Lights twinkle white and rainbow in windows, on trees, stores and street lights, and one words seems to be on everyone’s lips. We sing songs about it, pose our kids with cardboard letters of it, and plaster smiles on our faces as we spread Christmas cheer near and far. JOY Yet, maybe it all feels lost on you this year? …
The Best Gifts are the Ones We Don’t Ask For
You’re four today. FOUR. You love Star Wars and big trucks, your sisters and the color green – followed closely by blue and orange. You have a laugh that goes for miles, your joy even farther. You bring energy, life, love, mad-crazy-hugs and a new perspective to this family. As I sit and remember this day unfolding four years ago…the …
Just Do It?
Wow, friends…..wow. It has been a heckuva year and a half, ain’t it?? When I wrote this post back in February 2013, I had absolutely no idea what the future held for our family. But, basically, that post means this blog has been essentially dormant for the better part of two years. I’ve had my monthly posts over at The …
Midnight Holy Ground
Mother presents me daily with a myriad of lessons. However, the most common – and most painful – is the daily hourly lesson of just how extremely selfish I truly am. Motherhood confronts every natural comfort, desire and longing. It stands in direct contrast to what comes easily to me – serving myself. However, every now and then by grace …
New Season, New Peace
Friends, I’m tired. It’s been a crazy year and a long, crazy summer. I’m really looking forward to the quieter season Fall seems to be in my mind (even though I know it is no less full of activity). I’ve felt a deeper sense and need than ever to usher some peace into my home and family in this new …
When the World – and God – Seems Against You
Have you ever felt like the world is out to get you? Or maybe it’s God that is against you. He’s displeased with your version of faith and has turned his back on you and turned his favor toward someone else? Yeah, I’ve felt that way, too. It can be easy to feel that way when nothing seems to be …
Dr. Jekyll and Mom Hyde
I have not been the wife or mother that I long to be lately. I’ve been terse, curt and snappy. My compassion has waned of late. In desperation I turned to the one place I could find lasting help – The Bible. I am still prayerfully working on allowing the Word of God to transform me to be more like …
7 Ways Learning a Language is Like Being the Parent of a Newborn
We are currently in the middle of learning our third language (not counting the snippets of Spanish and American Sign Language we both picked up growing up). As I’m going through this process again, it struck me once again how humbling it is to start learning to communicate from scratch. A friend recently asked me what language learning is like. …
A Little Bit of My Story
Have you ever wondered how in the world my family and I ended up halfway around the world from home? Do you ever wonder why I started writing? Well today, dear friend, you’re in luck because all your questions will be answered! Well, maybe not all, but I’m telling a little bit of my story over at The Better Mom. …
When Beauty Takes You By Surprise
Have you ever been to a particular place upteenmillion times, and on the upteenmillionandfirst time you go, you notice something absolutely amazing? Something that had been there the whole time but you had been so immersed in you own stuff you had never seen it? I had one such experience recently and it was such a good and valuable reminder …