Bad Advice to My Daughter

“Mom! Daniel’s hitting me!!”

Based on the sounds of toys crashing and a toddler screaming, I’m pretty sure my daughter wasn’t making this one up.

I just left the play room two seconds ago and they’re already fighting?!

Man of Sorrows, God of Grace

It was a normal day. The refreshing smell of the spring dew filled the air. There was peace in the house. The inner sense of calm was curious to me; I knew today was the day. From the very beginning, I wanted to know, was the baby growing within me another boy or could it be that I was carrying a precious daughter?

Three Little Water Cups

The days are long, but the years are short. The lists continue to accumulate yet the hours to check things off are not enough. The volume in the house is perpetually loud, from the hungry crying baby heard on the monitor, to the frustrated toddler, to the two older playful kids wrestling on the floor.

8 Signs You’re a Faithful Friend

A couple of weeks ago, I was asked to give a short talk at my friend’s bridal shower. Thoughts about faithfulness have been bouncing around in my head for the past couple of months. I guess it all started on my road trip earlier this year. I have a tendency to analyze people… why do they do what they do, what are their relationship patterns (good or bad), what things have they experienced in the past, etc? (I know, it’s a sickness.) But it’s also caused me to examine my own relationships.

What makes me a faithful or unfaithful person?

Here are a few thoughts on being a f.a.i.t.h.f.u.l. friend/spouse…

One Mile at a Time

Ten hours of black asphalt, headlights, and exit signs and a van stuffed with tote bags, a pack n play, stroller, blankets, and snacks.

Ten hours of thinking, singing, praying, talking, wondering…

Myth Busters: 7 Myths Common to Teen Girls Busted By the Word of God

#1.

Myth: “God Is Not Enough” (a.k.a. boyfriends, beauty, or popularity equals happiness)

Busted: God Is All We Need

Waiting in line: a lesson in self denial.

A couple months ago I took a trip with my three-year-old (going on 16) daughter and (at the time) 8 month old son. I knew going into a six-hour long flight with no husband, a toddler, and “lap infant” was going to be a challenge.

Lessons from my “whole-hearted” kid

My five-year-old views everything in life as black or white.

Since this kid was two years old he was always all about something. And whatever he was all about, he would run that thing or activity into the ground before moving on to the next big thing. All about trains, all about maps, all about Candy Land, all about bikes… the obsessions move from one big thing to more exciting, better things and his ever-growing, curious mind continues to move like lightening from one interest to another.

Worth An Hour of Your Time

“And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

[2 Thessalonians 2:10-12]

Having to prove the existence of God to an atheist is like having to prove the existence of the sun, at noon on a clear day. Yet millions are embracing the foolishness of atheism.

The Blessed Woman: Who is she?

Bless. Blessing. Blessed.

Common words I hear and say a lot. Just walk the aisles of Hobby Lobby and you’ll see variations of this word on plaques, crafts, and home decor. (Only non-Christians use the word lucky 🙂)

Throughout this past year I’ve found myself pondering the words I say. Do I always say what I mean and mean what I say?  Is my mouth filled with spiritual jargon or with heart-felt conversation?  

Bless. Blessing. Blessed.