For someone who spends her life inviting people into the goodness of silence, I've lived a loud life. I try to explain this to people when I feel funny about moving away from the crowd or holing up in my bedroom for a few hours of alone time. I wish I had a card to pass out every time I'm feeling judged.

The card would read:

Tamara Murphy

• oldest daughter of six

• mother of four children who were at one time all ages six and under

• wife of an extraordinarily energetic man

• pastor's daughter turned pastor's wife

• occasional city dweller

Give me a pass on any more noise, please!

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