Unmastered – still a work in progress

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Vegas Vacation

A couple weeks ago we took our son, Trevor, to Las Vegas to celebrate his twenty first birthday. Getting to celebrate milestones with adult children is new and fun and different and exciting. Gone are the days of themed parties like Buzz Lightyear and Spiderman, with cupcakes and party hats, party games and pinatas. And… Continue reading →

July 3, 2019July 5, 2019

Parenting: Big Job, Big Reward

Parenthood. The best job. The hardest job. It is not for the faint of heart. It will pull your heart in many directions at once. At its worst, the job of parenting is fear, paid through anxiety and questioning. At it’s finest it is non-stop hours, paid through grace and love and moments when you… Continue reading →

Seashells and Butter Knives

On this day twenty-five years ago, we got engaged. In a tiny, little beach cabin, with the wind blowing outside and the Oregon rain falling on the windows, we sat eating dessert by candlelight. The calm after the storm. My husband-to-be took a deep breath and pointed to a small seashell strategically placed next to… Continue reading →

April 8, 2019April 8, 2019

Gorgeous in the Hood

I ran the Gorgeous Coast Relay in the Fall of 2018 (you can read about that relay here), so when I was asked to run the Gorgeous Hood to Hood Relay this June, I emphatically said, “I’m in!”

July 2, 2019July 2, 2019

Running Intentions

I had planned to write a blog about my running plan. Which was a great idea. Except I don’t really have a plan. I thought maybe I would create a new plan this year. I mean I’ve always wanted an actual running plan. Something to put on a calendar, of course. The idea of color… Continue reading →

January 18, 2019

Jesus Runs Too

I promised my friends I would write about the time I ran with Jesus, because it is a sweet and funny reminder that He is always with us. “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” ~Matthew 28:20 (ESV) A couple years ago, I was training for a relay run… Continue reading →

December 12, 2018December 25, 2018

When All You Can Do Is Trust

It’s a curious thing, adoption. Even open adoption. Because as the biological parent, you must walk away trusting that the people you’ve chosen to be your child’s parents are the best. You read their letters, look at their pictures, possibly interview them (I didn’t have time – you can read about that here), and then… Continue reading →

Choose Family

People often ask how I chose a family for my oldest daughter. And I haven’t really shared too much about it. My honest answer would be that I chose quickly. But not without a lot of thought.

What I Did For Love

“Kiss today goodbye, the sweetness and the sorrow. Wish me luck, the same to you. But I can’t regret, what I did for love.” ~song lyric, “What I Did For Love,” A Chorus Line. I wrote those song lyrics in an album for my baby girl when she was just a few days old.

February 20, 2019

Recent Posts

Mother’s Day: A Letter To My Children

To all my children, On this Mother’s Day as I get to enjoy being extra celebrated, I feel like I should be celebrating all of you. I want to sincerely thank each of you for truly bringing out the best in me, for giving me life, and purpose. For teaching me what God’s unconditional love… Continue reading →

May 10, 2019May 10, 2019

On the eve of Christmas Eve

The fourth week of Advent started on Christmas Eve Eve this year. If I’m completely honest we forgot to light the candle on our Advent wreath. We aren’t perfect. And even Advent is unmastered some times. But we did light candles. Lots of candles. First at the candlelight service at church and then on top… Continue reading →

December 25, 2018

Family Jammies

Dressed in their Christmas jammies time stands still. It’s as if they always lived under this roof, instead of just breezing in to visit from college, or life in the real world. In their Christmas jammies next to the tree, they are little children again, festive and happy and excitedly waiting for Christmas.

December 25, 2018

Another Bite

Last week I wrote about how funerals always make me wonder what people will say about me when I have left this world and gone home to be with our Lord. I resolved that more than anything, I want people to remember that I loved Jesus and that I loved them. Anything else is a bonus,… Continue reading →

Faith: One Bite at a Time

I’ve been to a few memorial services in this past year, the last two were for two older gentlemen I would consider “framily” (friends that feel like family). There were beautiful celebrations to mark their lives here on earth. In both cases their sons spoke about them. Spoke real words and told true stories. Some… Continue reading →

Amplify Again

I haven’t posted anything in a few weeks. We’ve been traveling for the girls’ sports, and my youngest battled a horrible flu for several days and was clingy/needy which made it difficult to write. But those are excuses and if I’m honest I’ve been in a bit of a funk. It happens every winter. I… Continue reading →

Love Isn’t a Green Eyed Monster

You’ve most likely heard “love is patient, love is kind.” But do you know what comes next? The next line in that verse says, “Love does not envy.” The Message Bible translates it this way: “Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.” And The Passion Translation says “It refuses to be jealous when blessings come… Continue reading →

February 12, 2019

Organizing Easter: Part One

I’ve been asked by some close friends to tell about Easter celebrations in the Mastrantonio house, and to include a list of what I’m putting in baskets this year so that those who haven’t even taken their baskets out of the attic (you know who you are) can get some ideas. In this first part,… Continue reading →

Organizing Easter: Part Two

I was asked to tell about Easter celebrations in the Mastrantonio house, and to include a list of what I’m putting in baskets this year so that others can get some ideas. In Part One I told about Easter dinner, Easter eggs, and organizing egg hunts. You can read about it (here). In Part Two… Continue reading →

April 18, 2019April 18, 2019

Organize the Meals

I think next to my faith and my marriage, the thing I get asked to write about most is how I stay organized. Organized with my household, my kids, our activities. Organized is a relative word. Honestly, I’m not that organized. I think I’m surface organized. But we have a lot of people who really… Continue reading →

January 16, 2019January 16, 2019

still a work in progress

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Recent Posts

Vegas Vacation
Gorgeous in the Hood
When All You Can Do Is Trust
Parenting: Big Job, Big Reward
Mother’s Day: A Letter To My Children
Choose Family
Organizing Easter: Part One
Organizing Easter: Part Two
Seashells and Butter Knives
The Prescription

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I will not forget. I will not forget that day. 9.11.01. It changed me and it changed us. I will not forget. I will never forget that I heard my phone ring early that morning as I was tucked into bed, warm and cozy. I didn’t make it to the phone in time to answer, but a chill ran down my spine when I heard the message. My brother was awake and watching the morning news. His voice tight with panic. “Pam. The World Trade Center has been hit. It’s gone. The Pentagon is gone. This is it! This is the end! I love you!” I ran to my kids room to find them sleeping peacefully. And switched on the news. Chaos and horror and shock ran through the country. I, like most, sat glued to my TV trying to make sense of what was happening. Trevor started preschool that day. They didn’t cancel. I will never forget that I nervously dropped him off with a teacher that looked like a kindly grandmother and drove eerily empty streets, uneasy and anxious, until I could pick him up. But life had to continue. Stopping life would allow terror to win. And terror can never win. I will never forget that I was saved that day. Eighteen years ago. I had grown up in a church that believed baptism was enough for salvation, but had visited other churches where people were called to the altar to give their life to the Lord. That night, sitting alone in a chair in my family room, with the news coverage playing in the background, I prayed what I heard others pray before, and I asked God into my heart and life. It would be years before I would fully understand what that meant, but on that night in a world of uncertainty I chose The One certain thing. I will never forget!! #neverforget #septembereleventh #unmastered #life #saved #chooseGod

New blog post up today. Marriage & Family: “Vegas Vacation” *link to website in bio* “A couple weeks ago we took our son, Trevor, to Las Vegas to celebrate his 21st birthday. Getting to celebrate milestones with adult children is new and fun and different and exciting.” #unmastered #amplify #amplifyHim #amplifyGod #amplifyvacation #mandalaybay #mandalaybaypool #mandalaybaybeach #mandalaybayguestrelations #delano #lasvegas #twentyone #houseofblueslasvegas #cirquedusoleil #mystere #goldennugget #goldennuggetlasvegas #cadillacmexicankitchen #skyfalllounge #sixtyfourthfloor #family #adultchildrenrock

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