I so clearly remember how I wanted to be a mother. I watched new moms with their babies, and dreamed of holding a new baby of my own. Holding and bathing. Feeding and changing–a life of meeting my baby’s needs. And then, I became a mother. Four children in six years. Months and months of […]
Benefits to Being Outside This Summer {MOB Society}
At our house, summer has begun! We completed our school year and are moving into the new pace of summer with its carefree and relaxed spirit. We are enjoying the sunshine and our first full season using our backyard pool, with everyone swimming safely on their own. And oh how the kids are LOVING the […]
Giving Thanks :: Seeing 1000 Gifts and Beyond
He walks with them at sunset and my heart about melts away. I snap pictures and swell with love for them and I add it to my list of one thousand gifts–these blessings I’ve been counting awhile now, into the three thousands now. I remember reaching one thousand and how looking for His gifts had […]
To Bare Our Soul
I place her new baby on her bare chest and the emotion in the room is palpable. We do it at every delivery because it begins the bond. Skin touches skin, And oxytocin surges… And we know from the research, ANY skin touching skin, releases oxytocin, initiating and strengthening the bond. It’s amazing how touch […]
How Joining in Relationship is Worth the Risk
Relationships are the beauty in life–standing tall amidst life’s challenges. And we build relationships as we join together in shared experiences, in the joys and the challenges we face. Every tiny action builds upon another, joining to strengthen our bonds–bonds formed by having fun together and by grieving together. And all this can be a […]
For When You Wonder Why You Long To Connect
To connect is food for the soul. And I watch it happen before my eyes … this feeding of a soul. A father and daughter right before me. And what I see is undeniable. How she looks at him. And how he looks at her. How she holds her arms up. And how his strong arms lift […]
Because He Really Does Satisfy with Long Life
And what a privilege to return home in the late of summer to celebrate her 90th birthday. Her life has not been perfect; in fact it has been full of suffering… An alcoholic father, an interrupted education, marrying young, and having lots of babies… No running water, almost no money, baking from scratch, curing wild […]
Summer VBS Days {One Beautiful Thing}
Summer is meant to be full of fun and laughter. A time to refresh and regroup. A time to be carefree. And this summer the kids have had a fabulous time, especially attending VBS. I have wonderful memories of Vacation Bible School. Running and playing with friends. Singing songs with hand motions, And worshipping God with my whole […]
How to Slow Time {Mountain Moments to Remember}
There’s something about the serenity of the mountains to help slow the pace of life. Something about the pine smell and the bird sounds that induce relaxation. Something about how the afternoon sun shines its light on the leaves and shimmers its light onto dirt paths. And this past weekend we slowed time. We drove up the mountain […]
A Father’s Day Thank You!
To my dad, the man who taught me who a real man is and what a real man does. To my father-in-law, a humble patriarch by example, displaying what it means to be a Godly leader. And to my husband, who strives each day to embody the best of them both. Thank you for leading […]