He is still and he trusts me and looks up at me like I’m the love of his life. And how can I resist that smile? With those steel-blue eyes and small gap between his teeth. And I’ve been falling for him since my eyes first met him that January morning over six full years ago. He’s calm […]
Grace FULL and Overflowing
Full. Satisfied. Filled to the top with favor and overflowing. A gift that’s unearned. Underserved. And just plain surprising. And He says it’s sufficient–that it’s enough. No more looking around and longing to be satisfied. No more longing for significance or worth or wishing to belong. No more coveting what’s not ours and hanging our […]
Only God Can Change Tragedy Into Beauty
Only God can change tragedy into beauty. And it is only because of Him we can give thanks in everything, and by doing so find joy. I first met her 2 years ago when she became my neighbor. I’m really not the bold and brazen type who randomly knocks on a door. And I’m certainly not a door-to-door evangelist, but […]
Why We Need to Pray for Our Boys and Their Future Wives
I went to a conference last month for writers and speakers. And it was on the plane ride, I realized how much I needed to pray for my boys, and their future wives. I sat next to a young girl who I imagined had so much to look forward to–college, career, and maybe a spouse […]
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 […]
We All Need A Community to Call Our Own {Somewhere to Belong}
We all need community, somewhere to belong. For two years now, I’ve visited the Puerto Rican pigeons-a community of their own. And what I observed was nothing short of remarkable. It taught me some poignant lessons… About how we all long for somewhere to belong, How we all desire to be welcomed and included, How we […]
Because It Is the Stretching That Brings the Change
It’s in the stretching, that change comes. And you know what’s a stretch? I’ll tell you, me being a runner! (Although it’s becoming less of a stretch every day.) When I got talked into signed up to run this half-marathon in October, I knew it would be hard, but I didn’t really know how hard. And […]
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 […]
Our Homeschooling Curriculum Choices {2012-2013}
Last year was my very first year homeschooling, a journey into the unknown. Full of risk but also so much hope. And we made it through! I have written before about how I never thought I’d EVER homeschool my children. And not only did we make it through, but we fell into a rhythm that […]
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 […]
