Female Fridays
“Mommy, why is there a man sleeping on our back deck?” asked my oldest daughter. “That’s actually a funny one!” I said, dismissing her as I unpacked the groceries. “No, seriously, there is a man on our back deck!” I looked out and there sat a very scary looking man, fast asleep in my deck chair. I immediately called 911, set the house alarm, and snapped a few pictures of him with my camera. Almost two weeks had gone by since my husband left on a military deployment. He is in the Reserves, so we were completely blind-sided by his [...]
Mommy Mondays
It came out of nowhere, slamming into me like a train. I stopped cold in my steps, tears stinging, chest frozen, just staring at my son. Running toward the swings, Jake tripped and fell and a normal day at the park yielded one of the most transforming, terrifying moments of my entire life. As he got to his feet, he turned back over his shoulder, sunlight filtering through his blonde hair, and shot me one of the most brilliant smiles I’ve ever seen. And that was it. The moment when I knew I would be an utterly wrecked and ruined [...]
Female Fridays
I am an over-committer. I say yes to everything. I say yes to anything. I say yes if it sounds fun. I say yes if it sounds boring. I say yes if I am bored. I say yes if my calendar is packed. I say yes if I think I am capable. I say yes if I think there is some shred of hope I could figure it out. And this week I hit my wall. I’ve hit my max. This morning while trying to get it all done, I had to swing back by our house to pick up something [...]
Wedded Wednesdays
Taking a break from our regularly scheduled Wedded Wednesday… I decided to post a video blog today. Click on the video below to view a quick message on keeping it simple during this Christmas season. Every year I tell myself that my focus is going to be where it should be, but it seems that I always seem to fall short! Do you ever find yourself overwhelmed? Too much to do? Wrapped up in details? God didn’t make Christmas complicated, but it sure is easy for me to make it that way. My hope is that I keep my eyes [...]
Mommy Mondays
I can’t even count the number of books I’ve read since becoming a parent. My night stand used to be filled with books that challenged my soul and mind. Now they range from breastfeeding to discipline to yes, even, potty time. But there is one thing I’ve learned that books can’t tell me: Only Chris and I will know how best to raise our kids. I don’t say that to sound prideful or conceited. I certainly don’t say it because we are experts in all things parenting (or even a few things). But I have been convicted that at some [...]
Female Fridays
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to speak kindness over others, but faced with just yourself you come up with nothing? Last week I went in for what I call my oil change with my counselor. I’m not in a season where I need intense and regular counseling, but I like going every so often just to check in. Mainly because she is one of the wisest, godliest women I have ever met and I love getting her insight on my life. After a while of chatting she got this smile, the kind that makes you feel like [...]
Mommy Mondays
Several years ago, I sat in a Mothers of Preschoolers[1] meeting and the guest speaker asked us to write down our favorite childhood memory. My mind flooded with silent giggles as I recalled mixing water and dirt, then filling the aluminum pans. I would create a make-believe oven from bricks and bake the brown, gooey pie. Finally, the most exciting part of all … when the mud-pies were finished “baking,” I would throw them at the largest oak tree in my grandma’s backyard. This simple activity has become etched in my mind as my all-time favorite childhood memory. The speaker [...]
Miscellaneous / Mommy Mondays
“Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8b Quietly she sat on the ground by the playground reading a book. I knew right away she was a Christian, and we just clicked. I had lived in Germany almost a month and was glad to have a new friend. Adrienne inspired me on many levels, but what I loved the most about her was that every time we were together she inspired me to be a better Christian, a better mom, a better wife, and a better friend. Her home was welcoming, warm and [...]
Female Fridays
Do you ever think: “Where do my passions and my gifts fit?” You look around and see hundreds of women doing what you want to do and you find yourself discouraged. This is something I’m struggling with right now. Where do I fit in? What’s the purpose of me going after my dreams when there are already so many others doing something so similar? Our passions might be different, but our journey is similar. My passion is women’s ministry, maybe yours is to be a musician, social justice crusader, mother, lawyer, doctor, teacher, artist, missionary, etc. We all want to [...]
Thirsty Thursdays
There is a verse that slapped me upside the head this past week. One that totally took me by surprise because I’ve heard it about a million times in the past few decades of being in church. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. Colossians
