Updated on August 18, 2016
What Would Jesus Do?
This week it is Snapchat. Please, mom, please can I get it on my phone? Everyone has it. Please mom. This teenager of mine is nothing if not persistent. And he knows I have no good answer. He senses the wavering of my uncertainty.
Why are there always so many decisions to make as a parent?
Updated on August 11, 2016
For When The Work gets Hard
We’ve been in school two weeks here in the southern suburbs. Two weeks, people! And the whining has already begun. We’ve already lost a notebook, cried over a book report and had a melt-down over the fact that we have to memorize all of the prepositions that exist in the whole world????
Posted on August 1, 2016
This Prayer For Your Back To School Week
They are heading back, Lord, our little (or not so little anymore) people. Back to hallways, desks, math, writing assignments, lockers and playgrounds. They are lacing up their brand new sneakers, strapping on their heavy backpacks and walking right out creaky old doors into their new years. And I make the peanut butter sandwiches, fill the water bottles and suggest that maybe we should comb some hair, but Lord it feels all out of my control now.
Updated on October 6, 2016
It’s All About How You Fall
“Everyone stands somewhere. Even if we sometimes don’t know where we are standing … because we’ve never give it any attention. But there we are, nonetheless, standing somewhere” (Piper 21). John Piper writes these words in his book A Peculiar Glory. It is a book about how God reveals his glory through Scripture, and it has captivated me these past few weeks. These particular words about standing popped into my head as I stood in the pounding surf and attempted to photograph my boys and their cousins learning to paddle board. Standing somewhere was a very important theme that day. And so was falling.
Updated on July 9, 2016
Standing still … and dancing
I was a senior in college the first time I realized that standing still was not my gift. And recently as the frantic pace of this summer has caught up with me, the memory of this long ago lesson painted itself into my mind.
Updated on June 20, 2017
Everything I need to know I learned at Vacation Bible School
My first memories of Vacation Bible School have to do with juice and goldfish. The juice that came in a metal can and had to be opened with something my mom referred to as a “church key”?
Updated on June 16, 2016
What to do with our kids’ questions this week
The world seems to be breaking right apart this week. It is horrifying and overwhelming. And when my 11 year old son sits down to breakfast, his frozen waffles smeared with peanut butter, he scans over the front page of the newspaper; stories of death and devastation making their way right into our kitchen, and he fires off this question, “Why, mom? Why does God let these awful things happen?” I nearly stop breathing.
Posted on May 27, 2016
What do you love?
“What do you love the most of anything?” my youngest is shivering in the early evening summer shadows. Swimming pool wet and popsicle mustached, he pulls his towel close and this question pops right out. He doesn’t wait for me to answer. This kid talks as fast as he thinks. “I love the pool and cannonballs the most of anything.” He’s dancing around trying to get warm as one of his brothers shoots a water gun his direction.
“You love this pool more than mom?” a brother questions. “That’s crazy!”
The little one looks concerned and draws in close; chattering teeth and dripping wet little body right next to mine. Chlorine, sunscreen and cherry popsicle all mingle together in the air as he leans in to kiss me. “I love you most too. It’s just I can’t do a cannonball onto you. And cannonballs are awesome!”
So, we are just a few days into summer and apparently I rank right up there with the pool as things my 7 year old loves “the most of anything”. I’ll just consider that a victory for today!
Updated on May 20, 2016
For those of us with Perfect Plans
The little chalkboard in our kitchen tells me that there are 4 days of school left. 4 days! People are excited around here. Leaping, jumping, hollering kind of excited. And me, too. I think? Because the end of math worksheets, vocabulary sentences and countries of Africa to remember is in sight! And no more panicked calls for lunch money or forgotten gym clothes. Yes! Bring on summertime!
Updated on May 12, 2016
The Things I Forget to Remember
I have three boys. If you are from the south, this is where you bless my heart. Otherwise, you just ask me about my grocery bill. Because yes, I need my heart blessed, and yes I spend most of my free time at the grocery store. With three boys and a husband, food is important around here. And we run out of stuff all the time. So, my people are always making these lists of things we need. Now, I know that they are trying to be helpful.
But, I just don’t do lists. Mostly because when I rush out the door to the store, I manage to leave these lists – somewhere?? So, I am adopting a new grocery store strategy. No. More. Lists. It is revolutionary, really. You just go to the store and buy what you need. Simple. Easy. Fool – proof.
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