Joy Goggles
Cara McLauchlan celebrates the simple joys of life in her blog, Joy Goggles. It's a chance to look at our days through "Joy Goggles" and discover the beauty in ordinary moments.
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Thrifty is Nifty
February 27, 2013 9:19 am
Written by: Cara McLauchlan
Last week I stole every one of my son's clothes. Fresh from the dryer, I secreted them away. Folded neatly and stacked in my closet, I hid as much of his wardrobe as I could lay hands on. Then I waited. I waited for the sweet words of "Mom, do you know where all my clothes are?" You may think ...Read More
Last week I stole every one of my son's clothes. Fresh from the dryer, I secreted them away. Folded neatly and stacked in my closet, ...Read More
Listed in: Joy Goggles
Winter Love
January 31, 2013 7:48 am
Written by: Cara McLauchlan
"What do you love about winter?" a friend asked me recently. It was such a simple question, but it truly altered my thinking. People don't speak of love and winter in the same sentence. This is about the time of year we begin reading articles about beating the winter blahs, losing your winter weight, coping with the missing daylight by ...Read More
"What do you love about winter?" a friend asked me recently. It was such a simple question, but it truly altered my thinking. People don't ...Read More
Listed in: Joy Goggles
Dreaming of Haiti
January 15, 2013 6:22 am
Written by: Cara McLauchlan
Last week I slept in the poorest country in the world. I'm not sure how best to explain it. Meeting orphans, their small brown hands slowly folding into mine, their eyes looking at me expectantly, longingly, just wanting to be held. Being sung to by 32 parentless girls under the stars, no electricity and in complete darkness – yet experiencing ...Read More
Last week I slept in the poorest country in the world. I'm not sure how best to explain it. Meeting orphans, their small brown hands ...Read More
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Going On An Adventure
January 4, 2013 7:45 am
Written by: Cara McLauchlan
My son and I went to watch the new "Hobbit" movie this week. After reading the book together this summer, we were thrilled to finally see it on the big screen. In the beginning of the movie, we see the serene, laid-back Bilbo Baggins transform into the racing and frenzied unlikely hero, running through the fields yelling "I'm going on ...Read More
My son and I went to watch the new "Hobbit" movie this week. After reading the book together this summer, we were thrilled to finally ...Read More
Listed in: Joy Goggles
The Secret of Christmas
December 21, 2012 7:54 am
Written by: Cara McLauchlan
We all long for home, especially at Christmas. The home we hope for is the one of our hearts, the very best idea of home. This may not match the picture we had growing up, or the one we see on TV. We long for the home of deep sanctuary, the one that glows from within, casting warm lights on ...Read More
We all long for home, especially at Christmas. The home we hope for is the one of our hearts, the very best idea of home. ...Read More
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Joy Goggles
December 12, 2012 7:34 am
Written by: Cara McLauchlan
Lately the words "holiday peace" are feeling like an oxymoron. If you are like me, things are getting to a fevered pitch as we are working on whipping up the magic and wonder again this year. Holidays had such a different feel when I wasn't the one hosting, grocery shopping, cleaning, cooking, wrapping and being the leader of the cheer-making. ...Read More
Lately the words "holiday peace" are feeling like an oxymoron. If you are like me, things are getting to a fevered pitch as we are ...Read More
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The Child in Charge of Thanksgiving
November 19, 2012 8:13 am
Written by: Cara McLauchlan
This morning I woke up my 11-year-old son and told him that he was in charge of Thanksgiving. "I know you are only a child, but I think it's time," I said. He stared up from his covers sleepily and with a blank look on his face. "I can't tell if you are serious or if you've lost your mind," ...Read More
This morning I woke up my 11-year-old son and told him that he was in charge of Thanksgiving. "I know you are only a child, ...Read More
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Good Gifts
November 13, 2012 7:03 am
Written by: Cara McLauchlan
You knew it was the holidays when the Sears Catalog arrived. Back then, it felt like it was the only catalog. Fat, thick and loaded with colorful, happy images of families having a blast with all of their "stuff." My brothers and sisters would pour over that thing for days and weeks – dog earring and circling every toy and ...Read More
You knew it was the holidays when the Sears Catalog arrived. Back then, it felt like it was the only catalog. Fat, thick and loaded ...Read More
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Take it Outside
September 21, 2012 6:33 am
Written by: Cara McLauchlan
It's about that time and you know it. The time for amazing fall weather that we get to relish like only North Carolinians can. With "Take a Child Outside" week happening September 24-30, we now have even more reason to do so. But wait. Let's think about that for a minute. Why does taking a child outside have to be ...Read More
It's about that time and you know it. The time for amazing fall weather that we get to relish like only North Carolinians can. With ...Read More
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School's In Blues
August 30, 2012 6:34 am
Written by: Cara McLauchlan
As the big school machine cranks up another year, most moms are walking around with a secret smile on their face. With the kids back in school, they now have a bit of time reclaimed to do whatever moms with kids in school do. As a homeschooling mom, this time of year marks the time when I feel most insecure ...Read More
As the big school machine cranks up another year, most moms are walking around with a secret smile on their face. With the kids back ...Read More
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Summer Wishing
June 20, 2012 9:14 am
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It's summer, quick make a wish! Or better yet, get your family together and capture all your wishes. You know how it goes -- summer feels like it's going to stretch out forever like a long luxurious slip and slide on a hot day. Then before you know it, it will be the Fourth of July and then we'll be ...Read More
It's summer, quick make a wish! Or better yet, get your family together and capture all your wishes. You know how it goes -- summer ...Read More
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The Gift of Vuvuzelas
May 22, 2012 6:22 am
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Don't you love it when you find something pure, true and authentic? Maybe I'm in a place where I am feeling less than authentic about things. Not that I'm being fake, I'm only feeling smiley on the outside and not so much on the inside. Lately, I had been feeling weary in spirit. That's why reading the book One Thousand ...Read More
Don't you love it when you find something pure, true and authentic? Maybe I'm in a place where I am feeling less than authentic about ...Read More
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Sandwiched
March 12, 2012 6:39 am
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Sandwiches are only fun at picnics. Not as much fun when they become the bucket you fall into as the “sandwich” generation – caring for your own children while caring for your parents. That’s me. I’m not sure how I ended up becoming the caregiver for my mom. It became the next obvious thing to do. Sort of like picking ...Read More
Sandwiches are only fun at picnics. Not as much fun when they become the bucket you fall into as the “sandwich” generation – caring for ...Read More
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Amateur Rocket Scientist
February 24, 2012 8:10 am
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Lately I have been channeling my inner scientist. Somehow I thought signing up for the North Carolina Science Olympiad was a good idea. I thought, "Hey, we'll launch rockets, we'll learn new things, it will be awesome." And it is. I'm just learning that I'm really not a very good rocket scientist. But apparently that doesn't seem to matter. For ...Read More
Lately I have been channeling my inner scientist. Somehow I thought signing up for the North Carolina Science Olympiad was a good idea. I thought, ...Read More
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Gentleman in Training
January 6, 2012 7:37 am
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When it comes to manners, I am old school. I keep hoping for the day that I don't have to begin dinner with "napkin in your lapkin" or end dinner with "where does your plate go?" These basic courtesies were literally drilled into my brain growing up about the constant importance of good graces. Is it wrong or dated to ...Read More
When it comes to manners, I am old school. I keep hoping for the day that I don't have to begin dinner with "napkin in ...Read More
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Rethinking Christmas
December 2, 2011 6:56 am
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Advent season marked the time I started curling my toes in church. As a kid, it always came as such a surprise that Sunday after Thanksgiving that we could begin talking about Christmas already. With thrilling anticipation, the pastor had my attention, knowing that presents were soon on the way. But really he wasn't talking about those kind of presents, ...Read More
Advent season marked the time I started curling my toes in church. As a kid, it always came as such a surprise that Sunday after ...Read More
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Loser 101
October 28, 2011 7:25 am
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Winning is overrated. Losing might be the new "it." Lately I have been watching a lot of losing at little league baseball. As a mom, I have run out of cheery things to say. But to truly appreciate winning, I think you need to lose a lot. I see my son tap his pitcher on the head and give words ...Read More
Winning is overrated. Losing might be the new "it." Lately I have been watching a lot of losing at little league baseball. As a mom, ...Read More
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Canning Anyone?
August 16, 2011 5:15 am
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I’ve been thinking about canning lately. Yes, canning – think grandmas with winged aprons and a beautiful pantry filled with rows and rows of goodness. Somehow the idea of lining my shelves with summer’s bounty and sweet, red-checked jars sounds appealing. This week at the grocery store, I discovered Canning Magazine – has it always been there? Usually I’m studying ...Read More
I’ve been thinking about canning lately. Yes, canning – think grandmas with winged aprons and a beautiful pantry filled with rows and rows of goodness. ...Read More
Listed in: Joy Goggles
Doing Hard Things
July 12, 2011 6:42 am
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When it comes to doing hard things, I'm a wimp. Recently, I was invited to participate in a church mission project for homeless people. My first response was "no way." I'm the kind of person who would rather support from afar. This is a quality I am not very proud of, but it is the truth. It is much easier ...Read More
When it comes to doing hard things, I'm a wimp. Recently, I was invited to participate in a church mission project for homeless people. My ...Read More
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Save Me Emily Post
July 1, 2011 5:20 am
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Teaching my son manners has made me a mom vigilante. Like a sniper stakeout, I am constantly surveying the landscape and pouncing on any opportunity to remind and practice manners. I sit at the dinner table and wait, ready with the "where does your napkin go?" or the classic "what do you do with your dish?" and the kicker "did ...Read More
Teaching my son manners has made me a mom vigilante. Like a sniper stakeout, I am constantly surveying the landscape and pouncing on any opportunity ...Read More
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The Thomas Jefferson Style Summer
June 20, 2011 8:33 am
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“What are you doing this summer?” is one of my favorite questions to ask. I love living vicariously through other people’s cool plans of trips to the beach, mountain visits, fun excursions and neat-o camps. The best answer I have heard comes from a fellow homeschooling buddy who said “I’m having a Thomas Jefferson style summer.” Now every one knows ...Read More
“What are you doing this summer?” is one of my favorite questions to ask. I love living vicariously through other people’s cool plans of trips ...Read More
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School's Out Blues
May 19, 2011 7:07 am
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School is almost over and it's making me a little weepy. Sad not for the reasons you might think though. I get nostalgic this time of year because the truth is real: my child is growing up. In my head, I start to count how many summers left until college and then it's Kleenex city. I know, I know – ...Read More
School is almost over and it's making me a little weepy. Sad not for the reasons you might think though. I get nostalgic this time ...Read More
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Going Amish
April 15, 2011 6:08 am
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I’m going Amish on Monday. With National “Unplug Your TV” Week running from April 18-24, I’ve decided that we are going to pull the plug and see what happens. Or in my terms “Go Amish.” I can say the Amish thing with good faith, as I grew up in a small Michigan town that had quite a large population. Luckily, ...Read More
I’m going Amish on Monday. With National “Unplug Your TV” Week running from April 18-24, I’ve decided that we are going to pull the plug ...Read More
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Real Windows to the World
April 5, 2011 4:16 am
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“Birds are awesome,” according to my 9 year-old son. Lately we have become amateur ornithologists – or people that study birds. There is something wonderful about bird watching. It started off simple in our family. I thought it would be fun to fill a feeder and see what happened. Once we started getting a few visitors, it was easy to ...Read More
“Birds are awesome,” according to my 9 year-old son. Lately we have become amateur ornithologists – or people that study birds. There is something wonderful ...Read More
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A Spring Haiku
March 24, 2011 5:05 am
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If your life were a Haiku poem, what would it be? You may remember that Haiku is a Japanese style poem that has three lines and the rhythm of five syllables, seven syllables and then five again. For a person that loves to write long, flowery sentences, Haiku feels like the equivalent of naked writing. What's cool about Haiku is how much ...Read More
If your life were a Haiku poem, what would it be? You may remember that Haiku is a Japanese style poem that has three lines ...Read More
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