I had four sweet baby boys at my knees and around my kitchen table. I blinked and now half of them are husbands and fathers. I have become a mother-in-law. This once testosterone-dominated family of mine is now balanced with some much-needed estrogen, thanks to my beloved daughters-in-love. But this infusion of estrogen disrupted the formerly sole female voice--mine. These young women were entrusted with the keys to my sons’ hearts. But I used ... Read More about When Queens Collide: How to Become a More Gracious Mother-in-Law
The Grace That Leads
I've lived through as many spiritual seasons as I have these earthy ones. Some of the seasons looked and felt like winter to me. Long and cold, with limited light and a feeling of loneliness on the side. It was constant work to keep the fires burning provided warmth to the soul. Other seasons held the breathtaking beauty of autumn, the warmth and light of summer, and the freshness and joy of spring. And over time, I've learned not to dread these ... Read More about The Grace That Leads
How to Give the Gift of More Christmas, Less Fuss
What if someone whispered in your ear, "Slow down, savor these moments better" ? It's hustle and bustle time and we race and fill every moment in the name of worship and traditions. We have a tendency to heap on ourselves activities to make this time memorable and meaningful. But what if the key to a really, really good holiday is doing less and not more? In the first half of my married life we did not celebrate Christmas. To honor the ... Read More about How to Give the Gift of More Christmas, Less Fuss
How to Never Miss a Harvest
He that observeth the wind shall not sow, and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. -Ecclesiastes 11:4 That thing about reaping we tend to forget is that we need to sow. And we need to sow now, not waiting for perfect moments and a perfect family. Not waiting for the well-planned and the well-executed days. We can't wait for the best spiritual days. The most fulfilling days. The walking on the water days. Or the joyful, no tears ... Read More about How to Never Miss a Harvest
How to Worship from a Piano Bench or Anywhere
I've wasted a lot of time waiting for "perfect moments" that never come. A perfect worship scenario to me would be my family in the pew, together. My husband, then me and the children lined up like stair steps, perhaps the baby in my arms. No one would drop a hymn book or fall or cry. I would feel comfortable raising my hand when my heart was moved. My husband would hold my book for me. We would make eye contact on the most meaningful words that ... Read More about How to Worship from a Piano Bench or Anywhere
The Development of a Devotional Life
Talking about my devotional life feels like I am giving you the secret ingredient in the recipe for a glorious day. But I know that it can also be the secret to what holds us together on the hardest of days. Yet what that secret looks like is different in every life, every season. My own devotional life has adapted and developed as my life has changed. What worked one year may not have worked another year. The amount of children I had, their ... Read More about The Development of a Devotional Life
How to Live in Freedom
Sometimes you just don't know how bound you are until you have a moment of exhilarating freedom and you think to yourself, "This is what it means to be free". And it feels so good. Fresh. Wholesome. Alive. And you promise yourself you will never go back to regulations and expectations. But somehow you do. The latest cause was compelling and needed so you joined. The newest homeschool trend has convinced you that you were doing it all wrong. ... Read More about How to Live in Freedom
3 Ways for Love to Grow
Less than ten minutes ago, I walked into the living room where hubby was sitting and said, “Quick, name three ways love changes!” Then I noticed the front screen door was open. I have been saying for days we needed to keep that door shut. The outdoor cat is coming in, and staying in, and losing control of certain organs. And I can’t stand it. So I yelled, “You left the front door open! I hope the cat makes a mess on your side of the bed!” Mind ... Read More about 3 Ways for Love to Grow
What To Do When You Feel Old
It wasn’t a mirror that "done me in" or made me feel old. And that surprised me. I always perceive the mirror or the scales to be my adversaries to a healthy body or age image. At the first signs that the mirror or scale will be speaking lies or distorting truths to me, I brew cups of hot lemon water and my skin plumps back up and my stomach stops plumping. I grab my bag of tricks and tips proven to keep my age numbers and appearance numbers ... Read More about What To Do When You Feel Old
4 Surprising Relationship Lessons from the Story of Ruth
Nestled in between dramatic and suspenseful stories of the mighty judges of God and the kings of Israel, is the most popular mother-in-law/daughter-in-law story ever told. Don’t doubt the placement. It is as purposeful as it is fascinating. There’s a peculiar thing we do when we become so familiar with Bible stories: we stop re-reading and digging into them for new perspectives. But when we come back to a story at different times in our life, ... Read More about 4 Surprising Relationship Lessons from the Story of Ruth
3 Ways to Listen to the Voice of God in Any Love Language
I don’t know if my family is not able to be bilingual or just won’t. It’s not like I’m asking them to know all five of my love languages. Just two. I’d even compromise if they could be fluent in one. I don’t need a lot. In truth, I may confuse them slightly when I switch the ‘language of the day’ like the soup at the diner. But you know how it is, right? Your love language is physical touch until it’s not. And you say your love language is the ... Read More about 3 Ways to Listen to the Voice of God in Any Love Language
The Weeping Bench
I leave the conversation because my heart is breaking. My face is burning and pulsing, clear signals that my blood pressure is high. I am past the emotion of crying and have been catapulted into the screaming dimension. The hysterical screaming dimension. I turn away and climb sixteen steps. Enter the door on the right. Climb over the teetering stack of books and magazines. I have to turn sideways to fit by the dresser with the three out of five ... Read More about The Weeping Bench
