I tend to have a problem with completion. I’m an all-or-nothing type of girl; if I can’t complete it, or can’t have it completely, I think I might as well not bother. I’d rather skip the journey and get right to the destination. And yet, I have an embarrassing number of projects in various stages of un-finish in my house (and in my life)…

At twenty, I knew my purpose in life. I was going to be an artist, maybe own an art supply store. I was going to get married soon out of college, have six kids, and sit on the wrap-around-porch of a big farmhouse out in the country watching those kids play on our land. I’m not sure how those two dreams fit together, but there you go. It was my Purpose…

I intentionally avoid the news. Too much bad nearly breaks me – I’m one of those highly-sensitive types. But the news still finds me. With every school shooting or police officer death or racial-tension-fueled hate crime, my heart breaks, and I feel so small. So small in a big, big world full of ugly. Too small to be of any account…

Last night, our daughter (kindergarten) told us she thought she was making people sad, that she wasn’t good but bad. She said that her friends don’t want to be her friends anymore and they don’t want to play with her. Naturally, we were just a tad concerned. She is a bright, sweet, generous soul who loves people and wants to be friends with everyone…

We’ve made it to the final six points of our list of “Rules for God’s Daughters”! You can read all about the inspiration for this list in “Rules for God’s Daughters: Part 1”. So to recap: This list really resonates with me as the mom of a young daughter. But it also set off some warning bells. The Bible says to “test everything”…

Welcome to part 5 of “Rules for God’s Daughters”! If you’re just joining us, this a 6-post series based on a “copy and share” Facebook post I read recently. You can read all about that, and see the full list in “Rules for God’s Daughters: Part 1”. To recap: This list really resonates with me as the mom of a young daughter…

Welcome to part 4 of “Rules for God’s Daughters”! If you’re just joining us, this a 6-post series based on a “copy and share” Facebook post I read recently. You can read all about that, and see the full list in “Rules for God’s Daughters: Part 1”. To recap: This list really resonates with me as the mom of a young daughter…

Welcome to part 3 of “Rules for God’s Daughters”! If you’re just joining us, this a 6-post series based on a “copy and share” Facebook post I read recently. You can read all about that, and see the full list in “Rules for God’s Daughters: Part 1”. Today we’re checking out #11-15 of the list. To recap: This list really resonates with me as the mom…

Today is part 2 of “Rules for God’s Daughters”, a 6-post series based on a “copy and share” Facebook post I read recently. You can read all about that, and see the full list in “Rules for God’s Daughters: Part 1”. Today I’m looking at #6-10 of the list (there are 31 items total!). To recap: This list really resonates with me as the mom of a young daughter…

Today I read one of those “copy and share” posts on Facebook. This one is called “Rules for My Daughter”. It resonated with me – but it also set off some warning bells. One of the devil’s greatest weapons is subtle lies: things that look good or feel good but are just a little twisted from God’s truth. As I read this list…

Driving along, migraine developing, just wanting to get home. Into the silence comes a voice from the backseat. A tiny, sweet, adorable voice that I wish would never grow up. “I love you, Mama.”

Tears trickle. Is there any better thing for a mama to hear? I feel a failure…

One summer recently I learned a very valuable lesson – on judgement. While visiting family, a friend’s son almost slipped and fell. Nothing very serious, but the parent in all of us there “jumped” to help. “Be careful, honey!” “Watch out!” “Oh no!” You know, the concerned parent’s automatic reaction to a child…

I’ve read that “if you’re not happy here, you won’t be happy there”. This is a truth that I have known intellectually for a long time, but only now is it sinking into my heart in a way that I can truly understand. I’ve often wondered: if God wants me happy, why doesn’t He move me to “that place” where I just know I’ll be happy…