Four Years Old: Evangeline Joy
It’s our 4th child’s 4th birthday! What a great day! Boy do we love our Evangeline Joy. I’m looking forward to watching her fourth year unfold and to discovering more of who God’s made her to be. But...
View ArticleWhat Does a Sad Ending Mean?
Trials are kind of like being jerked out of a sunny day and being thrown down into a well. It seems that all there is down there is dirt, no light, close air and claustrophobia. It can seem more like a...
View ArticleNorth Shore Memories
The North Shore, 2008 Eliza and Seth, Split Rock Lighthouse Gooseberry Falls, two babies climbing rocks The North Shore, 2009 Overlook at Cascade Falls, family of 5 World’s Best Donuts, put it on the...
View ArticleThe Garden in the Grave
For a number of years I’ve wanted to start a vegetable garden, but circumstances prevented me: too pregnant, too tired, too clueless, and finally, no good place to put one. This year we went for it....
View ArticleEmbracing Life as a Succulent
Life around here continues to be chapter after chapter in The Chronicles of the Sleep-Deprived. We’re actually on chapter 11, but who’s counting. This state of affairs has me pondering succulent...
View ArticleOne Year with Titus James
One year ago today we were in the hospital welcoming a much anticipated baby boy into our arms. That was a good day. Since then we’ve laughed and cried our way through the year, with high highs and low...
View ArticleElianna Turns Seven!
Today is a great day to remember the day Elianna was born: two weeks early, a gorgeous dark-haired tiny bundle. She was such a happy and alert baby! Seven years have gone by in a flash and she has been...
View ArticleBorrowing Praise in the Pew
Have you ever come to church in turmoil or sadness, feeling rattled, asking questions, with heavy weights and the wrong kind of fear? I praise God for the many times this hasn’t been my lot, but there...
View ArticleCaring Bridge
For any family or friends reading here who aren’t on Facebook, we started a Caring Bridge site for Titus. We appreciate your prayer support and encouragement!
View ArticleThe Risky Business of Bible Reading
The Bible isn’t like any other book. To read it is to be confronted. It confronts us with the truth about ourselves and the truth about God. One thing we learn as we read it is that reading it is not...
View ArticleReaping a Harvest in the Snow
I was shocked last month when I saw our lilies with new buds and blossoms among the falling leaves of mid-October. The kids had told me about them a day or two before, but I hadn’t made it outside to...
View ArticleKeep On Keepin’ On!
Titus is 16 months old today! He is growing so much. When he stretches out or stands with his own weight on his feet, it can shock me a bit–he really is the size of a 16 month old! Back when he turned...
View ArticleA Mom’s Made-Up Holiness at Christmas
For years this very vague version of Christmas has been floating around my mind. In this version, there is no chaos, no hurriedness, no cleaning, no messes, no loud noises, no shopping, no cooking, and...
View ArticleSeth Turns Nine!
Today is Seth’s 9th birthday. He is a blast to celebrate. And 9 is a great age. Here are the top ten of his year 8! Get set! 1) You’re ready for action. Spirited and competitive, you were born ready!...
View ArticleEleven-Year-Old Eliza
Eleven years ago today, on MLK Jr. Day, Eliza was born early in the morning after a fairly quick overnight labor. The cord was tight around her little neck, but her face was pink and perfect. Here are...
View ArticleSome Sole Lovin’
We’ve got big news! Shoes. When you hear early on that walking is no sure thing for your little one, you get pretty excited about his first pair of shoes. I’ve never seen a pair of shoes that I liked...
View ArticleWhat Does a Happy Ending Mean?
About a year ago, I was spending a lot of time making peace with a sad ending. I was asking what a sad ending means and wondering how anyone comes through the devastation of one. The Lord was faithful...
View ArticleEvangeline Joy Is Five!
What a day for a birthday! We are so happy to celebrate our Evangeline Joy. Five is awesome. Five on Vanga is mega-awesome. Here are the top ten your four-year-old year, Vangeline! 1) You are taking...
View ArticleA Hot Mess of Glory, or, Our Garden and Us
I’ve said before that a garden is a metaphor for most all of life and it seems I’ve only uncovered a minuscule amount of all that could be learned there. Joe Rigney says that Scripture is the lens...
View ArticleTitus Turns Two
It’s been a big year for Titus. Gigantic. Taking this time to pause and reflect on it has made me re-live what we’ve been through and see it from a distance rather than in the close-up of day to day...
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