Tanara McCauley

Culturally Imagined Stories

Category: Faith, Relationships, and Other Topics

  • Marriage Part I: The Model

    I was ten years old when I watched my great-grandparents renew their wedding vows on their fiftieth anniversary. Though any other time I would’ve been itching to get out of my dress and hair bows so I could run off and play, I was mesmerized by the love that shone out of those two faces who’d…

  • Two Are Better…

    Tears are never as bleak when there is someone to wipe them away…

  • Parents Just Don’t Understand!

    “When you become a parent you’ll understand.” Most of us hear this infamous prediction as teenagers. It typically comes on the heels of what we feel is some great injustice to our independence and the ability to express ourselves as soon-to-be-adults. We twist our mouths as if sucking on a lime, mutter a reply we…

  • Three Sisters and the Clan at Four Sisters Café

    How to get eighteen people aged 5 months to 75 years well-dressed and smiling for a family photo? Feed them first. My dad raved about the new restaurant Four Sisters Café in Roseville, CA for months, telling my sisters and I, “Just wait until you taste their food. You’re gonna love it.” Despite the praise, which my…

  • A Sad Day in America

    My heart is absolutely grieved for those who were senselessly murdered in the Connecticut shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. My prayers and tears are with their surviving loved ones. As a parent I cannot imagine having my children die in such a terrifying and violent manner. It’s a sad generation when sending your elementary-age children to…

  • It’s About Giving – Angel Tree

    Christmas is almost here. In a little less than three weeks the preparations of shopping, wrapping, planning, gift-swapping parties, egg-nog drinking and stocking stuffing will come to a head. Wrapping paper will be ripped and tossed, and new possessions will either be hoisted above heads with exuberant thanksgiving, or become the victims of secret plots…

  • Angel with a Gun – Truth or Fiction Story 7

    We’ve reached the last installment of Truth or Fiction Tuesdays! If you’re new to the series and would like to participate in the giveaway click here for more information. Angel with a Gun “Don’t worry, okay,” Kenny said, “Rod knows what he’s doing. We’ve done it before.” Sienna threw him a sideways glance then looked again…

  • Abortion…As Viewed by a Child

    My twins voted yesterday. It was a cute little school event–their decisions based on factors such as which candidate owns a pet or has kids they can play with. At home they were proud as they showed off their “I Voted” stickers and compared them to mine. Then out of the blue my daughter asked me, “What does…

  • Sunday Dinner with a Cultural Twist

    As a stay-at-home-mom I’m always looking for ways to make home life enjoyable and  memorable. Some of my ideas fail hysterically, others are not so bad. When I read an article about Bill Gates in which he discussed the importance of family traditions, I scolded myself for not having thought of that before. I resolved…

  • Blogging for Compassion a Huge Success

    I wanted to update everyone on the Blogging for Compassion campaign run in the month of September. Through the efforts of several bloggers, 3,159 children were sponsored! That is HUGE! What an amazing testimony to the compassion of many hearts and the awesome work of the Lord. Many thanks to any of you who sponsored,…