The countdown to Christmas is on. It can be a fraught time, trying to navigate all the holiday expectations. My want-to-do list is practically limitless, although I only get a fraction of it done. There are Christmas cards and letters (preferably personal) to send, Christmas decor to put up inside and out, fun little DIYs,… Continue reading What Makes A Meaningful Christmas Celebration?
Do you consider yourself privileged? What does a life of privilege look like? I was privileged to grow up in a Christian home with Christian parents. I’m privileged to be happily married with three children and live on a small farm. But why shouldn’t I be? Shouldn’t everyone be so privileged? Is there something wrong… Continue reading A New Way to Look at Privilege
Mondays are historically a day when I struggle. Typical domestic duties (i.e. getting dressed, doing dishes, cooking, laundry) fail to inspire me. This Monday morning I pondered deep thoughts such as how I want to run my home like a well-oiled machine. Figuratively, anyway. But when it comes down to the complete, all-encompassing time and… Continue reading Are You Grasping at Stars? (Time-Tested Advice for Mondays)
“What a beautiful idea,” I thought as I read the Hello Mornings Bible Study on women of the Bible. After reading through the account of Abigail, Nabal and David, the study asked us to reflect on what situations we might need to seek God’s guidance and provision for today. Then we were encouraged to pray… Continue reading Have You Prayed for Courage in Your Faith?
If you had the money, what’s the first thing you’d buy yourself? Is there a gorgeous piece of furniture or a new set of wheels you’ve been eyeing up? Would you tour the world or buy a new house? Quit your job and sail off into the sunset? I don’t know how I’d choose just one.… Continue reading What are You Choosing? (A Mom’s Decorating Manifesto)
Before I became a mom, the thought of motherhood caused me anxiety, doubt, and overwhelm. I knew some general things about motherhood but I didn’t know some of the most important things. I could visualize changing diapers endlessly and dealing with cranky babies but I had no idea how vastly my children would enrich and… Continue reading Before I Became a Mom: Then and Now
I certainly haven’t always appreciated ordinary. I’ve resented it and complained many a time about the ordinary. There’s something about endless stretches of mundane routine that can drive a person crazy almost as fast as wild chaos. The ordinary is easily overlooked and under-appreciated and yet it has a beauty all its own. I’m an… Continue reading Have You Ever Resented Ordinary?
Think of it for a minute–seven blessings in your life. How do you choose a mere seven? When my writing group was assigned this topic I knew it would be difficult to single out seven from a practically never-ending list. So I decided to challenge myself to find the blessings in seven things I often… Continue reading I’m Blessed Because of These 7 Things
She confidently walked into the Wal-Mart bathroom stall and the door banged shut. That’s when I realized. Realized what? Where am I going with this? No, it wasn’t the lady who stole the fifty dollar bill out of my hands. (That’s another story for another day.) It was my daughter. And I realized today in the Wal-Mart… Continue reading Someday You’ll Have A Wal-Mart Bathroom Moment
If I could have anything I want for Mother’s Day, what would it be? There are countless cliche things that come to mind: time for myself, huge bouquets of flowers, meals I don’t have to make, shopping trips, time with friends, sleeping in and uninterrupted sleep. Yet somehow these aren’t the things I really want. There’s… Continue reading What I’d Choose If I Could Have Anything I Wanted for Mother’s Day
Grace for Motherhood Overwhelm 