone you REALLY love. And sometimes even the most justified comeback can have consequences you never intended. In this case, the easy “Sorry” won’t work. You […]

December 25, 2010

Categories

Christmas

“‘Tis the Season of Christmas”

A couple of years ago I was asked to write something for St. Andrew’s upcoming post-Christmas pageant, a fundraiser that benefits the St. Louis Boy’s Center. In writing up this little ditty, I came across a number of intriguing customs and details about Christmas around the world that I wanted to share with you today . . . While my family and I enjoy one more day on the beach in West Palm Beach! Enjoy! ‘Tis the season of Christmas, And since the Word became Man, Every nation and culture Has told the story most grand. Posadas[i] and crèches and szopkes[ii] abound, And […]

December 18, 2010

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Advent Blessing for Extraordinary Moms

Last Sunday was our annual Advent Tea, and at my table was a woman who had adopted two children. She had heard me speak on Al Kresta’s program about the Extraordinary Moms Network, and said she’d hoped I was still helping adoptive parents. It seems she was looking for a little support involving some changes her daughters were going through right now. To be honest, I’ve become a bit gun-shy, and haven’t been writing as extensively about the subject of adoption for a while. For one thing, I recently resigned from the board of the foster/adoption agency because I didn’t agree with their recruiting practices, […]

December 13, 2010

Categories

recipes

Christmases Past: Remembering Kimberly

Every year about this time I have a special tradition that I do just for me (well, mostly, though my family always notices if I skip). I make “Kimberly Fudge,” in memory of a Bethany friend who died in a car accident a few years ago while she and her husband were missionaries in China. I don’t have a picture of Kimberly. But in my mind’s eye I can see her at the stove in the basement of the Old Ad building (also now the stuff of memories, as it was recently demolished), stirring the sugar syrup for a full 12 minutes before adding it […]

September 15, 2008

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Mighty Mom Monday: “You Might Be A Mommy…”

Mighty Mom (with a nod to Jeff Foxworthy) would like to encourage you today with this tribute to Extraordinary Moms everywhere. Sometimes knowing you’ve got company in the ol’ boat makes it that much easier to pull. Thanks, Sarah! If you have to make an intentional effort to take a shower at least every 48 hours … you MIGHT be a Mommy. If you go out for a dinner alone with your husband, hear a kid scream and have to look over just to make sure it isn’t one of yours … you MIGHT be a Mommy. If you no longer put “laundry” on your […]

September 8, 2008

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Mighty Mom Monday: “10 Special Blessings”

When a family finds out that one of its members has special needs, it can be easy to panic. Some couples even go so far as to contemplate abortion when they find out they are carrying a Down Syndrome or other special needs child (or, worse, go through with that terrible choice). In today’s guest post, contributing writer “Mighty Mom” shares ten ways that she and her husband have benefitted from their special needs kids (SNKs). 10) They make me laugh. – It’s true, every day. for example. My oldest has a speech delay (among other things). One day out of the blue he started walking around saying “I’m […]