5 Holiday Shopping Tips for Family Overseas

I have never been one to do Christmas shopping before late November – aside from the occasional find during garage sale season.  However, if you have family overseas (or your church has adopted a family overseas), then keep in mind that packages can take 2-4 weeks to arrive, so it’s time to start shopping! Don’t […]

Where to Find Family

Families come in all shapes and sizes, and can be found where you least expect them.  The thing is – find family!  I have lived long distance from family all my life.  I always had access to immediate family, but grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles…  They always required a concerted effort and at least a weekend to go […]

I Love Old Photos

You know those families that laugh really loud and shriek when they’re excited, and could be crying from fond memories in the next moment?  I come from one of those families.  Our shoulders shake when we laugh, we sometimes snort (I may snort more often than others), and we end most conversations with a contented […]

Preparing to Say Farewell

10 Ways Friends Can Help without Driving You Nuts When everyone knows you’re moving, especially far away, the most popular question is, “How can I help?”  In the middle of the chaos, you might not be able to think of practical ways for them to help because there is so much decision-making that depends on […]

When Long-Distance Hurts

I was at a meeting last night, and we always open with personal updates.  It is a distinct privilege in the family of God to carry one another’s burdens to the One who CAN and WILL do infinitely more than we could ask or imagine.  And so we do that for one another on this […]

10 Ideas for Long-Distance Families

I recently ordered prints from our last eight years of living overseas (way too long of a time not to print photos, by they way.)  As I was sifting through a couple thousand pictures trying to decide which images to print, I came across photos of activities that our son’s grandparents had planned.  Every time I see […]

Long Distance Cousins

Having lived long distance from my cousins all my life, I was especially thrilled to have the chance to take these photos of this set of cousins. The oldest two our going to be seniors… on different continents! I’m so glad their parents took the time during their limited visit to the States to pause […]