# Theresa Boedeker

> Unwrapping life with words...


## Posts

- [Life as it Comes #15 | The Irritating Robot Voice](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-as-it-comes-episode-15/): Sometimes a quick trip to the grocery store and self-checking a cart of items turns into your worst nightmare. How quick can you say self-checkout? A lot quicker than it actually takes to argue and wrestle items past the irritating robot voice. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; I don&#8217;t know who designed this self-checking machine, but the [&hellip;]
- [A Peek at My Week](https://theresaboedeker.com/a-peek-at-my-week/): My Biggest Blunder this Week (Also My Biggest Laugh) I am talking with two friends when A says, “Okay, I am going to share a story with you. It’s a little,” and she shakes her head, “embarrassing. I hope it doesn’t cause your opinion of me to drop any lower.” “Don’t worry,” I interject, “my [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #14 | The Art of Spraying](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-as-it-comes-episode-14/): Most people think spraying is easy. Little do they realize the self-control, the analytical math mind, and the sense of timing that accompany this job. It is a job not everyone should be trusted with. Anyone can spread soap bubbles on a car, but not everyone entrusted with a hose has enough self-control to resist [&hellip;]
- [Lego Movie, Control and Releasing](https://theresaboedeker.com/lego-movie-control-and-releasing/): I rented the Lego movie this weekend and watched it for the second time. Little Man has now seen it four times. Most anyone who has children and one million 400 trillion small geometrical shaped interlocking Lego pieces scattered throughout their house and hiding in more nooks and crannies than they thought a house could [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #13 | Big Game Hunting at the Campsite](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-as-it-comes-episode-13/): I had visions of relaxing by the campfire, lying in the shade of giant pine trees, and hiking along the meandering river. But this camping trip turns a bit wild when a guy with a squirt bottle decides he is going to eliminate the winged insects from the vicinity. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Need another [&hellip;]
- [Finding the Antidote](https://theresaboedeker.com/finding-the-antidote/): An unwelcome visitor descended on our house this week. It started with irritated skin, itching, and now bumpy skin, quickly turned to oozing, irritated, and red cracked skin. Yes, poison ivy descended for a lengthy visit on the youngest member of our household and a much milder case for the eldest member. Thankfully I was [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #12 | Bunny Foo Foo Here and There](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-as-it-comes-episode-12/): A young bunny, who likes to fill himself up early in the morning and in the cool of the evening, has been sneaking into my yard and gnawing away at the tender young parts of my perennials. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Need another smile or another story? Listen to other episodes here. Join [&hellip;]
- [Sweet and Sour, Happy and Sad](https://theresaboedeker.com/sweet-and-sour-happy-and-sad/): It’s that time of year again. Sweet and Sour. Black and White. Joy and Sorrow. Good and Bad. Happy and Sad. Excitement and Dread. Two opposites. More of one and less of the other, but still the two mingled together in some measurement. For the last two weeks my son asked that the dreaded phrase, [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #11 | Fictionary](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-as-it-comes-episode-11/): Chaos develops when we learn how to play Fictionary, a game that takes an active imagination and the talent of making something unbelievable seem like the truth. Learn what shadoof and minaudiere may possibly mean. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Learn to play Fictionary, a fun game that only takes a dictionary, paper and pencil, and some [&hellip;]
- [Scattered Blessings](https://theresaboedeker.com/scattered-blessings/): Blessings, you know what they are. It’s when you pull into the grocery store and there waiting for you is front row parking. It’s hearing the laughter of your husband after you’ve told him a joke. It is forgiveness from another you offended. It is a surprise you were not expecting. It is rain the [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #10 | Motels, Sisters, and Cardboard Boxes](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-as-it-comes-episode-10/): When my spendthrift sister and I try to book a trip together using hotel points, we run into a bit of a snag. Through creative thinking we devise another plan. Trouble was, my husband was a bit skeptical. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Listen below: &nbsp; Need another smile or another story? Listen to other episodes here. [&hellip;]
- [Ditch Digging, Being Silent, and Keeping Company](https://theresaboedeker.com/ditch-digging-being-silent-and-keeping-company/): I sit on a large rock embedded with tiny shells and sea fragments that the builders left in our backyard. Probably because it was too much of a bother to haul away. Architectural detail, they doubtless thought. The hot and humid Missouri air has a slight breeze to it that moves the pointed tip oval [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #009 | What Are the Chances?](https://theresaboedeker.com/what-are-the-chances/): This episode tries to get answers to some of life&#8217;s mysteries that haunt us in the quiet moments of sleepless nights. Questions like, when to call a business so as not to be put on hold as soon as your call is answered? Where does the deja-vu feeling come from and does everyone experience it? [&hellip;]
- [Letter to My Brother](https://theresaboedeker.com/letter-to-my-brother/): Because in July I think of you a little more I was six when you were born. With you as a baby, I wanted to be a big girl and help mom. One day I asked to take a nap with you. We were lying on the playroom floor and you peed on me and [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #008 | Waffle Glue and Bamboo Skewers](https://theresaboedeker.com/waffle-glue-and-bamboo-skewers/): Sometimes you think you have breakfast under control, and then a waffles gets stuck in the waffle iron and your day suddenly turns into a much different experience. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Need another smile or another story? Listen to other episodes here. Join the discussion: Have you had an unexpected breakfast experience you want [&hellip;]
- [Enjoying the Best You](https://theresaboedeker.com/enjoy-being-yourself/): Dear Readers, I don’t know if you have had the opportunity to listen to the most recent podcast, Busy the New Fine. In the beginning of the story I allow an overachiever to make me feel bad and question my worth. I wonder if I am doing enough and try to figure out how to [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #007 | Busy the New Fine](https://theresaboedeker.com/busy-the-new-fine/): Sometimes we begin to doubt our self, which can lead to a disastrous overhaul of some area of our life. Sometimes though, we need to just keep being our self. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Need another smile or another story? Listen to other episodes here. Join the Discussion:  In what area have you attempted to [&hellip;]
- [The Comfort of Tasks](https://theresaboedeker.com/the-comfort-of-tasks/): I am absorbed in the rhythm. Mindlessly lost in the repetitive motion. My thoughts wander to land here and there—time-travel to and fro. I return to the present for a moment. Four carrots. One large onion. My thoughts re-gather and head elsewhere. I am in the kitchen chopping uniform pieces of vegetables to throw into [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #006 | Descending Black Storm](https://theresaboedeker.com/descending-black-storm/): This story is about those peace invading, pesky, almost invisible fruit flies that move into one&#8217;s house and remain as unwelcome guests. Bonus: At the end of the story learn one easy tip on how to greatly decrease the population of fruit flies in your home. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Need another smile or another story? [&hellip;]
- [Upset Book Reviews, Movies, and Motives](https://theresaboedeker.com/upset-book-reviews-movies-and-motives/): I am tapping, swiping, and reading my email moments after hubby has left for work. Little Man has an audio book blaring across the kitchen, just above where I am trying to concentrate and quickly peruse, digest, trash, and contain my numerous inbox contents that have multiplied like dandelions since yesterday. He comes up and [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #005 |  Locks, Tornadoes, and Music](https://theresaboedeker.com/locks-tornadoes-and-music/): Piano recitals are supposed to be calm and proceed in an orderly manner. But all chaos breaks out when a surprise tornado warning launches a scrambling to safe places. Feel free to share your favorite recital or tornado story in the comments. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Need another smile or another story? Listen to other [&hellip;]
- [Naming Blessings Aloud](https://theresaboedeker.com/naming-blessings-aloud/): My friend is telling me a story. There is tension and conflict. It’s about everyday life. Like most of the stories we tell each other, nothing to dramatic. Then suddenly there is a reprieve and surprise. “And by the third day his fever was gone and he was feeling back to normal.” “That was a [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #004 | Smoked Soup and Hesitant Hospitality](https://theresaboedeker.com/burnt-soup-and-hesitant-hopitality/): Sometimes cooking dinner does not go according to plans. And sometimes a burnt dinner is not as ruined as one thinks. Do you have a dinner story that did not go according to plan? Share below in the comments. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Play this episode below in your choice of players. &nbsp; &nbsp; Need another [&hellip;]
- [Breathing Dust Bunnies](https://theresaboedeker.com/breathing-dust-bunnies/): Spring arrives and I think about giving the house a seriously good cleaning. Summer arrives and I think about it a little more. I am vacuuming my kitchen floor, noticing that the edges of the wood floor peeking from the refrigerator shadow are getting a bit grimy. If I step back the length of a [&hellip;]
- [Bed Sheets, Deer, and the Clampetts](https://theresaboedeker.com/things-to-rememberbedsheets-deer-and-the-clampetts/): Our front walk is ringed in daylilies that we planted for color several years ago. The first year or two proceeded without incident, probably because the plants were spindly, small, and were getting established. Then last year arrived and we had lots of blooms puffing up and about to burst forth. Then the mystery developed. [&hellip;]
- [When I found Out that Orange is Not a Color](https://theresaboedeker.com/when-i-found-out-that-orange-is-not-a-color/): &nbsp; I was avidly listening to the talk, presented by a gray-haired, well-manicured lady, with my mid-teen friends. She was talking about clothes and fashion tips and we were hanging on her every word as she was passing on some tips she had learned at Modeling/Finishing School. A place many of us had only dreamed [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #003 | Lost Pole and Rocking the Boat](https://theresaboedeker.com/lost-pole-and-rocking-the-boat/): &nbsp; This is a fishing trip that ends with a jump into icy water, and after years of catching no fish, finally a catch of fish. Do you have a favorite fishing story that had a surprise ending? Share it with us in the comments. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Pllay below in PowerPress or below that [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #002 | Early Breakfast, Nighties, and Door Knocking](https://theresaboedeker.com/early-breakfast-nighties-and-door-knocking/): &nbsp; Sometimes one is just not ready when guests arrive, especially if it is early in the morning. This story is about rushing around in a nighty and a guest arriving unexpectedly. Can you relate to this situation? Tell us your story in the comments. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Play below in Blubrry, or below that [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #001 | Showing Up on the Wrong Night](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-as-it-comes-episode-001/): &nbsp; Sometimes one can unwittingly set in motion a whole set of events. This story is about what happens when you get the date wrong and the inevitable mishaps that follow. Has something similar happened to you? Tell us about it in the comments. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Listen below with the Blubrry player or with [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #000 | Introducing Life as it Comes](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-as-it-comes-episode-000/): This pre-show episode introduces the podcast series, Life as it Comes. It tells some background about the author of the podcast and describes what listeners can expect. Learn the goals and purpose of this podcast. And of course, there is a story or two. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Listen below using PowerPress, or below that using [&hellip;]
- [What's the Plot Line of Your Journey?](https://theresaboedeker.com/whats-the-plot-line-of-your-journey/): &nbsp; What does your current journey look like? Do you sometimes look around and think you would rather be on someone else’s’ journey? A journey with fewer twists and turns? Or wish your journey liked a little more like Instagram? More beach days and less mess days. We may wish for a perfect life of [&hellip;]
- [Failing with Grace](https://theresaboedeker.com/failing-with-grace/): &nbsp; It seems opposites attract. Which includes my husband and me. He wants to arrive early. I like to arrive just on time. Can you see a problem? He will announce, “Time to go,” or ask, “are you ready to go?” half an hour before we need to be walking out the door. Even before [&hellip;]
- [Will the Real You Please Stand?](https://theresaboedeker.com/will-real-please-stand/): &nbsp; Do you ever see someone else and suddenly do a double take? Maybe they look like your twin. Are wearing something you own. Saying something you would say. Have the same name and hair color. Or they have some quirky mannerism you have been teased about all your life. Anyway, you stop and stare [&hellip;]
- [What is Helping You Survive These Winter Months?](https://theresaboedeker.com/helping-survive-winter-months/): &nbsp; My grandparents headed to Arizona during the winter months, leaving me wondering why they left every year and why on Sunday nights we couldn’t visit them. Now with each passing winter, I understand more and more why they headed south. South towards the sun and warm balmy days. Heading south is not an option, [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #42 | Cough Notes](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-comes-42-cough-notes/): The flu never sneaks up, like a silent cat getting closer and closer. No. Wham, bam, the flu hits you over the head and wrestles you to the ground and hog ties you to the bed for days. And when you do get up, you feel like a wrung washcloth that is dehydrated and limp. [&hellip;]
- [Free Sometimes Really Means Free](https://theresaboedeker.com/free-things-not-always-free/): &nbsp; Repeatedly the company calls. I have been selected to win this absolutely free, three-day cruise. I roll my eyes, make some sarcastic remark, and hang up. Just before the voice tells me to push a button and claim my free-gift. Momma was right. “If it sounds too good to be true; it is.” Yup, [&hellip;]
- [Email Euphoria](https://theresaboedeker.com/email-euphoria/): Sometimes we do things without really thinking through the consequences. Okay, in all honesty, sometimes without even thinking. Sometimes it is just to tough to think about what we need to do next, and during those times I certainly don’t plot a straight line as to what this step will lead to all the way [&hellip;]
- [Sometimes We Just Need to Believe](https://theresaboedeker.com/sometimes-just-need-believe/): I am reading Mathew and in this chapter Jesus is healing one person after another. Boom, bam, slam. Left and right. Broken and unwell people are brought to him. He heals them. Restores them to health. Forgives their sins. The response of the healed? Joy. Amazement. A wanting to tell everyone and show everyone their [&hellip;]
- [Relearning the Same Thing, Again](https://theresaboedeker.com/relearning-the-same-thing-again/): Sometimes it seems as if my life is on replay. Or maybe that it is punctuated with Deja-vu moments. We were driving across Indiana when it began happening. My son was shivering and not feeling well. Basically miserable, he was, and I was trying to comfort him. Encourage him that this too shall pass. When [&hellip;]
- [Imagine if You Can, How a Yes Changed it All](https://theresaboedeker.com/imagine-can-yes-changed/): We often don&#8217;t know if our yes or no will change things much. But sometimes it does. Mary&#8217;s yes, changed the world. &nbsp; Can you imagine a world without Jesus? A world where he was never born? A world where our sins were not forgiven? A world where grace and love were not free commodities? [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #41 | Houdini, the Furry Escape Artist](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-comes-41-houdini-furry-escape-artist/): &nbsp; If Houdini came back as a tongue lolling, tail wagging, and chest panting dog, I know which dog his spirit would reside within. The dog our friends owned and which we babysat. Listen to this story of escape and intrigue. Who knows, you may even smile. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; To listen, click one of [&hellip;]
- [What Turns You into a Screeching Tea Kettle](https://theresaboedeker.com/turns-schreeching-tea-kettle/): &nbsp; Once when my mom questioned me about a fight I had gotten into with my sibling, I blurted out the classic excuse. “They made me so mad.” If you have been alive for very long, you have either heard this excuse or used it. Because it is the classic point-the-finger-at-the-other-person excuse. The I-am-innocent-and-they-are-guilty excuse. [&hellip;]
- [Why Getting to Know All About You is a Good Idea: 5 Benefits](https://theresaboedeker.com/getting-know-good-idea-5-benefits/): &nbsp; I had been married for a little over ten years when an engaged friend asked for one important piece of marriage advice. Well this tested my grey matter. Not because I truly know nothing about marriage, although it seems I know less the longer I have been married, but because I guess no one [&hellip;]
- [Counting Blessings on a Card Table](https://theresaboedeker.com/counting-blessings-card-table/): Thanksgiving doesn&#8217;t always go as planned. And that is all right. It can be different and held on a card table, and still be Thanksgiving. Because what is important is not the food or location. Thanksgiving was a big deal at our house when I was growing up. So naturally, when I married and started [&hellip;]
- [Dear First Time Moms](https://theresaboedeker.com/dear-first-time-moms/): &nbsp; Dear First Time Moms, Congratulations! You have joined the honored circle of motherhood. It may look like most mothers have it all together, but the truth is, they really don’t. Most of us are trying to stay one step ahead of our children. Remember this. None of us have children and motherhood all figured [&hellip;]
- [How and Why We Must Learn to Say No](https://theresaboedeker.com/must-learn-say-no-12/): &nbsp; We women are nurtures, caretakers, lovers of others, and let-me-help-you serving machines. And that is wonderful and good. But these traits can cause trouble when we start getting to many tasks on our plates and wear ourselves out. You ever done that? Over committed and burned the oil of too-much-to-accomplish on both ends of [&hellip;]
- [Why We Can't Say No, But Must](https://theresaboedeker.com/cant-say-no-must-7/): We women can be focused driven work machines. We strive to accomplish more than possible, spin the gears nonstop until after the day is done, and are often multi-tasking like a pro. We can change diapers with our eyes closed while planning a mental to-do list for the next 24 hours, cook dinner and give [&hellip;]
- [The Weight of Words, Because They Matter](https://theresaboedeker.com/weight-words-matter/): Words can inspire. They can paint a picture of hope. They can cause excitement. Words can disappoint. They can deceive. They can depress. The words that we select everyday, the words that bubble out of our mouth filling the air with sounds, the words we use to communicate, give commands, and tell a story can [&hellip;]
- [Changing the World with the Everyday Mundane](https://theresaboedeker.com/changing-world-everyday-mundane/): &nbsp; Dear Beautiful Important One: Yes, I am talking to you! Sometimes our life seems normal. Mundane. Routine. Boring. Very little excitement is popping into our daily grind, except when we sleep through our alarm and try to get ready in less than 2 minutes. Which of course can’t be done. Or maybe you count [&hellip;]
- [Relaxing in His Love](https://theresaboedeker.com/relaxing-in-his-love/): &nbsp; Watch new parents holding their tiny newborn and you instinctively smile, slow down a little, and feel all snuggly yourself. They cradle their baby so tenderly, coo and smile and baby talk quietly, and without thinking they often start rocking and moving a little bit. It is all so precious and beautiful. And when [&hellip;]
- [The Illusion of Control](https://theresaboedeker.com/the-illusion-of-control/): &nbsp; When we were dating, my hubby-to-be said that no child of his would pick their nose. How this conversation came about, I don’t remember. Maybe we were talking about pet peeves, or maybe we were stopped at a stoplight and there in the next car was a picker. Or maybe there was a small [&hellip;]
- [Misspoken Prayers](https://theresaboedeker.com/misspoken-prayers/): &nbsp; My husband surprised me. There we were in church during prayer time. The beautiful time set aside to speak prayer requests into audible formation. The time just before we have communion and are fed as part of the family. He started praying for me. Blessings on my trip and time away for a few [&hellip;]
- [What We All Need: Now and Forever](https://theresaboedeker.com/need-now-forever/): &nbsp; From the time he was little, I have tried to let my son know that he is a blessing to our family. That without him our family would be missing something. “What would I do without you?” I would sometimes ask him. “I don’t know.” He would say. “I would have no little boy [&hellip;]
- [Getting Through the Tube](https://theresaboedeker.com/getting-through-the-tube/): &nbsp; Sometimes the past sneaks up and bonks you on the head with a two-by-four and you are left gasping for breath and life. When I checked in at the clinic there was no warning sign of what lay ahead. Nor was my memory yelling stop. Maybe because the lady who checked me in had [&hellip;]
- [Why is There Always Something to Complain About?](https://theresaboedeker.com/always-something-complain/): &nbsp; It seems we don’t have to look far. Maybe just in the mirror. Or at our house or apartment. Or our lack of house or Apartment. Or at our job. Or lack of job. Or at our kids or husband. Or lack of kids and husband. Before we find something to complain about. &nbsp; [&hellip;]
- [How to Stop an Argument](https://theresaboedeker.com/how-to-stop-an-argument/): &nbsp; It’s a good feeling when people agree with us. When the person we are talking to is nodding their head and confirming our opinions and ideas, our likes and dislikes. Yes, to that decision. No, to that idea and political party. Yup, to our excitingly good idea. Definitely vanilla over chocolate. Problem is, not [&hellip;]
- [Who Are You Guiding](https://theresaboedeker.com/who-are-you-guiding/): I never thought of myself as a guide. Sure my mother would say I needed to set a good example for my younger siblings, but in no way was I their guide. That was mom and dad’s job. Then one day a few years into my marriage, my husband said to me, “Theresa, have you [&hellip;]
- [Speak to Me](https://theresaboedeker.com/speak-to-me-5/): My husband will say to me, “Speak to me, Theresa.” This means for me to tell him about my day, my feelings, what’s going on. Just speak about this or that. That is what we bloggers are called to do. To speak to our people. To speak truth into their hearts, encouragement into their souls, [&hellip;]
- [Learning to Play, Again](https://theresaboedeker.com/learning-to-play-again/): &nbsp; When was the last time you played? Where you did something so fun you lost the track of time? Or laughed with pure joy and delight and didn’t even care who heard you. Or just ran and then did a cartwheel (or maybe just turned in circles a few times), just because you were [&hellip;]
- [Playing At Life](https://theresaboedeker.com/playing-at-life/): Young children know how to play.   They laugh and smile and are so unconscious. They flip lopsided cartwheels through the air, totally unconcerned with their form. They chase after a bunny, laughing in sheer delight. They talk about meeting a bear in a cave, before entering a little cavern. They laugh when you pinch [&hellip;]
- [Sometimes We Need a Re-Do!](https://theresaboedeker.com/sometimes-need-re/): &nbsp; Sometimes you just need a reset. A do over. A mulligan. Another try. And not just me, but other people too. And we need to give them one. One more try. Handed on a plate and freely exchanged. We were in Chicago this year, visiting the aquarium. After wandering through the wet and watery [&hellip;]
- [What Voices Are You Listening To?](https://theresaboedeker.com/what-voices-are-you-listening-to/): I come from a family of red heads. My parents had red hair. 4 of my 6 siblings had red hair. And just like blonde hair comes in different shades, so did our red hair. To me, my red hair was normal. I didn’t really give it a thought. Until about 4th grade. When a [&hellip;]
- [Impressing Others is a Tricky Business](https://theresaboedeker.com/impressing-others-tricky-business/): Why is that sometimes when we are trying to impress others all the magnetic poles line up to foil our attempts and mock us? I was walking into the restaurant, following the waiter through a tiled floor maze of occupied tables. Curtis was bringing up the tail. I felt a joy in him following me, [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #40 | Security, Wanderings, and Ireland](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-comes-40-security-wanderings-ireland/): &nbsp; Sometimes life does not go as planned. You almost miss a plane, but then you have a story to tell. Because everyone needs a story of their own. A story that people laugh at. A story that stars you. A story that is yours alone to tell. Listen to this story and gain a smile. &nbsp; &nbsp; [&hellip;]
- [Exploding Expectations](https://theresaboedeker.com/exploding-expectations/): &nbsp; Sometimes when I look back on my expectations, I laugh. Probably because some distance has developed and I am a little wiser. Hopefully. I remember being confined for months to a hospital bed. Hour after boring hour I laid there. And I remember thinking that as soon as I had the doctor’s okay to [&hellip;]
- [What if Your Body is as Good as it Gets?](https://theresaboedeker.com/body-good-gets/): &nbsp; What if I told you that your body may be as good as it gets? Right now? Today? Yes, right now with all its supposed flaws and appearance problems. Dough stomach, lopsided smile, big feet, wide shoulders and all. Would you believe me? Or would you argue that in ten weeks after you complete [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #39 | Dark Surprises, Dads and Stomachs](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-comes-39-dark-surprises-dads-stomachs/): Sometimes the night does not go as you plan. As an adult and as a child. One night I wake up and hear more than a bump. Which gets me thinking about the night I knocked on my dad&#8217;s door and told him I had a surprise for him. Happy Father&#8217;s Day to all you [&hellip;]
- [Summer Attitude and Flexibility](https://theresaboedeker.com/summer-attitude-flexibility/): &nbsp; Flexibility. It’s a word my sister has been bantering around in conversations. A word she is trying to become. With summer just inching into its place at our house, I have been thinking of flexibility and what it means. Especially in the quiet of morning, when the birds are chirping about their breakfast in [&hellip;]
- [Hiding From the Kirby Man](https://theresaboedeker.com/hiding-kirby-man/):    I am laughing from a joke with the family and loudly say hello when I answer the phone.  There is a whisper at the other end. “This is Lisa.”  “Our neighbor,” I announce to my husband and son.  “Yes, Lisa. What’s up?” &#8220;He’s back,” she whispers. “Hide and don’t answer the door.” “Oh no,” [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #38 | The One Fatal Flaw](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-comes-38-one-fatal-flaw/): Why is it we are all born with one fatal flaw? The worry flaw. The need to worry about anything and everything. It seems we all carry around a container of worries. Some have small bags of worries, the size of a checkbook and a few credit cards. Others have a medium box of worries, [&hellip;]
- [Silencing Secrets](https://theresaboedeker.com/silencing-secrets/): Warning: This post is of a delicate nature and not for little eyes. How sharing our secrets of guilt and shame can be healing. &nbsp; Sharing the past can change our future. Especially when we share secrets from the past. Bringing them carefully out and examining them in the light of today. We can feel [&hellip;]
- [Why Litle Boys Love Peeing Outside](https://theresaboedeker.com/litle-boys-love-peeing-outside/): We were three mothers standing in the cul-de-sac chatting about trivial things. Ripe strawberries, dogs, lost socks, dinner. The 5 children (1 girl and 4 boys), were playing kid stuff that involved running, stopping, yelling, bossing, and more running. We ladies were in the middle of a good laugh when my neighbor to the south [&hellip;]
- [Kindness and Compassion Please!](https://theresaboedeker.com/kindness-compassion-please/): &nbsp; When Mother’s Day is hard, it can be a day of conflicting emotions. The week leading up to it and the day can fill us with so many mixed emotions. Maybe because we all carry different scars and experiences and life is complicated. We can feel like a failure. Think others view us as [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #37 | Salsa Salad for Momma](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-as-it-comes-37-salsa-salad-for-momma/): There is a reason why at potlucks women should run to the front of the line. If they wait until all the males have gone, there remains only vegetable salad, and a lot of empty dishes needing washing. I knew this, so I should not have left the room to chat with a girlfriend on the phone [&hellip;]
- [Embrace Your Mothering Instinct](https://theresaboedeker.com/embrace-mothering-instinct/): You see it in young girls. &nbsp; A little girl is holding her baby doll to her chest and talking to it. Something distracts her and off she wanders. Soon she notices her brother tossing her baby off the picnic bench where she had so carefully placed her. It seems her brother wants the doll’s [&hellip;]
- [An Interview with Theresa Boedeker about Life as it Comes](https://theresaboedeker.com/interview-theresa-boedeker-life-comes/): LifeLetter Cafe: What is the most important thing you are hoping to accomplish in Life as it Comes? &nbsp; Theresa Boedeker: Laughter, and more laughter. Watch little kids, and they laugh multiple times a day. They find pure joy in such little things. Adults, though, may go all day without laughing. My tag line is, [&hellip;]
- [A Letter to My Daughter: Remember This](https://theresaboedeker.com/letter-daughter-remember/): Connecting with your daughter can be hard. Sometimes spoken words do not make it past our daughter’s ears. And sometimes what has been working before, no longer works in the relationship, like tickling and hugging the frown off her face. When this happened to me, I turned to pen and paper and wrote a letter [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes Podcast #36 | Wanted by the Vitamin Police](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-comes-podcast-36-wanted-vitamin-police/): &nbsp; Sometimes communication is much harder than is seems it should be. And sometimes confusion happens with perplexing results. Listen to this story and find out what happens. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; To listen, click one of the triangles below. Either the green triangle or the white triangle from a player below. Join the discussion: What communication [&hellip;]
- [Yay for Mistakes! Part 11 | Dealing With Critical Words From Mistakes](https://theresaboedeker.com/dealing-critical-words-mistakes/): How should we respond to someone who is pointing out our mistakes in a critical manner?&nbsp; You know the feeling. You are trying to do your best and someone starts shooting words that send you for a loop. Words that make you want to hide in the back of the coat closet. Words that cause [&hellip;]
- [Encouraging Spring's Potential in Others](https://theresaboedeker.com/encouraging-springs-potential-others/): &nbsp; Winter is my least favorite time of the year. Trees are bare wood pointing towards nothing in particular. Flowers have sunk into the ground. Perennial bushes sport clumpy circles of dried leaves at their feet. Even the grass lies dormant. ​ Nature seems closed for the season. Gray and brown starkness lingers. Slowly as [&hellip;]
- [Yay for Mistakes! Part 10 | Letting Go to Make Mistakes](https://theresaboedeker.com/yay-mistakes-part-10-letting-go-make-mistakes/): We have one at home, the other launched in the world. One is asking what is for dinner. One is asking what to make for dinner. One is shopping for Legos. One is grocery shopping. One is learning basketball skills. The other is learning to manage a home. One is dependent, one is married. One [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes Podcast #35 | Try Again! No, Again!](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-comes-podcast-35-try-no/): Sometimes your problem is so different, that when you call customer service to report it, they don&#8217;t take you seriously. In fact they think you may be making it up! This is what happened when I called the phone company to finally report our problem. But, come on! Weird things can be true. Even if there [&hellip;]
- [Yay for Mistakes! Part 9 | Dealing With Really Big Mistakes](https://theresaboedeker.com/yay-mistakes-dealing-really-big-mistakes/): It was a sunny fall day. We had just left my mother’s home and were driving down the road with my step-father. It seemed the beginning of an adventure as we were chatting and laughing about leaving on time, the sunny day, and our afternoon festivities. I glanced at my husband, and admired his good [&hellip;]
- [Yay for Mistakes! Part 8 | Some Mistakes are Really Blessings in Disguise](https://theresaboedeker.com/yay-for-mistakes-part-8-some-mistakes-are-really-blessings-in-disguise/): &nbsp; Sometimes I make a small ruckus before my birthday, just to remind everyone it is coming up, and sometimes I don’t. Well a few years back I didn’t. It snuck up on me, like a cat on padded feet. I gave the month-in-advance warning, maybe the two-weeks warning, and then silence. I woke up [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes Podcast #34 | Chinese Fire Drill](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-comes-34-chinese-fire-drill/): &nbsp; Sometimes you just need to throw caution to the wind on a dark, rainy night and try something a little daring. Chinese Fire Drill anyone? Around an old blue VW bug! Everything is going good until shortly thereafter, revolving lights are noticed in the rear view mirror. &nbsp; Listen to this humorous story podcast by clicking on the triangle [&hellip;]
- [Yay for Mistakes! Part 7 | Mistaking Paradise](https://theresaboedeker.com/yay-mistakes-part-7-m/): &nbsp; Why do we search so hard for and dream about a mistake free day? The perfect day? 24 hours in paradise? Perfection? I know I would never turn down a day that was encircled by a mistake-free-zone. Where the mistakes and foibles of others and myself had no influence or effect on my current [&hellip;]
- [Offering Hope to the Interrupted Mom](https://theresaboedeker.com/offering-hope-to-the-interrupted-mom/): It’s one of those days. Interruptions abound. They just won’t leave me alone. Claire, stops by to pick up her large green parrot who I’ve been babysitting for three weeks and whose cage I frantically cleaned this morning. She chats and plays with her bird. Meanwhile, I’m thinking, take him home and let me get [&hellip;]
- [Yay for Mistakes! Part 6 | Mistaking Our Worth](https://theresaboedeker.com/yay-mistakes-part-5-mistaking-worth/): &nbsp; My red-haired friend from Grad school calls me. The one who is a writing sister and who encouraged me to teach English, like she did. &nbsp; She had just had her 60th birthday. “Why?” she asks, “Do I still feel like I am still a little kid who hasn’t yet figured out life or [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes Podcast #33 | True Green and Garage Chaos](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-comes-podcast-33-true-green-garage-chaos/): When it sounds like a cannon has just been fired off your roof, the sound is often coming from something else. Unless you live in London next to Mary Poppins. Clue two: It is rarely your refrigerator slamming forward to the kitchen floor. So what could it be? Listen to this story podcast and solve [&hellip;]
- [Yay for Mistakes! Part 5 | Quieting a Myth of Mistakes](https://theresaboedeker.com/yay-mistakes-part-5-quieting-myth-mistakes/): My son sat next to me, sadness radiating from him. “What’s wrong?’ I ask. “I hate it when people get angry with me.” I nodded. ‘And when I disappoint people.” I nodded again. “If I could just always say and do the right thing and not make mistakes, then no one would be angry at [&hellip;]
- [Yay for Mistakes! Part 4 | How to Let Our Children Make Mistakes and Fail](https://theresaboedeker.com/yay-for-mistakes-part-4-how-to-let-our-children-make-mistakes-and-fail/): &nbsp; Kids need to make mistakes. And for us parents, this is hard. It was the first overnight birthday party my daughter had been invited to since we had moved half way across the continent and she had started a new school. Excitement buzzed in the air as we drove home and she regaled me [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes; Podcast 32 | Things to Avoid Saying](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-as-it-comes-podcast-32-things-to-avoid-saying/): &nbsp; Somethings are better left unsaid. Especially if others are within a 25 foot radius. An empty house is a good bet, but this is hard to come by if you reside with others. Listen and learn from some of my past foot-in-mouth experiences. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Listen to this humorous story podcast [&hellip;]
- [Yay for Mistakes! Part 3, Responding to Our Children's Mistakes](https://theresaboedeker.com/yay-for-mistakes-part-3-responding-to-our-childrens-mistakes/): Many of us are afraid of making mistakes because we associate making mistakes with something bad. Something to be avoided at all costs. I developed this attitude as a child. I lived in fear of doing or saying the wrong thing. Of making a mistake and people not liking me. Of embarrassing myself. Of my [&hellip;]
- [Twinkling Mom](https://theresaboedeker.com/twinkling-mom/): I am guest posting at Kindred Mom today. Twinkling Mom Christian stamps his foot hard against the tile floor, imitating his mother’s Irish dancing. He stamps three times in a row and laughs, proud of his accomplishment and the sound reverberating through the air. Sure, I taught him those complicated dance moves, to eat with [&hellip;]
- [Yay for Mistakes! Part 2, How to Respond](https://theresaboedeker.com/yay-for-mistakes-part-2-how-to-respond/): This is part two of a series on ‘responding to mistakes and what do you do?’ Read part 1 here. Mistakes in life happen. Everyday. All the time. Live long enough and you’ll make some. Try something new and you will make mistakes. Ever try to learn to play basketball and not make mistakes? Ride [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes; Podcast #31 |  Have You Pulled a Theresa?](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-as-it-comes-podcast-31-have-you-pulled-a-theresa/): This podcast takes a humorous look at making mistakes. It also ties in with my blog series on mistakes. I don&#8217;t know about you, but my life seems full of making mistakes. There are so many to make and so many combinations that life is never dull. In this story podcast I categorize some of [&hellip;]
- [Yay for Mistakes! Part 1, What Do You Do?](https://theresaboedeker.com/yeah-for-mistakes-part-1-what-do-you-do/): Responding to mistakes often occurs on autopilot.&nbsp; Okay! Your day is going pretty good. You’re cruising from one thing to another. Ticking off the boxes and lo and behold accomplishing some stuff. You’ve even had your first cup of coffee or tea. You are dressed. I mean, dressed in something you would not be embarrassed [&hellip;]
- [Do You Feel Outside the Circle?](https://theresaboedeker.com/do-you-feel-outside-the-circle/): Do you ever feel like you don’t fit in? That you are different from everyone else? That you belong about as much as a circle in a room of hexagons? I think we all sometimes feel this way. Sometimes it seems we really don’t fit in. Maybe we are the odd woman out. The only [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes; Podcast #30 | Front Yard Spectacle](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-as-it-comes-podcast-30-front-yard-spectacle/): Why is it little boys feel that the grass on the other side of the yard always needs watering? And why do they feel it is their responsibility to personally douse it, and douse it good. Even if there is a clean and sanitized bathroom only 50 feet away from where this enticing dry grass [&hellip;]
- [What Feeds Your Soul?](https://theresaboedeker.com/what-feeds-your-soul/): Want to learn how to discover your talents? I was in my mid-twenties when I began to discover that I like to be creative. I would eventually learn that this desire to create was as necessary as breathing. If I didn’t have an outlet for my creativity, if I had no way to be creative, [&hellip;]
- [The Friendship Moment of Change](https://theresaboedeker.com/the-friendship-moment-of-change/): &nbsp; Female friendship can be tricky, but so worth it.  I was reading a blog post … about moving and missing old friends. I can relate to that! Been there, done that, moved 8 times. I started laughing to myself, thinking about a comment that was forming in my wrinkly gray matter. As I scrolled [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #29 | Hiding Things](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-as-it-comes-episode-29/): Now I am not usually in the habit of hiding things on purpose in our house, except Christmas gifts and chocolate, but in our house anything in the fridge seems to be available for free range. If I buy a some ingredient for a special dinner, announcing to everyone not to eat it, I have [&hellip;]
- [Reacting to Pain](https://theresaboedeker.com/reacting-to-pain/): Relationships can be difficult. The other day I got a text from a friend that was pretty sarcastic. Now we all know that texts can be ambiguous. They are condensed, and they can be conveying something different than what we want because spell check can change a word here and there until we wonder what [&hellip;]
- [Choosing to Notice the Graces of Life](https://theresaboedeker.com/choosing-to-notice-the-graces-of-life/): They encircle me. My job is to notice them. Rejoice in them. Be thankful for them. I step out of bed and my feet hit the floor. Gravity is still in effect. No ceiling walking today. The sun shines through my window. Again it has risen. The birds belt tunes from the fence top. The [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #28 | Traveling Toilet Seats](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-as-it-comes-episode-28/): &nbsp; When our toilet seat breaks, sending someone sliding to the floor, my son and I hatch a new plan. The Traveling Toilet Seat Plan. No laughing, please. This may be one  you want to implement too. Just remember, you first heard about it here. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Listen to this story podcast by [&hellip;]
- [Living in a Different Land and Reality](https://theresaboedeker.com/living-in-a-different-land-and-reality/): I watch my son build a Lego city. A round parking garage takes shape. High rises sprout around the city with various roof top designs. One triangular, one tall and spiky, one with a fly through. A park is installed in the middle of the city, which sits alongside a riverfront. We talk about the [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #27 | The Big Whopper of a Whopper](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-as-it-comes-episode-27/): Why is it we believe that if we plan things, they will turn out perfectly? Or at least according to our plan? I do this all the time. And then get disappointed when my day doesn&#8217;t go as planned, when my best laid plans take a 126 degree detour, when interruptions riddle my day until [&hellip;]
- [Mary and Christmas](https://theresaboedeker.com/mary-and-christmas/): Christmas gets closer and I think of Mary. The Mother of Jesus. When the angel appeared to Mary, did she have any idea as to what she was promising to do? Did she know she that as a pregnant unwed girl the town would talk about her? Judge her? Did she realize that people would [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #26 | Trying Not to Laugh when Pretending to Sleep](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-as-it-comes-episode-26/): Sometimes by late afternoon I am tired. My eyelids are having trouble staying pert and unfurled. My attention is wandering. And I feel I could topple over into a deep sleep if I relaxed or sat down for more than 3 seconds. But sometimes when you need a nap, events conspire against you. &nbsp; &nbsp; [&hellip;]
- [The Latest News From Here](https://theresaboedeker.com/the-latest-news-from-here/): Some news from my corner of the state: My Biggest Blunder: (or foot in mouth) Two ladies and I were chatting. Along came the topic of looks and aging and being shocked when looking into the mirror. Friend A: “My husband says I am beautiful, even with my defects.” Me: “Of course he does.” Friend [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #25 | Turkey Day](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-as-it-comes-episode-25/): &nbsp; Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of year. A large or small gathering centered around great food. Turkey, cranberries, and pies. Especially the pies. A day to laugh, fellowship, watch football, and share gratitude. A day of leftovers and then more quality leftovers. Happy Thanksgiving! &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; To listen to this story [&hellip;]
- [Isn't It Wonderful?](https://theresaboedeker.com/isnt-it-wonderful/): &nbsp; Isn’t it wonderful how cozy and smooth a freshly made bed feels? Isn’t it wonderful how the right shoes can change an outfit? Isn’t it wonderful how little we really need? Isn’t it wonderful that each day is a fresh and new start? Isn’t it wonderful how your heart still jumps with excitement at [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #24 | Socks and the Myriad of Possibilities](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-as-it-comes-episode-24/): When my husband finds a hole in the toe of his black dress sock, he just doesn&#8217;t seem to appreciate the numerous possibilities I come up with to reuse and recycle his sock. Now granted, not every idea that pops up in my womanly brain is a keeper, But out of a jumble of prolific [&hellip;]
- [When Self-Expectations and Reality Collide](https://theresaboedeker.com/when-self-expectations-and-reality-collide/): I like to get together with friends and talk. Talk. Gab. Share. Commiserate. Encourage. Talk. Then talk some more. Maybe because I talked very little until my twenties and I am making up for lost words. Lost time. Or maybe I just have a lot more to say now. Bottom line: a good gab fest [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #23 | Mother of the Bride Dress](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-as-it-comes-episode-23/): &nbsp; Who would have thought that choosing out a mother of the bride dress would be so complicated? Rules and etiquette points swirled faster than dust in direct sunlight. The hunt for the elusive mother of the bride dress was off and running, but bagging the game was not as easy as I thought it [&hellip;]
- [Wrestling with Guilt](https://theresaboedeker.com/wrestling-with-guilt/): I had been wrestling for the last several days with this decision. Waffling back and forth like a ping pong ball in constant motion during a tournament. Yes, no. No, yes. “I need your help,” I told my hubby, a whine in my voice and frustration oozing from my pores. “About what?” he asked. Clearly [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #22 | The Toilet Paper Mystery](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-as-it-comes-episode-22/): In our house the toilet paper mysteriously disappears. Perhaps it evaporates in the darkness. People also swear under oath that they don&#8217;t know where the spare rolls are kept. It&#8217;s time to run an experiment and see if the toilet paper mystery can be solved. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Listen to this amusing story podcast, [&hellip;]
- [Joining the Leaf Crazies](https://theresaboedeker.com/joining-the-leaf-crazies/): Do you ever remember something you said, or perhaps did, and get embarrassed? You inwardly cringe or give a nervous giggle? Or maybe you wish you could go back and change time with just a little turn or a small eraser? Well I do that, sometimes. Especially this time of year. It’s fall and the [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #21 | Shopping Pains](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-as-it-comes-episode-21/): &nbsp; So when did grocery shopping lose some of its charm? I used to love to go as a child, and now . . . I&#8217;d rather clean the bathrooms or babysit twins. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; To listen to this story podcast, click either the green or white triangle on one of the [&hellip;]
- [Does Happily Ever After Really Exist?](https://theresaboedeker.com/does-happily-ever-after-really-exist/): We grow up on &#8220;Happily Ever After.&#8221; The book ends happy. The movie ending makes us sigh with contentment. The boy and girl get together. The mystery is solved. A hero is born. The up and down conflict resolved. Now the characters can proceed with life and live Happily Ever After. It was near the [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #20 | Dad's Reading Legacy](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-as-it-comes-episode-20/): &nbsp; Sometimes it is the small things we do that make a big impression and leave a lasting mark on others. To my Dad, reading aloud to us six kids after dinner on cold nights was such a little thing, but to me it was profound. It shaped me as a reader, writer, and taught [&hellip;]
- [Remembrances and Winding Country Roads](https://theresaboedeker.com/remembrances-and-winding-country-roads/): My son and I are driving to Meramec State Park on a sultry day. Windows down, Hank the Cowdog  audio book streaming from speakers, happiness floating from our throats. We are traversing windy country roads dotted with homes tucked between tree groves, limestone cliffs covered with vegetation, rolling hills softened by grass and trees. Two [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #19 | Finding Embarrassment at the Dollar General](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-as-it-comes-episode-19/): When my son and I undertake a last minute search for Noise Putty at the Dollar General, embarrassment ensues. I also learn maybe this is not the gift mother&#8217;s want sent home with their son after a birthday party. Who knew? If you want a visual demonstration of Noise Putty watch this video. If you [&hellip;]
- [Why Laughter is So Contagious](https://theresaboedeker.com/why-laughter-is-so-contagious/): You hear someone laugh and what happens? You often suddenly stop and engage to see what is happening. All the while your facial muscles are starting to smile, which is the first step of laughing. And before you know it, you are often joining in and laughing. Especially if the laughter you happen to hear [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #18 | Turn Off That Pressure Cooker and Get a Life](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-as-it-comes-episode-18/): My 12th summer I suffered from canner&#8217;s fatigue when my sister, brother, Mom, and I canned an astonishing 1,243 jars of fruits and vegetable. We weren&#8217;t far into the summer when we all thought mom&#8217;s great idea was getting a bit demanding. We searched the phone book hoping to find a local chapter of Canners [&hellip;]
- [How to Handle the Hard No and Life's Dissapointments](https://theresaboedeker.com/how-to-handle-the-hard-no-and-lifes-dissapointments/): &nbsp; Life sometimes doesn’t turn out as we expect. Sometimes it is so much harder and key dreams never come true. Maybe they never even take flight. Or never even get off the ground. We want to get married, but no special other has appeared. We want to start a business, but every door seems [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #17 | Conformist Garages](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-as-it-comes-episode-17/): Not all ideas are equal. Especially when it comes to ideas for how to eliminate clutter within the garage. Let&#8217;s just say, a tarp and rope are not always the best way in which to proceed. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Need another smile or another story? Listen to other episodes here. Join the Discussion: [&hellip;]
- [Why Community is so Important](https://theresaboedeker.com/living-in-community-with-others/): Some mornings I lie in bed caught in that the half-awake-state that is so blissful and peaceful and I dream about a day with no interruptions. Not a single one all day. A day where I can finish a thought without someone asking one of those mind sucking questions. What is for dinner? Where are [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #16 | Spider Dancing](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-as-it-comes-episode-16/): &nbsp; I have a method to my madness for most things. Even spiders. Those eight-legged arachnids that every fall creep inside my warm dry house and try to re-populate my basement with their cousins, aunts, and uncles. If I deem this spider&#8217;s time of passing is imminent, I start glancing around for the nearest shoe, [&hellip;]
- [The Perfect Gift](https://theresaboedeker.com/the-perfect-gift/): It was one of those days where I was rushing here and there and trying to do three things at once, because once 5pm comes, life slows down a little at our house as it heaves into an evening sigh. Yes, it was just another normal day, like most are, when I pulled into our [&hellip;]
- [How Knowing Your Husband Can Impact Him for Good](https://theresaboedeker.com/how-knowing-your-huband-can-impact-him-for-good/): We often know ourselves. But how well do we know our mates? Here are 9 ways that knowing your husband impacts him for good. &nbsp; We often know ourselves. But how well do we know our mates? I wish I had understood and really learned about him earlier in our marriage. It would have saved us some frustration. We are opposites. About as similar as Pluto and the sun. We differ in just about everything, except we both like the same furniture styles, traveling and walking. However even then, we must bend. I walk at his speed, and he adds museums [&hellip;]
- [How to Stop Focusing on What's Wrong with You](https://theresaboedeker.com/how-to-stop-focusing-on-whats-wrong-with-you/): We often focus on everything wrong with us and our life. Here&#8217;s how to stop focusing on what&#8217;s wrong and notice what&#8217;s right. &nbsp; When Carolyn showed up wearing glasses, I suddenly realized how much I wanted . . ., no needed a pair. I hadn&#8217;t thought of them before. My mom and dad did not wear them. None of my siblings did either. At 15, I now realized my lack. Carolyn looked smarter. Snazzier. Even older and more sophisticated in her glasses. When I told her how good she looked, I couldn&#8217;t understand why she wasn&#8217;t excited about having to [&hellip;]
- [Is God Really Good All the Time?](https://theresaboedeker.com/is-god-really-good-all-the-time/): Can God really be good all the time? We know that we are a combination of good and bad. We may assume that God is too. &nbsp; In life there are good and bad things. Experiences. People. Jobs. Food. Teachers. Pets. Bosses. Trips. Clothes. Even years. We label things good and bad. Placing them in the good pile or the bad pile, with few things going on the in-between, or indifferent pile. We liberally use the thumbs up or down. But things can change categories. Something that was good last year, like fashion, songs, or food, can be bad and out [&hellip;]
- [Don't Bite the Bait: How to Respond to Criticism](https://theresaboedeker.com/dont-bite-the-bait-how-to-respond-to-criticism/): Criticism comes whether we want it or not. How can we respond to it without getting baited and pulled into a back-and-forth conversation? &nbsp; Do people&#8217;s words of criticism bother you? They do me. I was reading about how Peninnah was tormenting and teasing Hannah about her childlessness and it made me sad and angry. Because this time I realized that Peninnah&#8217;s attitude had nothing to do with Hannah being barren, it had to do with Peninnah. Peninnah&#8217;s attitude towards Hannah was contemptuous, full of disdain, rude, critical, and angry. Hannah&#8217;s barrenness was just a handy subject to throw in her [&hellip;]
- [Why We Feel Guilty for Taking Care of Ourselves](https://theresaboedeker.com/why-we-feel-guilty-for-taking-care-of-ourselves/): As women we are told to take care of ourselves. But when we do, why do we feel guilty? &nbsp; Crystal, Beth, and I are chatting via Zoom, because isn&#8217;t this how we meet and chat now when we have group meetings? We are supposed to be talking about our writing, but we usually wander into other areas. Crystal says that she hasn&#8217;t written much because she&#8217;s been focusing on herself and trying to get healthy. She&#8217;s been seeing a therapist, taking naps, eating healthier. All things that fall under self-care. She isn&#8217;t doing anything radical. These are things we see [&hellip;]
- [5 Motivating Reasons for Christian Women to Engage in Self-Care](https://theresaboedeker.com/5-motivating-reasons-for-christian-women-to-engage-in-self-care/): As Christians, what is the real &#8220;why&#8221; behind caring for ourselves? Our body, soul, and mind. Here are 5 reasons to motivate us in the care of our whole self. &nbsp; There were several weddings in our church when I was a preteen. And for the first few, the ladies in the church each embroidered a few large square blocks to make a lovely quilt for the couple, presenting it at the wedding shower. Each quilt had a theme. One had squares with different hand-stitched flowers, each lady sewing her name in the corner. Another had quotes referring to love interspersed [&hellip;]
- [What Measuring Stick Do You Use to Determine Your Self-Worth?](https://theresaboedeker.com/what-measuring-stick-do-you-use-to-determine-your-self-worth/): We all want to be enough, so we use different measuring sticks to determine our self-worth. We yearn to be worthy, but don&#8217;t know how to get there. In this article, Theresa Boedeker reminds us that our worth comes from God. It is a free gift that will change the way we see ourselves, others, and God. &nbsp; Sometimes we value the wrong things. Especially when it comes to people and measuring their worth. We may place more value on work than we do people. Or value rules and laws over people. Or we may bully and ignore those who we [&hellip;]
- [Accepting Christmas as It Comes](https://theresaboedeker.com/christmas-expectations/): Add fun and joy into Christmas with these 6 tips. Instead of orchestrating Christmas, enjoy the day with all its imperfections. &nbsp; The desire to orchestrate the perfect Christmas that happens to most of us. We watch Christmas movies where families look picture perfect. Peruse December issues of magazines with pages of perfectly decorated homes and delicious looking recipes. Discover multiple Christmas activities to try. Remember our favorite Christmas memories from childhood. And feel anxious every time someone asks us if we are ready for the big day. Expectation&#8217;s mount. The pressure to create a perfect Christmas and experience for our [&hellip;]
- [How to Celebrate Christmas (Even When You Don't Know How)](https://theresaboedeker.com/how-to-celebrate-christmas-even-when-you-dont-know-how/): When we keep our eyes on him, we don't need to fall for the idea that there is only one perfect or right way to celebrate Christmas.  
- [Bibliotherapy: What It Is and How It Helps You](https://theresaboedeker.com/bibliotherapy-what-it-is-and-how-it-helps-you/): Bibliotherapy is something you may already be experiencing but didn&#8217;t know you were. Discover what it is and how it helps you. &nbsp; My love of books started at age 5. When my dad sat me and my older brother down during dark winter nights and taught us to read. There were funny pictures of cats on mats and goats eating oats. And lists of rhyming words. All my life I have had a stack of books on my reading pile and a well-used library card. I can get lost in a book and want to stay up late, reading and [&hellip;]
- [Why My Mug Shot Is on the Wall of a Winery](https://theresaboedeker.com/why-my-mug-shot-is-on-the-wall-of-a-winery/): What happens when I become an on-the-loose-food-thief? Good intentions may not keep me from jail, but I am hoping they keep me in your good graces. &nbsp; When I scheduled a trip to Cape Girardeau to spend time with my sister, little did I know I would become an-on-the-loose-food-thief. Let&#8217;s just say there was no premeditation on my part. I entered into this trip with a full enough belly and enough money to buy plenty of food. My sister even stalked the mini fridge in our hotel room while she was waiting for me to arrive. (A wrong turn and two [&hellip;]
- [When you Are Wrongly Accused: 5 Things to Do](https://theresaboedeker.com/when-you-are-wrongly-accused-5-things-to-do/): Let&#8217;s just assume you are being accused, wrongly, and the accusation does not ring of truth. Here are 5 things you can do. &nbsp; One thing that really bugs me is when my husband yells across the house, &#8220;Why did you move my shoes?&#8221; Move his shoes? Does he think I sometimes sneak out of bed at 2:00 AM and move his shoes to a different location within our house with the express purpose of sending him on a shoe scavenger hunt? The goal being to place them in an unlikely spot, but ultimately a place he will eventually find if [&hellip;]
- [How People Influence Our View of God](https://theresaboedeker.com/how-people-influence-our-view-of-god-2/): If we often picture God as being like the people we grew up with, or the people we are around, how does this affect of view of him? &nbsp; &#8220;I didn&#8217;t trust God for years,&#8221; my friend says. We are sitting outside overlooking a river. &#8220;Nor did I trust men,&#8221; she confides. &#8220;My dad left when I was very young. And then a string of men cycled through my childhood. Some staying longer than others, but all leaving and going away.&#8221; How about you? Do you view God through the lens of past human relationships? Because this is normal. We view [&hellip;]
- [Finding Rest Under a Large Paper Napkin](https://theresaboedeker.com/finding-rest-under-a-large-paper-napkin/): Sometimes rest and relaxation are found in the most unlikely places. Like under a paper napkin. &nbsp; Yesterday, I woke up tired. And it just hung on, like an unwanted sunburn that lets you know it&#8217;s there every time your clothes rub your irritated skin. I thought about crawling back into my warm comfy bed when I passed by it to take a shower. It beckoned when I was putting on my walking shoes. I could almost imagine a good nap on it right before I wrenched the sheets off for a washing, leaving it sitting undressed in its white undergarments. [&hellip;]
- [Living in Freedom Versus Condemnation](https://theresaboedeker.com/freedom-versus-condemnation-2/): God invites us to live in freedom, not condemnation. Learn the difference between the two. &nbsp; What is our first instinct when we don’t get the outcome we want? When our day is unraveling and headed in the wrong direction? When our problems seem to be cropping up faster than weeds on a sunny day? If you are anything like me, you may jump to conclusions that are full of condemnation.  God is unhappy with me. God is punishing me. I must have done something wrong. Having dealt with people who are quick to accuse, blame, and punish, I begin laying their [&hellip;]
- [Why is Life harder Than We Imagined?](https://theresaboedeker.com/why-is-life-harder-than-we-imagined/): I thought life was supposed to be easy. And then it turned hard. So, why is life harder than we imagined it would be? &nbsp; Growing up, I thought adults had everything figured out. I thought life was supposed to get easier. After all, I would no longer be in third grade still wondering how to navigate making friends. In fifth grade, dealing with a mean classmate. Or in junior high, wondering how to disengage the lock on my locker or wondering who to sit with at lunch. Books usually end on an everyone-is-happy and problems-solved note. I thought adult life [&hellip;]
- [Others Junk and a See-Through Trunk](https://theresaboedeker.com/others-junk-and-a-see-through-trunk/): You know you are old when your childhood is being resold in antique malls. And younger people are buying it and leaving with pieces of it. &nbsp; Embarrassing moments seem to follow me around on an occasional basis. Dropping surprise and unannounced visits on my life. This happened this weekend after a visit to the large antique mall. When I say large, let&#8217;s just say that several cow barns from the state fair could easily fit in this warehouse space stuffed with antiques. Along with the poultry barn. With space left over for some venders to sell turkey on a stick, [&hellip;]
- [The Comparison Game of Apples and Oranges](https://theresaboedeker.com/the-comparison-game-of-apples-and-oranges/): Comparing ourselves to one another is silly. It&#8217;s like comparing apples to oranges. We are all different enough that we are not comparing like things. &nbsp; &#8220;Are you comparing the right things?&#8221; hubby asked. &#8220;I think so.&#8221; &#8220;It has to be apples and apples. Not apples and oranges?&#8221; &#8220;What? I&#8217;m comparing myself to Sally, not fruit.&#8221; &#8220;That&#8217;s my point,&#8221; he said. &#8220;An apple and an orange are both fruit, but they are totally different. You have to compare like things.&#8221; &nbsp; Maybe you are confused. Because I was. So let me explain As people we compare ourselves to others all the [&hellip;]
- [Redeeming Life's Detours](https://theresaboedeker.com/redeeming-lifes-detours/): Frustrated by life&#8217;s detours? We may not know where we are headed, miss our turn, or be lost. But God knows where we are, and has directions to get us back on the right path. He is in the business of redeeming all our detours. &nbsp; I wish there were warning signs to alert me that I am about to be lost, a detour is imminent, or that I am going to have to wait at every red stoplight. But there isn&#8217;t. Fate likes to sneak silently up and then yell surprise. &nbsp; I am driving two states away, enjoying alone [&hellip;]
- [How to Appreciate Your Body](https://theresaboedeker.com/how-to-appreciate-your-body/): Sometimes we dislike our body for small reasons. Silly reasons. Treating it in ways we would never treat someone else&#8217;s body. Let&#8217;s learn to be kind and give our body grace? Appreciating the good thing it is. &nbsp; I am slouching against my sister’s kitchen counter. Talking, before we tackle making dinner. I am Happy to be in her presence, as we live 3000 miles apart. She is 13 years younger than me, but we both share red hair, an abundance of freckles, and the urge to tell stories to make a point. “Just a week ago I was standing in [&hellip;]
- [The Challenging Sleepover: Letting Go One Decision at a Time](https://theresaboedeker.com/the-challenging-sleepover-letting-go-one-decision-at-a-time/): Letting our children grow up and make their own choices and be part of the decision making process can be scary for us as their parents. But it is just one step in allowing them to mature into adults. &nbsp; Overnight birthday parties for my daughter were commonplace when we lived in Seattle, but now that we had moved half-way across the continent, Ashley had not been invited to a sleepover for over a year. Until now. All the seventh-grade girls from her small private school would be attending, she told me on the drive home, bouncing in her seat. Everything [&hellip;]
- [What makes Your Soul Sing and Nurtures Your Heart?](https://theresaboedeker.com/what-makes-your-soul-sing-and-nurtures-your-heart/): Soul care can be a form of self-care. Make sure you carve out time to do what makes your soul sing. &nbsp; We all have things we enjoy dong. Things we dislike doing. And things that capture our full attention so that we lose track of time and emerge, when done, a calmer, more alive person. What are those things for you? Things that nurture your whole being. Feed your soul. Calm and relax you. Destress and renew you. Bring you great joy. We do them for ourselves, but ultimately, they benefit those around us because we feel better able now [&hellip;]
- [Will Life Ever Return to Normal?](https://theresaboedeker.com/will-life-ever-return-to-normal-7/): Life is in a constant state of flux. We get used to being on vacation, and it&#8217;s time to go home. We get used to summer, and here comes fall. Nothing stays the same with us, others, or life. &nbsp; We were lying in bed, darkness peeking through the window high above our bed. Succumbing to that drowsy relaxed state where sleep would be shortly sneaking up on us. My husband, who was resting his hand on my tight and enlarged tummy said, &#8220;It won&#8217;t be long and you will be having the baby. Then life will return to normal.&#8221; My [&hellip;]
- [If You Give a Mom a Pie](https://theresaboedeker.com/if-you-give-a-mom-a-pie/): What happens when you give a mom a pie? And there are more pieces than people? &nbsp; If you give a mom a pie, she will want to share it with her tribe. She&#8217;ll cut it into pieces and start handing them out. And when a few more people show up and she is short a few pieces, she will cut the last few slices in half and then say she doesn&#8217;t need a piece, pressing the last slice into the hands of someone who wants it. Because a momma most often serves herself last. If a momma is out and [&hellip;]
- [For the Love of Color](https://theresaboedeker.com/love-of-color/): Following the rules of color, was boring. And then . . .it wasn&#8217;t. &nbsp; I have grown to love color. Orange, raspberry, lime green, tomato red, mango yellow. But it hasn&#8217;t always been like that. I would look, but not touch. Only in the past two decades, or so, did I start surrounding myself with more color. Painting my walls bright colors, wearing more color, noticing color, and combining colors. My favorite color growing up the red violet crayon in the Crayola box. It came with me to school, and it was the quickest color to diminish to a nub. I [&hellip;]
- [Guilty Before Questioned](https://theresaboedeker.com/guilty-before-questioned-being-misjudged/): None of us like being judged, condemned, and told what is wrong with us. Especially if we didn&#8217;t ask for it. Nor does it feel good when the solution or diagnosis given is far from the truth. Has this happened to you? &nbsp; On older lady caught me after church, calling my name and tapping me on the shoulder as I passed. &#8220;Seems you had a bit of a problem with the song today.&#8221; I nodded, not liking to be reminded. I had played the offertory music that day, and while it had been okay, I had made more mistakes than [&hellip;]
- [When Life Is Not Fair: 6 Things You Can Do About It](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-is-not-fair/): Believing that life is supposed to be &#8220;fair,&#8221; can lead to disappointment and heartache. Life may not be fair, but here are 6 things we can do about it. &nbsp; Life is not fair. If my mom said it once, she said it a million times when I was growing up. We would whine, and she would say, &#8220;Life is not fair.&#8221; We would compare what we could do with what a peer of ours could do, and she would say, &#8220;Haven&#8217;t I told you, life isn&#8217;t fair.&#8221; We would try and get her to change her mind. And you guessed [&hellip;]
- [The Power of a Slight Smile](https://theresaboedeker.com/the-power-of-a-slight-smile-5/): The 10 benefits of a slight smile are powerful. And the opportunities to employ this technique are endless. &nbsp; Do you know the power of a smile? How it can change your day and the day of those you are smiling at? How it can lift your mood like a helium balloon floating skyward? Or how that smile can sometimes even turn into a laugh? Here is a secret I learned a few years ago. Your smile does not have to be a full-out-teeth-baring-grin that makes you look like the Cheshire Cat. You can receive lots of benefit from a small [&hellip;]
- [Spiritual Shame: What It Is and How to Conquer It](https://theresaboedeker.com/spiritual-shame-what-it-is-and-how-to-conquer-it/): Spiritual shame is where we feel shame regarding anything to do with our spiritual life. Find out how to conquer spiritual shame and walk in freedom. &nbsp; I knocked on the door. Hoping I wasn&#8217;t found out before I was even assigned a task. As the newest member of the lady&#8217;s group planning committee, I had no idea how the meetings went. Were they casual or did they follow Robert&#8217;s Rules of Order? Once inside, I sat nervous on my straight back chair. The other ladies chatted, and relaxed. But then they were the Deacon&#8217;s wife, the Elder&#8217;s wife, the pastor&#8217;s [&hellip;]
- [Quit Beating Yourself Up Over the Small Things](https://theresaboedeker.com/quit-beating-yourself-up-over-the-small-things/): Learn how to stop beating yourself up for your mistakes, the small things you forget to do, the things that slip your mind? &nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;re early&#8221; the receptionist said, as I was checking my teenage son into his doctor&#8217;s appointment. It had been one of those days. Not the worst ever, and not the best, but one full of stress and surprises. I smiled inwardly. Congratulating myself on getting us there early. No small feat, as I am known for being &#8216;just on time.&#8217; My trampled confidence rose and bloomed. The dials on the wall said I was ten minutes early. [&hellip;]
- [Don't Dread Being An Amateur](https://theresaboedeker.com/dont-dread-being-an-amateur/): Being an amateur can feel like we don&#8217;t know what we are doing. That we have a lot of work to do. But when we see beginnings as opportunities and adventures, we can relax and have fun; enjoy our progress and the learning curve. &nbsp; I wasn&#8217;t bothered when the first cyclist raced around us. But when the second one zoomed past us, I started laughing. And I couldn&#8217;t stop. We had been on the Katy Trail for less than 30 minutes and already I was feeling like an imposter. Wondering what we were doing this cool spring morning as we [&hellip;]
- [Who Is the Hero of Your Story?](https://theresaboedeker.com/who-is-the-hero-of-your-story-5/): We are told we can be our own hero. We have all the answers. We choose our course and orchestrate our success. It&#8217;s all up to us. But are we really the hero of our stories? Or is someone else? &nbsp; Sometimes you get to choose your hero. And sometimes your hero is chosen for you. That&#8217;s what happened in fifth grade. He was narrowed down, chosen, and handed to me in a neat little package. With the command to begin my hero worship of him. So, who was he? Unfortunately, I forgot his name. &nbsp; There were 5 of us [&hellip;]
- [Savoring Books: Why They Keep on Giving](https://theresaboedeker.com/savoring-books-why-they-keep-on-giving/): No matter how many times we read a book, there will always be something new to notice and learn. &nbsp; While I was nursing my son, I reread all of Jane Austin’s books. I had read them all at least once, some twice, but it had been at least ten years or more. Some I had read in college, which meant we chewed on them and digested them as serious literature. Pencil in hand to underline and jot notes. Some I had read after college. With the same studious and serious attitude as before. This time through, I found them delightful [&hellip;]
- [Why Our Worth Fluctuates More Than a Stock Market Commodity](https://theresaboedeker.com/why-our-worth-fluctuates-more-than-a-stock-market-commodity/): When we base our self-worth on the right things, our worth will not fluctuate up and down throughout the day, based upon our feelings, what others think or say, and what we do or do not do. &nbsp; When my day is unfolding like a well creased map, chugging away accordingly as planned, I feel on top of the world and am pretty confident. I guess you could say I would value my worth as towards the higher range. I&#8217;d even give myself a pay raise. But then I have a day, or even a portion of a day, where potholes [&hellip;]
- [Don't Let Fear Keep You from Living](https://theresaboedeker.com/dont-let-fear-keep-you-from-living-10/): Stop waiting for everything to return to normal to start living again. There is still beauty, joy, laughter and we can enjoy life right where we are. &nbsp; When things started changing last year, I thought it was temporary. I held my breath and thought, when this is over, I will start living again. It showed up in my attitudes and plans. It took me months to realize, that I was putting my life on hold. I was delaying living. I mean fully living and enjoying life. I was so busy holding my breath and trying to figure out how to [&hellip;]
- [Embracing the Extremes of Life: How and Why We Can Do This](https://theresaboedeker.com/embracing-the-extremes-of-life-how-and-why-we-can-do-this/): What allows us to see two perspectives at the same time? To feel conflicting emotions simultaneously? To live between two worlds and make sense of it all? It is this ability to live in two extremes. &nbsp; &#8220;How are you doing?&#8221; someone asks. &#8220;Fine.&#8221; We answer. Or maybe we say, &#8220;Everything is good.&#8221; Or &#8220;Not too bad.&#8221; But life is never that easy to pin down. One word does not so tidily sum up the complexities of life. What we are going through. What we are experiencing. Our moods and feelings for the day. Or even the moment. It can be [&hellip;]
- [How to Already Never Be Listening (What Not To Do)](https://theresaboedeker.com/how-to-already-never-be-listening-what-not-to-do/): Sometimes we learn best through humor and seeing what NOT to do. Learn 9 easy steps on how to NOT listen. The solution is easy. Success is guaranteed. So, come on. There is nothing to lose, but your friends. &nbsp; Who has the time or energy to listen? Probably not many of us. It can be downright difficult trying to make sense of someone&#8217;s ramblings. It&#8217;s like trying to sort through a bunch of random puzzle pieces, pulling out the necessary ones, and sticking them together into a comprehensible picture without a box top for guidance. You might have had that [&hellip;]
- [Are You Weary and Tired? 10 Things to Remember](https://theresaboedeker.com/are-you-weary-and-tired-10-things-to-remember/): If you are not weary and tired now, you will be weary and tired sometime on your journey. Here are 10 things to remember. &nbsp; We were out on a nature walk and my husband&#8217;s mood was turning from pleasant to crabby. And then, in the middle of nowhere near civilization, it turned to complaining about how weary and tired he was. Still newlyweds, I was wondering what was happening to him. &#8220;Why the change in mood?&#8221; I asked. &#8220;I&#8217;m starving,&#8221; he sulked. I looked at my watch. It was past lunch, but not like hours and days past his last [&hellip;]
- [Who Are You Impacting](https://theresaboedeker.com/who-are-you-impacting-3/): Whether we like it or not, what we do and say does impact others. People do watch us. Judge us. Make decisions about us. Some we unknowingly inspire; others we may unknowingly discourage. &nbsp; As a child, mom would say, “Set a good example for your younger siblings.” But they sure weren’t following my footsteping example. They were too busy doing their own thing. That’s why they were in trouble, and I was not. As I moved into my early twenties, no one seemed to be looking at me or trying to imitate me. Besides, I was shy, tentative, quiet, and never thought of myself as a leader. No one was choosing me [&hellip;]
- [Revamping Your Life: Why This is the Perfect Time](https://theresaboedeker.com/revamping-your-life-why-this-is-the-perfect-time/): Before eagerly returning to the same routine and life you had before this pandemic, you may want to hit pause and decide what you will keep, add or subtract. Now is the perfect time to revamp your life. &nbsp; Many of us have been home for quite a few months. Our calendars wiped clean. Our life routines revamped and undone. Like so many things, this can be both good and bad. A blessing and a curse. So, what have you noticed? Learned? Before eagerly returning to the same routine and life you occupied before this all happened, you may want to [&hellip;]
- [We All Need Undeserved Grace](https://theresaboedeker.com/we-all-need-undeserved-grace/): It was only after becoming a mom that I better understood God and his relationship with me. One being that we don&#8217;t deserve grace, but we all need it. Learn 6 lessons my child taught me about God. &nbsp; It was turning into a rather trying day. Ashley, my nine-year-old daughter, had come home from school in a sour mood. Nothing was to her liking. The lunch I had sent was to large, she didn&#8217;t want to do her homework, her teacher was mean, why did she have to pick up her coat she had thrown on the floor. I tried [&hellip;]
- [What If Shame Has a Bigger Purpose Than Us?](https://theresaboedeker.com/what-if-shame-has-a-bigger-purpose-than-us/): While shame is horrible and something we don&#8217;t want to be caught in or promote and pass on, it may have a bigger purpose than us. In God&#8217;s upside-down world, God can use anything as a blessing in disguise. Even shame. This is part 11 of an 11 part series on shame. &nbsp; We all want to live in a shame free world. A world where unkind and harsh words, criticism of our being, and outright rejection don&#8217;t make us think there is something wrong with us. That we are the defective ones. Unlovable. Where we feel we need to hide [&hellip;]
- [Shame: Recognize It, Heal From It, Walk in Freedom](https://theresaboedeker.com/shame-recognize-it-heal-from-it-walk-in-freedom/): Experiencing shame is part of being human. But we don&#8217;t need to stay in shame. Learn to recognize it, heal from it, and walk in freedom. This is part 10 in a series on shame. &nbsp; If we are human, shame is a part of our life. It&#8217;s something we don&#8217;t want to experience, but we do. We try to avoid it, but like a boomerang it finds us. We can feel shame when we don&#8217;t live up to our own expectations. The expectations of others. When others don&#8217;t perceive us the way we want to be perceived. We can be [&hellip;]
- [Why We Use Shame On Others and Ourselves: 6 Eye Opening Reasons](https://theresaboedeker.com/why-we-use-shame-on-others-and-ourselves-6-eye-opening-reasons/): We often use shame others to get our own way, and yet the success rate is low, because it usually doesn&#8217;t produce lasting results. So why do we do it? And what does it say about us? Learn 6 eye opening reasons we shame others. This is post 9 in a series on shame. &nbsp; &#8220;Can&#8217;t you put anything away?&#8221; I snap at my teen. &#8220;You know it&#8217;s not my job to clean up after you and be your maid.&#8221; They look up from their bed where they are sitting and reading. &#8220;And this bedroom? Didn&#8217;t I ask you to clean [&hellip;]
- [Combat Shame by Knowing Your True Identity](https://theresaboedeker.com/how-shame-affects-identity-combat-shame-by-knowing-your-true-identity/): Shame affects our identity by telling lies about who we are. To combat shame we need to know our true identity. Who we are. Where we come from. Our purpose. Our worth. This is post 8 in a series on shame. &nbsp; I glanced at my husband&#8217;s bed. He was gone. Everyone was up but me. I turned to the wall that started where my hospital bed ended and felt disappointment as I again realized I had not died during the night. Not that I thought I would, but I kept hoping I would. It hadn&#8217;t taken but a couple of [&hellip;]
- [Shame Versus Guilt: What's the Big Difference?](https://theresaboedeker.com/shame-versus-guilt-whats-the-big-difference/): Guilt and shame may look like cousins, but they have a lot of big differences. Learn how these two differ and the remedy for each. This is post 7 in a series on shame. &nbsp; Guilt and shame. I used to think they were practically the same. Maybe cousins who looked a lot alike. Maybe because both make you squirm, feel like you are under the spotlight (or microscope), and both feel icky. No one gets up and says, I want to be shamed or guilted today. No, they are things we are trying to avoid. Desperately trying to avoid. Give [&hellip;]
- [How to Replace the World's Lies With God's Truth](https://theresaboedeker.com/how-to-replace-the-worlds-lies-with-gods-truth/): 5 ways to replace the lies we believe with truth. Our beliefs influence our attitudes, choices, behavior, expectations, and the stories we tell our self. So, let&#8217;s replace the lies we believe with truth. God&#8217;s truth.&nbsp; &nbsp; For years I tried to appear like Mary Poppins. &#8220;Practically perfect in every way.&#8221; Which was impossible, as humans are far from perfect. But still I tried. Early in life I thought that if I were perfect than people would not get mad at me. Nor would I make mistakes. I wouldn&#8217;t disappoint others, or myself. And best of all, God and others would [&hellip;]
- [12 Ways That Misinterpreting Events Causes Shame](https://theresaboedeker.com/12-ways-that-misinterpreting-events-causes-shame/): Once we feel the emotions of shame, what causes us to misinterpret the event and believe a lie about our identity? Here are 12 perfectly normal reasons we blame our self. Hint: we are trying to make sense of what&#8217;s happening. This is post 6 in a series on shame. &nbsp; We as humans try and make sense of things. What&#8217;s happening to us. Around us. In our world. And why is it happening. We want to know the 5 W&#8217;s and 1 H. Who, what, when where, why, and how. To solve problems. Avoid problems. Predict the future. And make [&hellip;]
- [The Symptoms of Shame and the 4 Ways It Makes You Feel](https://theresaboedeker.com/the-symptoms-of-shame-and-the-4-ways-it-makes-you-feel/): To deal with shame and the lies it is telling us, learn the 4 ways that shame makes us feel. This is post 5 in a series on shame. &nbsp; Shame. It&#8217;s an uncomfortable feeling we try to avoid. It&#8217;s also a perfectly natural and normal emotion for us to experience. &nbsp; Remember: Shame doesn&#8217;t make you a bad person, it makes you a human being. Don&#8217;t feel bad if you have felt shame. It just means you have misinterpreted events or words and tied them to your identity. Which means you can untie yourself from these lies. Shame can come [&hellip;]
- [Environments Where Shame Thrives](https://theresaboedeker.com/environments-where-shame-thrives/): Shame thrives in some environments more than others. Learn which 11 environments help shame flourish. But how none are the cause of shame. This is post 4 in a series on shame. &nbsp; Shame itself is not bad or evil. Shame is just another emotion we feel, like anger, sadness, happiness, or fear. It is a normal human emotion that is alerting us that something is wrong, or something needs addressing. We as humans feel shame in life. Feeling shame it not the problem. It&#8217;s what we do with that shame and how we handle that shame that causes problems. Or [&hellip;]
- [How the Lies of Shame Cause Us to Think We Are the Defective Ones](https://theresaboedeker.com/how-the-lies-of-shame-cause-us-to-think-we-are-the-defective-ones/): The lies of shame tell us we are the defective ones, but truth breaks the lies of shame we believe about our self. This is post 3 in a series on shame. &nbsp; Lisa was going to surprise her mother by getting herself ready for church all by herself. She picked out a dress. One she could button up herself. One with bright colors. She then placed a few barrettes in her hair. Three different ones because her dress had so many different colors. Six- year-old Lisa then pulled on her favorite pink socks and buckled her dress shoes. She looked [&hellip;]
- [There is No Shame in Feeling Shame](https://theresaboedeker.com/there-is-no-shame-in-feeling-shame/): There is no shame in feeling shame; it&#8217;s just another human emotion, like anger or happiness. Shame is a warning flag that something needs dealing with. This is post 2 in a series on shame. &nbsp; In fifth grade I had one pair of pants. I wish they had been blue. Even brown or tan. A basic color to re-wear again and again. Like a favorite pair of jeans, you can wear all week because they just blend in. But my pants didn&#8217;t blend in. They were bright red pull-on pants with an elastic waistband. Made out of a polyester type [&hellip;]
- [You Are Not Meant to Live in Shame](https://theresaboedeker.com/you-are-not-meant-to-live-in-shame/): You are not meant to live in shame. You can feel worthy and loved. This is post 1 in a series on shame. &nbsp; Shame, this feeling of being unworthy of love, to dirty for people to want to be around us, not good enough to belong, is something we have all felt. Maybe someone yells hurtful and unkind things, blaming us and calling us names. Drawing attention to our lack of something. And we feel shame. Maybe we know we did the wrong thing. Said the wrong thing. Chose the wrong thing. We wish we could redo it, but we [&hellip;]
- [Sock Solutions that Bedazzle](https://theresaboedeker.com/sock-solutions-that-bedazzle-3/): My husband wanders into the kitchen. &#8220;Notice anything?&#8221; he asks. I glance up from the myriad of morning chores I am multi-tasking. He is dressed for work. Pants belted. Fly zippered. Dress shirt buttoned. Hair combed. Nothing seems amiss. Nothing pops out, screaming for attention. &#8220;Not a thing,&#8221; I say. He humps. &#8220;What about my socks?&#8221; My eyes travel to the floor. His left big toe is poking through a practically new black dress sock. &#8220;Looks like you still have a lot of wear left in those socks.&#8221; &#8220;You would think that?&#8221; he sighs, exasperated. &#8220;But I don&#8217;t. I want my [&hellip;]
- [Remembering the Most Important Part of the Story: 7 Ways Christmas and Telling a Joke Are Alike](https://theresaboedeker.com/remembering-the-most-important-part-of-the-story-7-ways-christmas-and-telling-a-joke-are-alike/): Both Christmas and telling a joke need to focus on the most important part of the story. Otherwise they fall a little flat. &nbsp; Nothing kills a joke faster than when you leave a key ingredient out of the story. If you don&#8217;t set up the joke correctly, the punch line falls rather flat. Sometimes people don&#8217;t even know the joke is over. Let&#8217;s pretend that you are getting ready to tell the punch line and you suddenly realize you forgot to tell the listeners an important fact. That the man in your story climbed a tree. Without this detail, the [&hellip;]
- [Adjusting Expectations So Your Soul Can Breathe](https://theresaboedeker.com/adjusting-expectations-so-your-soul-can-breathe/): Adjusting our expectations creates less stress for us and others, allowing us to enjoy life more fully. &nbsp; I was newly married and hosting my first small dinner party. I was excited, nervous, and had big plans for the night. There would be an appetizer, main dish, and dessert. And yes, big expectations about the evening going off with almost perfection. After all, I had planned for this evening. And everything as under control. I had bought lists of groceries, which now resided in my kitchen. I had envisioned which dishes and napkins I would use. It was going to be [&hellip;]
- [There's Gotta Be Some Sort of Mistake: How Learning About Yourself is an Onging Process](https://theresaboedeker.com/theres-gotta-be-some-sort-of-mistake-how-learning-about-yourself-is-an-onging-process/): Because we are multifacated, learning about yourself is an ongoing process. Turns out some mistakes help you learn about yourself in a good way. &nbsp; I am not an early morning person. Never have been. Probably never will be. My husband, who jumps out of bed singing the praises of morning and sipping coffee as the sun peeks above the horizon, is my opposite. Ideal waking time for me is about 7:00 (AM not PM, in case you are wondering). If I am pushing it, I can handle 6:30 pretty easily. I know. I can almost hear all you early risers [&hellip;]
- [One of the Greatest Gifts We Can Give Another](https://theresaboedeker.com/one-of-the-greatest-gifts-we-can-give-another/): Telling someone &#8220;we are sorry,&#8221; doesn’t right a wrong nor does it change the circumstances. But it is sometimes one of the greatest gifts we can give another. &nbsp; &#8220;You&#8217;ll never be a good mother. You are to selfish,&#8221; my friend said. Using a slightly different voice. Her I am trying-to-imitate-my-mother-voice. I was shocked. &#8220;She said that to you?&#8221; &#8220;Many times,&#8221; she said, shaking her head at the memory. I was speechless. Before me stood a good mother. A kind and considerate and most precious mother. How could a mother say this repeatedly to her teen daughter? How could she predict [&hellip;]
- [The Winding Little Road to Happiness](https://theresaboedeker.com/the-winding-little-road-to-happiness/): Rarely does happiness follow a straight road to happily ever after. Because of happiness&#8217;s elusive nature, sometimes it is best to embrace the winding road to happiness and notice the happiness that is already there. &nbsp; The road to happiness does not often manifest itself after some wonderful ever after experience, and then last to infinity. In fact, it rarely resembles a fairy tale story or a Hallmark movie. But then you probably already know this. All you need to do is look at your own life. Or the lives of those around you. Happiness is elusive. Its road is never [&hellip;]
- [Sometimes It's Better to Listen, Than Talk](https://theresaboedeker.com/better-to-listen-more-than-talk/): We love to talk, but sometimes it is better to listen. Learn 6 qualities of a good listener and give the gift of listening to others. &nbsp; I had a brother who talked practically non-stop. He must have enjoyed listening to his voice, because he most often talked aloud. During loud activities, such as a shower or mowing the lawn, he just talked louder. You always knew where to find him because all you had to do was follow his voice. Many a night I fell asleep listening to the noise of his voice coming through our shared wall. Around him, [&hellip;]
- [What if We Quit Holding Our Opinions So Tightly?](https://theresaboedeker.com/what-if-we-quit-holding-our-opinions-so-tightly/): We all have opinions. That&#8217;s not the problem. The problem comes when we hold our opinions so tightly we become defensive and fight over them. Learn to hold your opinions loosely. &nbsp; About many things. Things we know about and things we don&#8217;t. Other people also have opinions. Just like us, their opinions range on just about everything and anything. We know this. Don&#8217;t doubt it. But when our opinions are questioned, watch out. When others challenge our opinions, step aside. Because we naturally assume our opinions are right and others should agree with us. Well, shouldn&#8217;t they? And wouldn&#8217;t life [&hellip;]
- [The Heart We Are Breaking When We Lie About Our Self](https://theresaboedeker.com/the-heart-we-are-breaking-when-we-lie-about-our-self/): The lies we believe about our self are harmful. Learn how the lies of negative self-talk hurt more than just us. &nbsp; One day I overhead one of my children putting them self down. In an angry voice saying they were no good and stupid. Well, that raised my hackles faster than anyone putting me down. I paused outside the partially opened door. Trying to calm down. Take a few breaths. So, fire would not emerge when I spoke. Slowly I opened the door and saw my child heaped on the floor in a pile of self-pity and anger. &#8220;What&#8217;s wrong?&#8221; [&hellip;]
- [Stop Being Embarrassed About Your Superpower, Ladies, and Instead Embrace It](https://theresaboedeker.com/stop-being-embarrassed-about-your-superpower-ladies-and-instead-embrace-it/): Your mothering instinct is a superpower. It&#8217;s in your blood, habits, and mannerisim. Start embracing it and us it for the good of those around you. You see it in young girls. &nbsp; A little girl is holding her baby doll to her chest and talking to it. Something distracts her and off she wanders. Soon she notices her brother tossing her baby off the picnic bench where she had so carefully placed her. It seems her brother wants the doll’s seat. Indignation rises in the small girl and she marches over to her older brother and starts demanding he treat [&hellip;]
- [Reframing the Truth in an Old Story](https://theresaboedeker.com/reframing-the-truth-in-an-old-story/): Monday afternoon my left eye started hurting. Not bad. Just a dull ache with a need to blink it more. Then a feeling it wasn&#8217;t focusing quite like it should. I ignored it, until that evening when I happened to catch a glimpse of it in a bathroom mirror. I recoiled at my bright red and angry eye. Urgent care diagnosed it as pink eye. I started the drops that evening yet kept waking up throughout the night because of eye pain. The next morning was better, but by mid-afternoon, my eye had pretty much gone on strike. I called my [&hellip;]
- [Why Seeing Another Viewpoint Benefits You and Others](https://theresaboedeker.com/why-seeing-another-viewpoint-benefits-you-and-others/): We are drawn to people who understand us. Who can peek into our world. We sense they know us. We feel seen and heard. Connected with them. We tell them a sad story and they sympathize. They ask questions. Wanting to better understand. We tell them our dreams and they don&#8217;t laugh. Our hurts, and they don&#8217;t recoil, but instead offer bandages and encouragement. We give them a glimpse of our true self we usually hide, and they don&#8217;t judge. What do these people have that draws us to them? They have the ability to get out of themselves and see [&hellip;]
- [Why It's Hard to Be a Gracious Receiver](https://theresaboedeker.com/why-its-hard-to-be-a-gracious-receiver/): At the convenience store tucked along a corridor of the Atlanta airport, I am next in line to pay for my bottles of water and packages of string cheese. I un-tuck the water from my arms and hand her my credit card. She swipes the card. &#8220;Denied,&#8221; she says. She swipes it again. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry,&#8221; she says, handing me the card. &#8220;It&#8217;s been denied twice.&#8221; My mind races. My purse with other cards is back at the gate. &#8220;Does it say why?&#8221; I ask. &#8220;No.&#8221; Then I remember how we are headed out of the country. &#8220;Must be because of the [&hellip;]
- [To the Woman Who Gets Hurt by Words](https://theresaboedeker.com/to-the-woman-who-gets-hurt-by-words/): We hadn’t been married that long when my husband said, “Theresa why do you take everything so personally?” Which offended me more than his previous comment had, which yes, I was taking personally. Does this happen to you? Do you find yourself bristling, mentally arguing, and feeling beat up from other people’s comments? (And we are not talking about comments from our enemies or less liked tribespeople. We are talking about comments from people who love you. People like your mate, kids, friends, and co-workers?) I know I did every time my husband tried to give me constructive criticism, offer reminders, [&hellip;]
- [The Life of Experience and Changing Perspectives](https://theresaboedeker.com/the-life-of-experience-and-changing-perspectives/): An out-of-state friend and I text back and forth. Setting a time to call and discuss a book we were reading. (Which of course, often turns into a catch-up-and-gab time. Oh, and let&#8217;s-talk-about-the-book before we hang up time.) We decide to call tomorrow. 2:00 Tomorrow arrives, and after looking at my calendar that morning, I remember the scheduled chat. I even remember once again as I was eating lunch. Next thing I knew the sun was setting, I was cleaning up dinner plates, and 2:00 had clearly come and gone. It wasn&#8217;t the first self-made plan that hadn&#8217;t taken shape at [&hellip;]
- [Quit Thinking You Are the Only Failure: Because You Are Not](https://theresaboedeker.com/quit-thinking-you-are-the-only-failure-because-you-are-not/): I walked confidently and relaxed into the hairdresser. It was time for a little relaxation. Being about ten minutes early, I was told by the other hairdresser that Jason would return in a few minutes. Enough time for a cup of tea, I thought. And proceeded to get one. Within minutes I was sipping my tea, beginning to relax from the hurry and stress of the day. Then I got a text message. Reminding me that my hair appointment was on Thursday. As it was currently Tuesday, realization dawned on me that I was exactly 48 hours early. My feelings of [&hellip;]
- [Truth for When You Feel Far from Beautiful](https://theresaboedeker.com/truth-for-when-you-feel-far-from-beautiful/): Hey beautiful! Yes You! Quit swiveling your head like a steering wheel. Looking to see if I am talking to someone else. Because I am talking to you. And you are beautiful. So beautiful and loved. I know there are days you feel unloved. Days you feel about as beautiful and put together as a smashed crayon with the paper ripped off. Days you ask what am I doing? Days you doubt your impact on anything more than your ability to ruin things. But I am here to tell you that you are beautiful. You are loved. Even when it feels [&hellip;]
- [Do You Ever Feel Unnoticed and Undervalued?](https://theresaboedeker.com/do-you-ever-feel-unnoticed-and-undervalued/): Recently I got in a funk. A dark cloud hung over and throughout me. It seemed everything I did was failing, late, or not good enough. I felt undervalued. Unnoticed. I also felt my brain power was underused. I mean, how much brain energy does it take to figure out when to start a load of wash when it needs to be done by X (okay, maybe that&#8217;s an algebra word problem, so that could take some brain power). Or what time should I jump in the car to chauffeur students for an after-school event ( another algebra question; they did [&hellip;]
- [Why I Am Starting This Year Without New Goals](https://theresaboedeker.com/why-i-am-starting-this-year-without-new-goals/): Sometimes we get so excited to execute new goals that we set ourselves up for failure. When I was a teen, our pastor announced that he was going to focus on the fruits of the Spirit. Each week he would discuss a different fruit. Well, I was humble enough to know there was some room for improvement in my life, even if I thought I was well on my way to being practically perfect. So, I devised a plan for myself. Or a goal. Each week I would focus on learning and practicing the fruit discussed that week. Within nine weeks, [&hellip;]
- [How to Spread Peace In a World of Unrest](https://theresaboedeker.com/how-to-spread-peace-in-a-world-of-unrest/): It is easy to look around and feel the lack of peace. Especially at this time of year when we are wishing others love, joy, and peace. Lack of peace is everywhere. Conflicts, financial concerns, health problems, divorce, personal worries, death, political fighting, severe weather, and crime. So how can we have peace when we are living in an unpeaceful world? &nbsp; Look in the right places. &nbsp; First, we need to be looking in the right places. The true peace we are searching for in our lives and in this world does not come from man. We cannot pass another [&hellip;]
- [The Benefits of Complaining](https://theresaboedeker.com/the-benefits-of-complaining/): It is so easy to slip into complaining. Do you have this problem? Complaining more than you want? I know that sometimes I am complaining, and I don&#8217;t even realize I am complaining. Other times I know I am complaining, but it is hard to stop until I have vented my frustration. Anyone else raising their hand? There seems to always be something to complain about.  Big things and small things. Though I tend to favor small things. How about you? Big or small things? It&#8217;s easy to complain. &nbsp; I am trying to get ready and the phone rings. The [&hellip;]
- [Life as it Comes #43 | Cold Showers, Boiling Water, and Sneaky Frogs](https://theresaboedeker.com/life-comes-43-cold-showers-boiling-water-sneaky-frogs/): &nbsp; You ever notice how things in life sometimes happen so gradually? So slowly, they sneak up on you and yell boo! Well, that happens to me. This time it had to do with morning showers and communication. Listen to this story and see if you can identify with life saying boo to you. Hopefully it will bring a smile to your day. &nbsp; &nbsp; To listen, click one of the triangles below. Either the green triangle or the white triangle from a player below. Join the Discussion: What’s been sneaking up on you and saying boo? &nbsp; Need another smile [&hellip;]
- [Finding the Wonderful When You Don't Feel Wonderful](https://theresaboedeker.com/finding-the-wonderful-when-you-dont-feel-wonderful/): Do you ever find it difficult to be thankful and find the wonderful in the midst of hard? Hard times. Hard situations. Hard attitudes. And then along comes a day where we are supposed to be counting our blessings. Smiling and being cheerful for the here and now. And being grateful can feel so hard. Cold. Joyless. Uncertain. With our plates heaped with turkey, cranberries, and more, we are asked to share the thing we are most thankful for. And our mind freezes with blankness. Because sometimes it is hard to be thankful. Hard to find something to gush over and [&hellip;]
- [Airplanes, Turbulance, and a Mantra of Reassurance](https://theresaboedeker.com/airplanes-turbulance-and-a-mantra-of-reassurance/): One thing I get nervous about, is flying in turbulence. I know exactly when it started. We were heading into the Seattle airport. Beginning our last 30 minutes of descent. And that&#8217;s when the turbulence started. Up and down we bobbed, like a fishing float crossing jet ski waves. We were strapped in the last row of the airplane. And it wasn&#8217;t long before the odor of the 2 back bathrooms was wafting up the aisle. Getting stronger as time slowly marched forward. Now two sensory items were combining to make me feel nauseous and sick. My daughter, a tween at [&hellip;]
- [You Are Not Responsible For the Emotions of Everyone Around You](https://theresaboedeker.com/you-are-not-responsible-for-the-emotions-of-everyone-around-you/): I&#8217;m a fixer. I&#8217;m a doer. Perhaps you are too. I see the bed unmade and I make it. The toilet is running. I reach in, push the flapper down, and stop the waste of running water (yes, I have even been known to do this in public bathrooms! I know!). I see someone next to me and their shirt tag is waving their size and brand, and without thinking I reach over and tuck it back in. A child looks lost and is frantically looking about for a familiar face, I stop and talk to them. Make sure they are [&hellip;]
- [Living the Dream Between Sticky Messes and Sacred Ground](https://theresaboedeker.com/living-the-dream-between-sticky-messes-and-sacred-ground/): Do you sometimes look around and wish for more? Do you sometimes think, is this all there is? Or wonder to yourself, so this is how it is going to be? Does life sometimes seem more like a chore than joy? I think we can answer yes to some of these questions, depending on the day and season we are currently mired in. We sometimes forget that our sticky mess we are questioning, is really sacred ground. Sticky messes and sacred ground? &nbsp; Maybe you can relate to sticky messes. Perhaps there are sticky spots all over your kitchen floor. Places [&hellip;]
- [Shedding the Wallflower](https://theresaboedeker.com/shedding-the-wallflower/): When I tell my children I was shy and painfully unsure of myself during my childhood and early adult years, they question if I am being truthful. The story sounds made up, to them. But it is true. I spent most of my first twenty some years quietly looking around, unsure of myself and the world. I preferred to watch people, instead of participate; listen to people, instead of talk. I tried to avoid situations where I needed to talk in front of others and where I felt under the spotlight. I hated being asked something I wasn’t sure of. When [&hellip;]
- [Why Flowers?](https://theresaboedeker.com/why-flowers/): Flower pictures are my go-to pictures. They pop up everywhere. Why flowers, you may be thinking? Doesn&#8217;t she have any friends or know any people? Attempting to get to the bottom of your questions, and my fascination with flowers, I conducted a Q &amp; A. &nbsp; Question: Do you have any camera skills? Answer: None. Zip. I see people with those fancy cameras turning the round lens thing and I wish I knew what they were doing. I have a simple phone camera, which I keep trying to remember not to hold upside down. I grew up with an old-style camera. [&hellip;]
- [Why We Want to Be There for Others](https://theresaboedeker.com/why-we-want-to-be-there-for-others/): I am about to slide into bed, when I hear my son wandering the house. The clock says he should have been asleep awhile ago. I find him in the living room. &#8220;I can&#8217;t get to sleep,&#8221; he moans. &#8220;I have been trying to for an hour and a half.&#8221; &#8220;Did you try and lie still? Quiet your mind? Relax with . . .?&#8221; &#8220;I&#8217;ve tried everything,&#8221; he moans. I inwardly groan. I am tired myself. I know I would be asleep the moment my head sinks into the pillow, but . . . life calls. &#8220;Come on,&#8221; I say, &#8220;I&#8217;ll [&hellip;]
- [15 Ways to Kill a Friendship (What Not to Do)](https://theresaboedeker.com/15-ways-to-kill-a-friendship-what-not-to-do/): Perhaps you are someone with too many friends. They flock to you like ants to chocolate frosting. They take your time and energy, giving little in return. Instead of being a joy, they are turning into a chore. Well I am here to help. Follow these 15 steps and you will kill your current friendships. Even halt future friendships. And don&#8217;t worry, these steps work on all types of relationships. Mates, co-workers, besties, children of all ages, peeps, pesky you know who&#8217;s, and neighbors. Pretty much on anybody, except maybe your loyalist dog. I do have a few warnings. Make sure [&hellip;]
- [Another Chance?](https://theresaboedeker.com/another-chance/): Do you remember hearing stories of the dead brought back to life? It sounded good to me. Who doesn&#8217;t want another chance at life? To see people, they love again? Then I got a different perspective. Imagine having another Chance? &nbsp; When my step father got colon cancer and was dying, I drove across the country to be with him. Helping care for him and encourage him during his final days. He was walking when I arrived. Super skinny but getting around. Day by day he got weaker. His body shutting down. He progressed to a cane. Then a wheelchair. After [&hellip;]
- [What I Wish An Older Woman Had Told My Younger Self](https://theresaboedeker.com/what-i-wish-an-older-woman-had-told-my-younger-self/): Like most things do, it slowly snuck up on me. There were a few warning signs, but I am not that observant. I had noticed I wanted and needed more naps to stay alert, but I was just thinking naps were one of my best friends. I had noticed I had less energy, but after all I am no spring chicken. I also reasoned I was also doing more. And I could still do hard things, like hike 14 miles on the continental divide in less than 7 hours. I had noticed I seemed to be shedding a bit more hair. [&hellip;]
- [Stop Apologizing for Your Appearance](https://theresaboedeker.com/stop-apologizing-for-your-appearance/): It was one of those days. Full of plans. Many didn&#8217;t get done. Some did. I dressed in track shorts and a t-shirt, planning to change before my evening meet-up. After waiting 45 minutes for my son to emerge from his after-school meeting, I shot home. In less than 40 minutes, I had whipped up dinner and threw it in the oven to bake. I wiped the sweet from my forehead and headed to an hour-long appointment just a few minutes away. I was still wearing my track shorts and t-shirt. While I had debated changing into some cute clothes for [&hellip;]
- [How to Love Unconditionally: 11 Tips for Loving Yourself and Others](https://theresaboedeker.com/how-to-love-unconditionally-11-tips-for-loving-yourself-and-others/): Unconditional love is not dependent on anything we do or don&#8217;t do. It loves us no matter what. In all circumstances and in all possibilities. It is a love that does not grow when we are good or evaporate when we displease.  It is a faithful and constant love. This kind of love is not easy. It is based upon a choice. Not a feeling. When unconditionally loved, people flourish. Have freedom to be themselves. To be vulnerable. To admit their mistakes without fear.  And it gives them the desire to grow into better people. So how can we love those [&hellip;]
- [The Secret of Unconditional Love on You and Others](https://theresaboedeker.com/the-secret-of-unconditional-love-on-you-and-others/): Sometimes a movie inspires you and to be a change maker. I am talking about the documentary movie about Fred Rogers Won&#8217;t You be My Neighbor. It is well worth seeing. And not just if you are a Mr. Rogers fan, but if you think this world needs a little more kindness. A little more love. A little more encouragement. You will leave inspired, wanting to spread these three things a little more. Fred Rogers had a simple message: I love you just the way you are. You are special and matter. I want to be your neighbor. Kindness and love [&hellip;]
- [Building a Strong Moral Compass for Your Kids and Their New School Year](https://theresaboedeker.com/building-strong-moral-compass-for-kids/): School is starting again. Calendars will be necessary to keep up with everyone&#8217;s schedules. Because things are going to get hectic for our children and us. We want to influence our children. Shape and guide them to their best selves. But sometimes the school year is so hectic that our good intentions fall to the bottom of the to-do list, and even get crossed off. This doesn&#8217;t need to happen. With a little strategizing and planning we can be a positive influence and moral compass for our children. We can help them counter and question the negative influences that they confront [&hellip;]
- [What do You Believe About Others?](https://theresaboedeker.com/what-do-you-believe-about-others/): &nbsp; I think it is sometimes interesting what we believe about others. The people floating about us that we see in public spaces and private. These beliefs we hold about others and assume to be true. Our reality. And the funny thing is, our experiences often justify and prove our beliefs. A friend and I were talking over a meal and I mentioned that I thought most people were basically helpful and friendly in public. The look she gave me could have competed with a deer in headlights. I paused. Replayed what I said through the soundtrack of my mind, and [&hellip;]
- [5 Tips for a Mostly Balanced Life](https://theresaboedeker.com/5-tips-for-a-mostly-balanced-life-10/): &nbsp; Do you ever dream of a perfectly balanced life? One where you are well-rested from self-care, well-dressed because the laundry has been completed and actually put away, and well-fed as dinner is tasty and on time. Family members are positive and problem free. Work is trouble-free. Your calendar and tasks are working like a well-oiled machine. No errands await. The radar screen registers level and problem free for the next several months. This perfectly balanced life sounds pretty nice, doesn&#8217;t it? Confession time. I wish I had a perfectly balanced life. Both my hands are waving in the air like [&hellip;]
- [How Pride Impacts Our Relationships](https://theresaboedeker.com/how-pride-impacts-our-relationships/): &nbsp; &#8220;I think you are angry.&#8221; &#8220;Nope.&#8221;  I spat out. We were in our first year of marriage and driving north to visit friends. &#8220;Well you sure seem angry.&#8221; &#8220;I&#8217;m not,&#8221; I said staring at the red light we were waiting on. Just breathe, I reminded myself. Stay calm. &#8220;There is nothing wrong with admitting you are angry,&#8221; he said, a few minutes of silence later. &#8220;Anger is just an emotion. It doesn&#8217;t make you a bad person.&#8221; I listened a little more intently. I had never heard that before. &#8220;So, what if you are angry. Big deal. It would be [&hellip;]
- [Stay at Home Moms are Working Moms](https://theresaboedeker.com/stay-at-home-moms-are-working-moms/): Working Women. That seems obvious, doesn’t it? Yet how many women count themselves as a working woman? Especially if they are not employed by a company and earning a take-home-and-bank paycheck? They are in the dentist filling out address lines and checking boxes to indicate they have no life- threatening health problem and that they haven’t had a recent mental breakdown. They then come across the question – employment. They pause and wonder what to write. They may decide to leave it blank and instead check that they haven’t passed a kidney stone in the last year. And yet, I know [&hellip;]
- [The Many Ways We Dalay Things by Living in Fear](https://theresaboedeker.com/the-many-ways-we-dalay-things-by-living-in-fear/): &nbsp; Do you delay things? Things you need? Like happiness, thankfulness, joy, feeling positive, or liking yourself? Or maybe you delay using things. Your grandmother’s china. Wearing that new dress. Reading that new book. Maybe you delay doing things. Stating a new project. Using your talents. Stepping out to serve. Cleaning the house. Thanking the neighbor. If you are like me, you delay things. Necessary things, little things, good things. Sure, there is a reason, but probably not a very good reason. &nbsp; &nbsp; How we delay things. An example. &nbsp; I tend to be one of those people who when [&hellip;]
- [When Was Your Last Playdate?](https://theresaboedeker.com/when-was-your-last-playdate/): &nbsp; I shall be forever grateful to Mrs. Smith. She was the first person who invited my husband and I over after we were married. It was a time of great transition. We hadn&#8217;t been married long and were busy setting up our apartment and life in a new city. It felt like we belonged nowhere. We no longer fit into the single category. And while we were married, we didn&#8217;t have kids and we didn&#8217;t feel accepted into the married category. Besides, what did we even know about marriage? Nothing. One day after church Mrs. Smith invited us out for [&hellip;]
- [Are You a Place Maker?](https://theresaboedeker.com/are-you-a-place-maker/): &nbsp; We are attracted to certain people. And not because of their clothes or appearance, but because of their attitude, their manner, and the way they treat us. Maybe they have a smile for us. Or a simple hello. Maybe they ask how we are doing and really mean it and take time to listen to our problems if we want to mention something besides what we think of our day or the weather. Maybe they say hi to our children. Or comment on our pets. Maybe they remember our last conversation and then ask a follow-up question. &nbsp; Meet Miss [&hellip;]
- [Ten Things I Learned from Purging My House](https://theresaboedeker.com/what-i-learned-from-purging-my-house/): &nbsp; Who doesn&#8217;t like a tidy, clutter free, organized house? My hand is in the air. And I bet yours is too. Well I&#8217;ve been organizing and purging stuff from my house and it feels wonderful. It also is looking better. Not always in the open and living spaces, but behind cupboard and closet doors. Book shelves. And that is a good feeling. To open a closet door and see more of the white shelves. To pull open a bathroom drawer and see everything in one quick glance. I started in my bathroom. That place where shampoo, body products, hair accessories, [&hellip;]
- [When We Are Misunderstood](https://theresaboedeker.com/when-we-are-misunderstood/): We have this deep need to be understood. To be approved of. To have others relate and agree with us.   We desire others to understand what we say. What we do. And why we do what we do. Being misunderstood is hard. It is not fun to be questioned. To be misunderstood. To have wrong motives aligned to us. Yet there was one who was misunderstood. Who was questioned. Who had wrong motives assigned to him. Feeling misunderstood? We have company. &nbsp; It was Jesus. His disciples questioned him. And even wondered who he really was. The crowds wanted him [&hellip;]
- [When Words Fail](https://theresaboedeker.com/when-words-fail/): Sometimes words fail us. I am telling hubby goodbye. Sitting in the car, I roll down the window and look at him standing in the driveway. He rests his hand on the edge of the window as I squint up at him. I am leaving for a week. Heading south. On the kitchen counter lies the itinerary. The calendar. The notes and to-do&#8217;s. He has prayed for safe travels. We have small talked. Nothing to do but say goodbye and drive, yet I linger. I look up at him and my eyes tear.  Thoughts race across my brain. What if I [&hellip;]
- [The Important Thing is Getting There](https://theresaboedeker.com/important-thing-getting/): &nbsp; Last week I drove to Mississippi to visit my sister. I pass mile after mile of unplanted farmland. Slice across and down the state. Crisscross the corner of another state. Cross the bridge and drive over the Huckleberry Finn River, which is overflowing its banks. I touch Tennessee. I am on I-55 heading into Memphis. I have been traveling since about 9 AM and now it is about 3:30PM. A podcast is playing in the background and I am confident and relaxed. Maybe to confident. I have driven this way before. Stop and go traffic welcomes me at Memphis. Not [&hellip;]

## Pages

- [Free Resource to Help You Heal from Hurts](https://theresaboedeker.com/free-resource-to-help-you-heal-from-hurts/): &nbsp; Healing from hurts, disappointments, losses, and pain is not easy. Want some help?&nbsp; Learn 28 truths about healing from hurts. Totally free.&nbsp; Are you in? Click the red button below &nbsp; &nbsp; Yes! Let&#8217;s reduce the confusion that surrounds healing from hurts. &nbsp; &nbsp;
- [Meeting Life With Laughter](https://theresaboedeker.com/meeting-life-with-laughter/): This content is password-protected. To view it, please enter the password below. Password:
- [Freedom Versus Condemnation](https://theresaboedeker.com/freedom-versus-condemnation/): &nbsp; God wants us living in freedom, in his unconditional love, not condemnation. To remind you of the attributes of each, feel free to print this visual off and post it where you can remember to walk in God&#8217;s freedom. &nbsp; You can click this link, or the graphic above, and then print. &nbsp; If you have been walking in condemnation, Check out the following resources: Everything You need to Know About Shame: Including How to Heal From It &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Quit Beating Yourself Up Over the Small Things &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Why Our [&hellip;]
- [How to Turn Your Children's Mistakes Into Learning Opportunities](https://theresaboedeker.com/how-to-turn-your-childrens-mistakes-into-learning-experiences/): &nbsp; &nbsp; Parenting is a journey, and it can be confusing. Our goal as parents is to raise children that will spread their wings and thrive, more than they nose dive. So how do we do this? &nbsp; Learn 10 steps to help you &nbsp; Yes! I want the FREE RESOURCE to help guide me in creating independent children that learn from their mistakes. Get your Free Resource now! &nbsp; You will also receive encouragement full of grace and hope within your email inbox. You may unsubscribe at any time. Your email will never be shared.
- [Everything You Need to Know About Shame: Including How to Heal From It](https://theresaboedeker.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-shame-including-how-to-heal-from-it/): You&#8217;ve come to the right place if you are wondering what shame is, how it affects us and twists our identity, ways we are shamed, why we carry shame for years, the lies shame promotes, and how to combat shame and heal from it. &nbsp; Hello and welcome precious reader! Do you ever feel this way or hear these voices: “You are not good enough.” “You don’t deserve more.” “You don’t have a seat here.” “Something is wrong with you and it is your fault.” “You are the problem.” “You deserved to be treated that way.” “Why do you even try?” [&hellip;]
- [Shame Assessment: A Quiz to Discover How Shame May Be Affecting You](https://theresaboedeker.com/shame-assessment-a-quiz-to-discover-how-shame-may-be-affecting-you/): All humans carry shame. It&#8217;s part of being a perfectly normal person. Take the quiz and discover how shame may be affecting you. It&#8217;s free and totally confidential. Only you will know the answers! &nbsp; &nbsp; Take the shame quiz and discover that you are perfectly normal (and just like everyone else). No email needed for results! Instructions: Answer yes or no for each question.&nbsp; 1. Are you afraid to be wrong? 2. Does your self-talk tend to be negative? 3. Do you try to hide your true self more than reveal it? 4. Do you have deep hurts based upon [&hellip;]
- [](https://theresaboedeker.com/4745-2/): Thanks for Commenting! &nbsp; Hi friend!  Thank you for commenting. I know it can be scary to leave comments. What to say? Will it be misunderstood? Will my words sound absurd? But you did comment. You did decide to join the conversation. And so, thank you for your courage! This blog is about encouraging you. Often through stories. Sometimes humor. With a huge dose of grace offered to you. Because we need to start treating ourselves like we matter and like how we treat those around us. And because grace is one of those free gifts that make a huge difference [&hellip;]
- [Terms and Conditions](https://theresaboedeker.com/terms-and-conditions-2/): Last updated: October 22, 2019 Please read these Terms and Conditions (&#8220;Terms&#8221;, &#8220;Terms and Conditions&#8221;) carefully before using the https://www.TheresaBoedeker.com website (the &#8220;Service&#8221;) operated by Theresa Boedeker (&#8220;us&#8221;, &#8220;we&#8221;, or &#8220;our&#8221;). Your access to and use of the Service is conditioned upon your acceptance of and compliance with these Terms. These Terms apply to all visitors, users and others who wish to access or use the Service. By accessing or using the Service you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you disagree with any part of the terms then you do not have permission to access the Service. Accounts [&hellip;]
- [Cookie Policy](https://theresaboedeker.com/cookie-policy/): &nbsp; OVERVIEW This Cookie Policy explains how Theresa Boedeker uses cookies and other similar technologies to track and recognize when you visit our website at https://theresaboedeker.com (hereafter &#8220;Website&#8221; or &#8220;Site&#8221;). &nbsp; Essentially, this Cookie Policy explains what the tracking and recognizing technologies are and why we use them This also explains your rights and how you can control our use of them. WHAT ARE COOKIES? Cookies are tiny data files that are placed on your computer, mobile device or table when you visit a certain website. Website owners widely use cookies to get reporting information and to make sure that their [&hellip;]
- [Home](https://theresaboedeker.com/)
- [Disclaimer](https://theresaboedeker.com/terms-and-conditions/): All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site. The owner will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. The owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information. These terms and conditions of use are subject to change at any time and without notice.
- [Privacy Policy](https://theresaboedeker.com/privacy-policy/): Effective date: January 07, 2019 Theresa Boedeker (&#8220;us&#8221;, &#8220;we&#8221;, or &#8220;our&#8221;) operates the https://www.TheresaBoedeker.com website (hereinafter referred to as the &#8220;Service&#8221;). This page informs you of our policies regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of personal data when you use our Service and the choices you have associated with that data. Our Privacy Policy for Theresa Boedeker is based on the Privacy Policy Template from Privacy Policies. We use your data to provide and improve the Service. By using the Service, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. Unless otherwise defined in this Privacy [&hellip;]
- [Join the Journey](https://theresaboedeker.com/join-the-journey/): Yes I want 12 free tips to help me reconcile my current reality with how I wish life really was!  Life is a wonderful and messy journey with ups and downs. I don&#8217;t know about you, but I need help on my journey. Companions to link arms with so I don&#8217;t feel alone. Wisdom and advice because I am prone to forgetfulness. Encouragement and hope so I don&#8217;t get mired down in the day-to-day life. I would love to have you join me on this messy and wonderful journey through life. I would love to hear your story and connect with [&hellip;]
- [Subscribe to the podcast Life as it Comes](https://theresaboedeker.com/subscribe-to-podcast/): By subscribing to the podcast Life as it Comes, you will automatically receive the latest podcast episodes downloaded to your computer or portable device. Select the subscription method below that best fits your lifestyle. (Using the below method, only subscribes you to the podcast. If you want to receive short emails about new blog posts, new podcasts, as well as occasionally other news, you will have to also subscribe using the subscribe box &#8211; Join the Journey &#8211; in the left hand column of this website. Of course your email address will never be shared with others. And subscribing is free.) [&hellip;]
- [Audio Short Story for Your Enjoyment](https://theresaboedeker.com/audio-short-story-for-subscribers/): Here is your free audio short story, Maintaining Appearances. Please enjoy! &nbsp; &nbsp;
- [Life as it Comes](https://theresaboedeker.com/podcast-life-as-it-comes/humorous-stories/): Hello Listener! Below are all the episodes of Life as it Comes. Click on a cover and start listening. If you enjoy these podcasts, consider sharing them with a friend. Thanks for listening. Have a lovely day, and remember to make time to smile! Theresa Earlier Episodes Listed below are previous episodes. Just click on one to listen. Enjoy! An Interview with Theresa Boedeker about Life as it Comes Get a behind scenes look at Life as it Comes with this interview of Theresa Boedeker which appeared at Life Letters Café for their 7 Question Sunday.
- [](https://theresaboedeker.com/401-2/): Things to Remember The Heart We Are Breaking When We Lie About Our Self &nbsp; One day I overhead one of my children putting them self down. In an angry voice saying they were no good and stupid. Well, that raised my hackles faster than anyone putting me down. I paused outside the partially opened door. Trying to calm down. Take a few breaths. So, fire would not emerge when I spoke. Slowly I opened the door and saw my child heaped on the floor in a pile of self-pity and anger.  Read more here . . . Things to Remember [&hellip;]
- [Things to Remember](https://theresaboedeker.com/blog-series/things-to-remember/): To the Woman Who Gets Hurt by Words We hadn’t been married that long when my husband said, “Theresa why do you take everything so personally?” Which offended me more than his previous comment had, which yes, I was taking personally. Does this happen to you? Do you find yourself bristling, mentally arguing, and feeling beat up from other people’s comments? (And we are not talking about comments from our enemies or less liked tribespeople. We are talking about comments from people who love you. People like your mate, kids, friends, and co-workers?) I know I did every time my husband [&hellip;]
- [Podcast](https://theresaboedeker.com/podcast-life-as-it-comes/): I am sorry, but my podcast is no longer available.  Welcome to Life as it Comes, a podcast dedicated to making you smile, perhaps even laugh at life&#8217;s unplanned and surprising moments. Life is full of hiccups and road bumps, so life rarely goes as smoothly or in the direction we planned. Life as it Comes highlights these true real-life moments. Moments that when they happen we may want to curl up and shoot through the floor to avoid embarrassment. But as time passes, and we realize life is far from perfect, these moments often become funny stories. Life as it [&hellip;]
- [Published Work](https://theresaboedeker.com/published-work/): I write non-fiction, poetry, and fiction under both my married name, Theresa Nelson, and my maiden name, Theresa Boedeker. My work has been published in over 70 print publications: ParentLife, Seek, Splickity Prime, Simple Joy, Women of the Spirit, Focus on the Family, Sunset, Instructor, The Computing Teacher, and Reminisce. Click on the titles below to view some of my published work. &nbsp; Audio Book Narrator and Producer: Behind the Halo: Exploring the Humanity of Jesus by Alice V. Walters | August 2024 &nbsp; Regular Contributor: Writing team member at A Wife Like Me. Misreading Your Husband&#8217;s Gestures of Love | [&hellip;]
- [Theresa Boedeker's Short Bio](https://theresaboedeker.com/speaking/speaker-bio/): Theresa uses humor and words to unwrap this mysterious life we are all a part of. Her passion is encouraging women to notice God’s mercy and grace in everyday moments. To know their true worth, stop believing lies, not be afraid of making mistakes, and get shame free. Theresa uses humor to make audiences laugh. She has given speeches, taught small groups, led workshops, given author readings, been the guest on radio shows and podcasts, and a college instructor. Her writing has appeared in over 50 publications, including: Focus on the Family, Christian Home and School, Sunset, Reminisce, Instructor, ParentLife, HomeLife, [&hellip;]
- [Welcome!](https://theresaboedeker.com/about-me/welcome/): Thanks for Stopping By Whether you are visiting by choice or chance, I am glad you are here. I am a wife, mother, writer, teacher, and participant of this glorious journey. I don’t have everything figured out, but I enjoy writing about life and the adventure it provides. My writing has appeared in over 50 publications. As an English teacher, I have taught literature, poetry, and composition to elementary through college students. I am a big fan of commas, chocolate, and walk-in closets. I like growing flowers, reading, walking, designing jewelry, teaching, painting rooms, visiting friends, and helping others. I grew [&hellip;]
- [Blog](https://theresaboedeker.com/blog-series/): &nbsp; &nbsp; Life is a wonderful and messy adventure. Sometimes we enjoy the journey, and other times we are so busy trying to contain the mess and straighten up the crashing timbers falling into our path that we miss out on the wonder, laughter, beauty, and bittersweet moments that are calling for us to notice. So slow down, take a deep breath, laugh at the craziness and try not to miss out on the love, grace, and blessings from God that surround us and make life so enjoyable. I write a blog and create a podcast, using words to unwrap the [&hellip;]
- [Contact](https://theresaboedeker.com/contact-me/): Please feel free to contact me at  You can also email me or submit a comment through the form below. My snail mail is: Theresa Boedeker, PO Box 7292, Columbia, Missouri 65205 My Phone number is: 573-823-5309 You can also connect with me on Facebook or on Twitter. &nbsp;
- [Speaking](https://theresaboedeker.com/speaking/): Thank you for considering Theresa Boedeker as part of your event. Theresa offers encouragement and hope to audiences by weaving life experiences with humor and God’s word. Theresa will speak to audiences of all ages. She will also tailor her message to each event, working closely with the event planner to determine the focus. To see Theresa&#8217;s Speaker Sheet go here. &nbsp; To see Theresa&#8217;s Speaker Topic Sheet go here. To send inquires, or for more information on booking Theresa Boedeker for a speaking engagement, please view the Contact Me page. To see Theresa Boedeker&#8217;s short bio, go here. Possible speech [&hellip;]
- [Why I Write](https://theresaboedeker.com/why-i-write/): I write to encourage others, to lighten their load, and to share the humanness of life. I write to help others understand and unravel this life and world. I write because it is more precise than talking. I can edit my words to try and say what I really mean. I write because it is fun to tell a story, create an image, or unfold a feeling and take a reader on an excursion by using ordinary letters that magically combine to make words. I write because I think and dream in words, stories, and dialogue. I write because it organizes [&hellip;]
- [About Me](https://theresaboedeker.com/about-me/): My name is Theresa Boedeker. I like to tell stories, write, and laugh, but not necessarily in that order. I became a storyteller because I enjoy manipulating an audience’s funny bone. I also end up tickling myself into knots at the same time. As a child, I was not funny. That came quite a bit later. In my teens, dad read aloud the humorous outdoor writer, Patrick McManus. I also discovered Miss Manners and Erma Bombeck. These three broadened and influenced my nonexistent humor horizon a few inches. I began throwing dashes of wit to my family. Often they would gaze [&hellip;]

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