Proof in the Details

I’ll never forget the panic welling up from the bottom of my gut all the way into my throat. Headlights were aimed through the fog at the landslide of cheeseburgers, broccoli and cheddar potatoes, and chili-soaked soggy fries that had been released from the dumpster behind my first place of employment – Wendy’s. With gloves […]

While Shepherds Watch their Sheep by Night

As the Christmas season bustles in with music, tastes, and twinkle we often get giddy with anticipation thinking about the glorious event of God entering into our world – heaven intersecting with earth in the most tangible way imaginable.  God had been engaging mankind since creation, but he was always headed to this point – […]

Real Family Gatherings: Part 3

Part 3: Planning Tools and Strategies for Keeping the Joy Do you feel like you’ve met some new friends and gotten to “visit” in their homes?  In this series you have met three very real and very different women, and read about their favorite family gatherings.  Now it’s time to reveal their ah-ha! moments and […]

Real Family Gatherings: Part 1

Part 1: Meet Real Women I found three different women who had one thing in common – they love gathering their families together!  Otherwise, they couldn’t be more different from each other!  Perhaps you’ll really relate to one of them and the tips and survival strategies that they share! By the way, did you miss […]

How to Survive Transition

Summer has traditionally been a time of transition for my family.  When we lived overseas, it was always summer when we moved – like, a BIG move; an over-the-ocean-move.  So summer was always a time of packing and goodbyes and unpacking and hellos.  Many families move in the summer (maybe just across town), adjusting to […]

By Design

Last weekend I taught at a women’s retreat, and (like always) I was so impressed with what I learned!  The theme was “By Design” and my simple statement was that we are designed by God (the ultimate designer) to know Him.  But what really struck me was the illustration of when two voices resonate.  You’ve […]

Overcoming Overwhelmed

When we came home after almost a decade of living overseas, I was obviously overwhelmed.  I had been living in prolonged survival mode.  Our organization has excellent member care, and I remember during the processing of the last term the counselor suddenly interrupted me and confessed that she was stumped as to why my faith […]

Life Needs an Emergency Drain

It was one of those days.  I had recently made a goal – move more – and I had just come back from the Y wishing I had moved less.  I was sore all over.  “Doesn’t it feel good, though?” I remember someone 20 years my senior trying to encourage me.  I pushed my tennis […]

I Hear Voices

I recently had my hearing checked – mostly to prove my husband wrong, but partly because I was worried he was right.  And I procrastinated for a couple years because I have a dear friend who did the same thing and walked out of the test with hearing aids!  It was a complete shock to […]

My “Ah-ha!” Moment

It’s generally a good practice to record your “ah-ha!” moments.  Take the time and let them really sink deep – past your mind and down into your soul.  That being said, I recently had an “ah-ha!” moment. This year I have been concentrating on the journey rather than the destination.  Did you ever have parents […]

The Hunt Becomes the Treasure

I’m shifting into a new season – learning to live outside of survival mode.  I’m transitioning from a period of years where there has been a lot of confusion, emotion, misunderstanding, shouting, and miscommunication. There has not been a lot of hope or encouragement just sitting around to be stumbled upon. It has become a […]

Mental Aperture f/1.8

I can relate to author Ann VonKamp, who relates that her tools of introspective focus are ink on a blank page and the lens of her camera.  In fact, in writing this I’m penning my thoughts on the first fresh page of a new notebook.  I can’t tell you what a giddy joy this is! […]