I like to imagine myself in a Jane Austen novel--engaging in witty banter with a handsome member of the landed gentry, whirling around a ballroom into the wee hours of the morning and taking trips to Bath. But if I’m honest, I find myself identifying less with an Austen heroine and more with one of ... read more
Jane Austen and Friendships in Literature (an interview with Katherine Reay)
Female friendships can be difficult to navigate as much as they are beneficial to the soul. Grace and patience are required in abundance. (But that’s true for any type of relationship, right?!) Reading about friendships provides a unique opportunity to mold and reform your own behavior using a ... read more
Beyond Narnia: Our Favorite Works of C.S. Lewis
Thoughts of talking mice brandishing swords, boys turned into dragons, and the sticky sweet taste of Turkish Delight have filled the imaginative landscape of young and old for decades. I know I’m not the only one who wondered if the magical land of Narnia might exist through one of my closets. ... read more
The Lens of Freedom
She was basically invisible. And, when people did notice, she was looked at with disdain. Society shunned her. They only saw her mistakes and it was their own constructs that kept her ostracized and unwanted. She was imprisoned by shame and guilt and fear and old habits that followed her around like ... read more
Fan Fiction and the Classics
I am no stranger to Fan Fiction. My Jane Austen shelf is populated with the likes of Lost in Austen, Death Comes to Pemberley, and Mr. Darcy's Diary. While enjoyable, spin offs and add ons don't always have the same meat, the same chewy substance that leaves you thinking and wanting more, that the ... read more
The power of complicated.
Since I didn't date much before I met my husband (and by much, I mean barely at all), that particular season in our relationship has always been a favorite. Dating was fun. The thrill of getting to know someone can be intoxicating.I'm not a naturally talkative person, but I loved staying up late ... read more
When you’re jealous of the Bride
When I heard we were focusing on the church this month, my mind immediately started compiling a list of all the ways the church wasn't meeting my needs. I thought those might make an interesting post, coming from a pastor's wife, in an "everyone has issues with the church" kind of way. With a little ... read more
What Makes a Father
My four-month-old son has fallen fast asleep on the floor next to me. Both arms are spread-eagled, one tiny hand clutched around his cow blanket. He is peaceful and seems oh-so-small compared to the room he occupies. Sometimes it's hard for me to imagine my little man will one day be a grown man ... read more
Eating Mud Pies – a Love Idol book review
I've never considered eating mud. Even as a tot, the thought of slurping up some murky sludge didn't cross my mind. Some children are much more adept at creating something desirable out of nothing, but no amount of pretending could make me believe dirt and water was actually a chocolate silk pie ... read more
From Fact to Fiction: the best retellings of biblical narratives
My introduction to the Bible began with flannel graphs in Sunday school and bedtime stories read by my mom out of an illustrated children's Bible. I began to memorize individual verses while in the AWANA program and learned about different Bible characters at church and at home. I got my own Bible ... read more
