I'm just trying to walk myself home.
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Maybe you were “supposed” to be somewhere else right now, but instead you are at working from home or doing school from home, or you are doing a job where you have to wear a mask all the time. Probably, in some way, your life has changed drastically over the last several months. Something is …
A Love Letter to Longpool, A Beloved Arkansas Campground Dear Longpool, Just the other day I was going through a box of old photos (a winter project suitable for a string of days of sub-zero temperatures). I came across this sweet photo of our three oldest kiddos on our first camping trip to your perfectly …
Do you know what happens in February? First and foremost, it’s Black History Month, so it’s a good month to read a book by a Black American. (Need a suggestion? I got you.) But also, February is sometimes all dressed up in PINK, Because of St. Valentine’s Day. Which I know has been co-opted into …
A Letter to Immigrants Dear friends who are far from home, My friends for whom English is not your “heart” language, I am so thankful for the many ways you have taught me to think differently about life, and I am writing this letter to share a few of the places where you have widened …
Dear Mr. Tisby, After the election, I was reading the news, lamenting on Twitter, and trying to listen to the voices that I felt were most marginalized by the comments our newly elected president had made on his campaign trail. Listen and lament. Listen and lament. But after about a week, I was drowning in a …
A Letter To My Children About Making Time For Creativity Dear Sweet Ones, I want to tell you something about creativity. To create is to reflect the image of God, the Creator. To create anything is to participate in the divine purpose for which we were made. I hope you will let those words sink …
Happy Ten Year Blog Anniversary to Me! Ten years ago I started writing on the internet, and to celebrate that little milestone, I am releasing a little 60-page book of letters I wrote right here: It’s called Letters from Alison. I hope you enjoy it! Blogging has been the most wonderful gift to me as …
A Letter to My Ten Year Old Son Upon The Election of Donald Trump To The Office of President I wrote this letter back in November and held onto it because I felt like it sounded a bit alarmist. I opened it again just a couple of weeks ago and I was surprised to discover …
February 28, 2017 Dear White People (including myself), As Black History Month wraps up, I want to make a plea that we all choose not be done with Black History for the year. Current events are daily revealing how necessary it is that all Americans learn Black History all year long. For how long? For …
A Letter to My 15 Year Old Son Who Traveled With Me To Lake Constance Dear Ben, I am sorry that I give you such a hard time for cracking eggs all over the counter in the kitchen. And for throwing your clothes on the floor. And your backpack. And your shoes. I am sorry …
November 15, 2016 Dear Grace, Emily, Wilson, Campbell and Phineas, Now that it’s been a few months since we all went camping together in Colorado, I have almost forgotten about the rain and the mosquitos. I almost don’t remember the days of washing and drying a gajillion wet tents and sleeping bags that had mildewed …
A Letter to My Friend Sarabeth about Advent Traditions and Celebrating Christmas in 2016 November 23, 2016 Dear Sarabeth, When you texted me yesterday to ask me for ideas about Advent, I was in the middle of crying through the end of Ta-Nehisi Coate’s book Between the World and Me. I was sitting and wishing …
A Letter to My Son After He Left Home at 18 March 2016 Oh Cole, It’s been exactly a month since you got on a plane and flew back to America, with all my worries and fears as well as my hopes and dreams. Today I got to talk to you for the first time. …
In this day and age of email and texting, it is a rare but delightful occurrence to open your mailbox and find a handwritten letter waiting for you. In this last year especially, I have rediscovered the joy of writing letters. I’ve been sending lots more letters. I mentioned briefly last week that I am …