Joy in Your Mission

Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God. – 1 Corinthians 1:1a With the return to school, our household has slipped into the familiar patterns and habits of autumn. Efficiency becomes a necessity at this time of year more than any other, as I complete my rounds each day:…

Poetry: My Son

I originally posted this piece about a year ago, but I was inspired to repost it thanks to Chelsea Owens' excellent post about writing good poetry. If you have poetry in your blood, I encourage you to take a look at her post, and be inspired to create (or re-create) your own piece. Bring on…

Best Helper Ever

The Lord is my helper. – Hebrews 13:6b I greatly appreciate the help that my kids offer me, and one another, every day. On my busiest days, I sigh with relief when I hear, “Can I do something to help you, Mom?” Their help not only eases the burden of chores, but makes me feel…

Surrendered Potential

My daughter, Shae (of Teen, Meet God, and Shae's Days), loves to dance, and she's been told by her teachers through the years that she is gifted enough to pursue dance as a career. As I took these photos of her several weeks ago, I wondered what part dance would play in her future. You…

Summer Recap – Ready for Fall and a New Homeschool Year!

This summer has proven to be a season of good things begun and completed in my household. We worked and played hard, and we certainly met our goal of spending more time with each other in the midst of it all. After our home school year concluded at the end of April, we kicked off…

Personal Needs

I have Tuesdays earmarked as the day to pray for personal needs each week. Some months ago, I separated my prayer list into categories (missionaries, family and friends, church members, etc.), so that I could spend more focused, intentional time praying for fewer requests each day. Tuesdays ended up being my “personal needs” day. And…

History

We celebrated my son Rowan’s tenth birthday on Saturday. It’s difficult to believe that my youngest is an entire decade old! At our house, birthday parties include viewing DVD’s and scrapbooks of our kids’ younger days. We laugh and reminisce about all their firsts: first steps, first words, first birthdays, and first public performances, for…

Stubborn as a Child

My youngest son, Rowan, is the type of child that determines his preferences based on his own logic, and no one else’s. We cannot counsel or cajole him into liking anything, be it a new food, game, or other activity. So, Rowan is often compelled to try things. It’s not that he’s disobedient – just…

Parenting According to Job

About fifteen years ago, when my two oldest children were toddlers, a violent windstorm swept through our neighborhood while my husband was at work. I recall looking through our large picture window as it rattled in its frame, seeing nothing but an opaque mass of swirling gray mixed with hailstones and bits of debris. I…

Motherhood & Brotherhood

I write a lot about my daughter, Shae, on this blog. I suppose that’s natural, as we spend so much time together and share many common interests: fitness, healthy food, blogging, writing, photography, nature, and more. And as she is just like her father, she and I are quite compatible. While I enjoy discussing my…