I waited as the barista finished crafting my Wild Berry Mocha, looking around at the gift items on display in the coffee shop. A cute mug caught my eye. I stepped closer to read the message printed on it: “What’s the hardest part of parenting? Without a doubt… It’s the kids.” I chuckled to myself,…
I listened to a podcast recently that said in 2020, we were “mothering on shaky ground.” 1 million women left the workforce last year. For many of them, that was their only solution to the challenges brought on by the Coronavirus Pandemic, “lockdown” strategies, and subsequent school closures. Employees who could not work from home…
I listened to a podcast recently that said in 2020, we were “mothering on shaky ground.” 1 million women left the workforce last year. For many of them, that was their only solution to the challenges brought on by the Coronavirus Pandemic, “lockdown” strategies, and subsequent school closures. Employees who could not work from home…
We celebrated Mom’s birthday this month. I made some of her favorite foods—chicken and dressing casserole, mashed potatoes, garlic green beans, homemade cranberry sauce, and individual lava cakes. She was quite pleased with the feast! When I saw her big smile as I set her dessert in front of her, I knew I needed to…
I’ve seen two different extremes posted in social media about Valentine’s Day. One friend posted that it’s Valentine’s Month—her favorite month. Another posted a picture of a beverage called “Hater-Ade” for all the anti-valentine folks. I once heard a guy cynically refer to Valentine’s Day as “National Florist’s Day.” Love it or hate it—Valentine’s Day…
A friend sent this poem/prayer this week (Author Unknown, slightly edited): “Long after the angels disappear into the heavens, the shepherds return to their flocks, the magi journey home, and the great star sets, JESUS remains. The Child in whom we rediscover God’s great love for us becomes the Adult REDEEMER. May we allow the…
I recently had eye surgery—nothing as “hip” as LASIK or as routine as cataract removal. I was born with a genetic disease of the cornea. There are cells in the cornea that pump fluid away, keeping it clear. When these cells don’t work correctly, fluid builds up and vision becomes cloudy or hazy. It’s like…
”Well, who is this angry man I see In the mirror looking back at me?” (Steven Curtis Chapman, “Savior”) I don’t like the answer to that question–it’s my face in the mirror! Why am I so MAD? Loss of control. Fear. Disappointment. Weariness. Or maybe something so silly as the fact that someone ate all…
“All of my life, in every season– You are still God, I have a reason to sing. I have a reason to worship!” The lyrics of that song are a great reminder that in every season, there is reason to sing. Because God is still on the throne, still on the job. And I can…
“The journey is too great for you.” 1 Kings 19:7 Elijah had triumphed over the prophets of Baal. The Lord turned the hearts of the people back to Him—they fell to their knees and said, “The Lord, He is God!” Then they killed the false prophets. Elijah prayed, and the 3-year drought ended with a…