Construction
When I was in grade school, the lot directly behind our house was sold to a builder. Two twin houses were built on the lot. We neighborhood kids watched the progress on those houses all summer long. Once the workers completed their workday and left the site, we would all gather around and check out what had been done that day. I remember jumping down into the pits that became the foundations of the homes.
Continue ReadingWhy Do We Pray?
About fifteen years ago my mother died. She fought cancer with more dignity than I can describe. My mother was pretty cool, and maybe we’ll talk more about her sometime, you and I. But for now, I will only be able to give you a pencil sketch of her, because I really want to talk […]
Continue ReadingThis is Our Semester Abroad
“Mom, I want to study abroad next semester.” Sounds innocent enough, right? But she had something specific in mind. As I write this, my daughter is enjoying a semester abroad…in Rwanda, Africa. No, there was no talking her into a semester in Europe. So my husband and I prayed. We prayed about whether we should […]
Continue ReadingTurning Isolation Into a Holy Hush
In the old I Love Lucy show there is an episode where Lucy and Ricky move from the city to the country. At bedtime Lucy finds herself tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep—ironically because it’s too quiet. This reminds me of our current corona virus work-from-home/social distancing; it is now certainly quiet outside. Even though this may not be the way we envisioned slowing life down, nevertheless, I’m finding blessing in the quiet moments.
Continue ReadingSpring Cleaning
This weekend, I’ve been putzing around doing my annual spring cleaning. It usually starts simple, like “Oh, I’m just going to clean the bathroom.” Then, before you know it, I’ve dumped out all the vanity drawers and started organizing the hoarded travel toiletries and expired makeup samples. Simultaneously I somehow manage to uproot my entire […]
Continue ReadingCookie Dough and Righteousness
Sometimes we make cookies. Usually they are not from scratch, and I don’t apologize for that. I have a lot going on, most of which revolves around my family, so therefore, if I can’t provide homemade cookies for them they will have to cope with that reality in their lives.
Continue ReadingWhen Your Kids Aren’t Kids Anymore
As Christian parents, we know our children ultimately belong to the Lord and we are only given them for a little while. Easy to say, right? But doesn’t it create the most important balancing act of our lives? That tension between doing too little and holding on too tightly? When my three kiddos were young, they knew Mom and Dad would consider each situation regardless of what “all the other kids” were doing. They thought I worried too much. And maybe I did.
Continue ReadingThe Faith of my Dog
The Faith of My Dog
Meet Max. He’s a cool dog and everyone loves him. I appreciate that about him, he builds bridges where I probably could not. He makes everyone more comfortable when he’s around. He will bring you a tennis ball and play fetch or he will just sit next to you and take a nap. He’s just a great guy.
Continue ReadingExtravagant Worship
Yesterday I had two very different experiences. In the afternoon, cars began arriving at my neighbor’s home. As guests poured into the house, the music roared full blast from the radio. The problem was that it blared from a car parked in their driveway, beneath my windows. The bass volume was so loud that my floors reverberated with every beat.
Continue ReadingTrust God, Don’t Worry
I’m a first-class worrier! Ask me how I’m doing, and I can prattle off a long list of problems I’m facing, challenges I’m tackling, how busy I am, how tired I am, how overwhelmed I am… Poor me, poor me. I was having one of my ‘I can’t cope with this; the world is falling apart; how will I survive?’ moments, when a very wise and loving friend offered to pray for me.
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