View this post on Instagram   A great visual illustration on the power of social distancing via @juan_delcan #flattenthecurve #stayhome Just had to have this pep talk with my teens today, who are bumming on missing their friends. It's a tricky balance to acknowledge the disappointments and losses in this season but also keep it in perspective. Oh snap somebody broke out the One Direction . . .

 Driveway barbershop in session. Line up for a line-up! On @selfiepodcast this week ... Sometimes, self-care is dependent on community-care. That is, when you are drowning in a crisis and can’t even begin to fathom what you might need, a simple text from a friend, an offer to pick up your kids, or a food delivery (even cross-country, bless up DoorDash) can be the one thing that keeps you from teetering off the edge. This week, @roo_pow and I talk about the times in our lives when we've had to . . .

The kids' @Minted valentines just arrived - they have some really fun options for tweens and teens! You can check out all of their options here: http://bit.ly/yayminted Heading home after 3 fun days in NYC. I had a big meeting for my book the first day, and then spent the rest of my time apparently eating my way through the city. I got to see some dear local friends and my nephew, and also hang with some other friends who were in town. I toured General Seminary and felt the Lord call me to go . . .

We saw She Loves Me at @southcoastrep today ... it was so darling! It's long been one of my favorite musicals and this was a great staging, with lots of fun interactive activities in the lobby.   View this post on Instagram   Jafta's 4th year marching with @100blackmenoc at the OC Black History Parade. A post shared by Kristen Howerton (@kristenhowerton) on Feb 1, 2020 at 1:28pm PST   An emotional . . .

  Last night some Californians joined some Texans on a real working ranch and we had the time of our lives. Actual things said out loud: “This is like Disneyland!” “What do you call these? Cows?” “Can we make bacon with the wild boars?” Whatever. ATV’s and target shooting and campfires and whiskey ... this city girl is into it. Annual girl’s weekend. Also with boys. And a baby. Happy place. Karis, sharing her “highs and lows” at the dinner table ... . . .

  Cuban food with some of my favorite people. When I look at this picture from 2010, I can't help but think "she has no idea what she's in for." At the time of this photo, I had finally legally adopted Jafta, after 3 years of ambiguity and stress. I'd given birth to two girls, in the midst of 8 miscarriages. Kembe's adoption was finally moving forward. I was training for a half-marathon and raising 3 kids under 4. I was tired but also hoping that life was about to calm . . .

Annual Buddy the Elf Spaghetti Bar Happy birthday to this warm, funny, loving, loyal, skateboarding, bass-playing 15-year-old! We love you @jaftahowerton. Just a couple SoCal kids trying to live that “winter” life. #winterfestoc Saw Little Women with my two little women and cried through the entire second half. Man I loved that book at their age and the movie was a lovely retelling. My “little men” were in the next theater over watching Star Wars for the second time this week. I tried . . .