Last night, all I could see were dirty dishes and laundry that needed folded. I was tired and irritable and it looked like too much. I can not take one more dirty dish or laundry that never ends. I have a mini meltdown and exclaim to my husband that I am so tired of dirty […]
Christmas and the Common
Souls are shaped in the common moments of life, the daily stuff of memories. ~ Sally Clarkson, The Life Giving Table @sally.clarkson On our calendars, on December 25, Christmas, we celebrate Christ’s entrance into the world and even more we get to embrace Christ in our every day lives every single day! Christ cares […]
Of People, Places and Precious Memories
This time of year finds us focusing a good bit on birth, babies, and firstborns. We think about mangers and swaddling clothes and scratchy straw. We listen for the cry of a newborn and watch for the bright light of the star. We wrap gifts and send greetings to people we love. Today, my mind […]
Life is an Event
Life is an event. Live like it is, as often as possible. Here’s to…. Celebrating the small. Embracing my everyday. Using my pretty dishes. Licking a lollipop. Making hot chocolate. Sharing with others. Taking pictures. Laughing long and loud, head thrown back. Proclaiming “Yikes!” Snuggling in my favorite blanket with an equally favorite book. Opening […]
Never Long Enough
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. ~ Micah 5:2 She smiles big, joy and excitement etched across her face. She’s happy to step into the reenacting […]
A Kansas Walk and an Ankle and Things That Turn Out All Right
I took a walk today. I stepped out my door in the November sunshine and when I realized it was a most gorgeous Kansas day with azure skies and nice temps and no wind, I returned to the house and I dug out a sweater and socks and I laced my tennis shoes right up. […]
Heard and Valued
There are very few places where the soul is truly safe, where the knowing, the questions, the longings of the soul are welcomed, received, and listened to rather than evaluated, judged, or beaten out of us. ~ Ruth Haley Barton This quote has long been a favorite of mine and I’m pretty sure it’s on […]
Faithfulness Pictured
Psalm 89:8 ~ O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies! Where is there anyone as mighty as you, O Lord? You are entirely faithful. Faithfulness is shown in the changing seasons. Green leaves turn into yellow and gold and red. Faithfully as this earth spins, the cycle of summer and autumn and winter and spring continues. Faithfulness is portrayed by […]
Moments. Miracles. Magnificence.
I kneel down close to the freshly drilled dirt and I press the round shutter button of my IG photo app. It captures the image of the field and as I gaze at the sun sinking behind our stretch of trees and our house, I wonder. How often do I miss the wonder? How often […]
Ten Simple Habits to Start When Your Kids Are Small
Today I have a bit of inspiration for you if you’d like to skim it. It comes from reflecting back on taking care of little people every day. This list of ten are simple. I believe deeply in them and they worked for me. BUT, that doesn’t mean it’s tried and true for everyone. […]
How Good of God to Give Me This
I have tried since…to make every pleasure into a channel of adoration. I don’t mean simply by giving thanks for it. One must of course give thanks, but I meant something different…Gratitude exclaims, very properly, “How good of God to give me this. One’s mind runs back up the sunbeam to the sun.” ~ C.S. […]
Who Can Tilt The Water Jars of Heaven?
~Job 38:36-38 ~ Who put wisdom in the heart or gave the mind understanding? Who has the wisdom to number the clouds? Or who can tilt the water jars of heaven when the dust hardens like cast metal and the clods of dirt stick together? Who hears my prayers? My fervent request for wisdom and […]
How Are You Today?
How are you doing today, my friend? The text message asks me. The pixellated black letters, typed by the fingers of my friend, and whirled into who-knows-where, by the tapping of the send button and arriving moments later on my phone. It’s enough to make my head spin. It’s a simple everyday thing I take […]
Gifts That Keep On Giving and Summer Blessing 2017 Giveaway
One of the best things about gifts? They keep on giving. When I see the pillow from my sister, I think of her. When I drink out of the coffee mug Abbi gave me, I think of her. The gifts from friends and family bless me again and again. Often, I whisper a prayer for […]
Labels and Names
The world will label you all your life. Tall, short, smart, bossy, ugly, pretty, worth it, and not. But here is the only label that truly matters: “Now this is what the Lord says – the one who created you, Jacob, the one who formed you, Israel – Do not fear, for I have redeemed […]
Of Dreams and Truck Driving
Once upon a time, long long ago, seventeen-years-long-and-SHORT-ago, after a long, long wait and labor, a big-eyed baby girl was born. She had a soft wisp of dark hair, chibby-chubby cheeks and a little button nose just right for kissing. This girl was cuddled and loved and she grew into a chattery toddler cherub. She […]