Finding Joy on the Journey in Faith, Family, and all Things in Between.
I expected outlines and three-point presentations on famous people. The kind you find on Wikipedia. Maybe Martin Luther King Jr, Mother Theresa, a singer, or a sports hero. Someone who lived big and wide and whose impact could be seen rippling out into these children's consciousness. Instead I witnessed each child's presentation on Someone They Admire and Why, spoken in reverent tones about an … [Read more...]
The song is set to repeat. We do it 7 times, complete with hand motions for Age of Imperialism, Queen Victoria, Empress of India 1877, 1948, assassination, passive resistance, India's independence, Mohandas Gandhi . It takes our fingers and bodies to make the memories etch into our muscles, our minds. And it works. I remember obscure dates and facts about Columbus, Westward Expansion, the split … [Read more...]
Jen says that bookstores remind her of hope. And I get that. Because the potential is bound within those covers, sewn into each page, the hope of learning new things, being changed by the words as they flow into our lives, sparking imagination and wisdom. We all enter in awe, almost reverent, each of us moving into different sections of the store. We browse the stacks slowly, moving … [Read more...]
I just got back from a mini vacation with my family and did not write at all. But this post has been in the back of my mind as I've seen the twitter stream fill with Hello Mornings devotees, committed to rising early and setting that time aside for God. I will be honest and say that shortly after this post from my archives, I failed miserably at the Hello Mornings and the only time I was up early … [Read more...]
To my dearest Kaia, I know you long for the letters to make sense, to unite themselves and speak to you. I know each syllable is a battle for you and I see you fighting. By the time you are able to read this well, you will have won the battle. You will have put in the hours of tracing your finger along the page and sounding out each painstaking phonics rule with your brows knit tight and the … [Read more...]
We are the world changers. The visionaries. We are the strongest political movement ever known. We have no borders or bounds. We seek to establish justice and ensure domestic tranquility through grace filled lives, serving hands, and faithful hearts. We are the diplomats of grace. The people with hands made to serve and hearts made to heal and branch out. We are the vine gatherers, … [Read more...]
I am crammed into a dark space. My head is bent at an awkward angle and the air in this space smothers me as I inhale slowly. When the noise dies down outside, I lift the lid a tiny crack and push my lips into the open space while gulping in the cool air. Time seems to slow down but I know that I cannot give up or they'll certainly find me and I can't allow that to happen. Eventually, their … [Read more...]
There is a lot to be learned from patience, a quality I often lack when mothering. And mentoring. Which is easier said than done. What are we producing in our boys when we are rushed, impatient, and frustrated? I'll give you a hint, it's not strong character, responsibility, and integrity. How do we speak grace and encouragement into our young men? Today you can find me guest posting on MOB … [Read more...]
I remember an article I saw awhile back about a man in California who had created a lucrative business by spray painting dead lawns of foreclosed homes that had lingered on the market and would not sell. A few blasts of emerald-green biodegradable color and the curb appeal was instantly enhanced by a golf course worthy sea of grass. Of course, it was all an illusion since the grass was … [Read more...]
I have tried in vain for years to prioritize my life. I pursue interests and ideals with an almost manic passion. But like any mania, the fall from the mounting anticipation and excitement is almost always depression, exhaustion, and the cry of the perpetually overwhelmed. It all seems worthy of my attention and energy. I am an eager volunteer joining ranks with all the other overcommitted moms … [Read more...]
"My kids would never listen to me like they do their teacher." This is a sentiment I have often heard from other mothers when explaining why they choose not to home school. Often this comment is heard after someone has asked where my children go to school and I mention we home school. Guilt should never be a motivator to home school. I felt a pretty strong conviction when we started to home … [Read more...]
I have always been an idealistic person. I would consider myself a cynical idealist. I tend to be overly critical yet I have high ideals and hopes for how things should or could be. Having grown up exposed to cross cultural missions in Europe, India, and Nepal, I didn’t want my children to grow up with a limited worldview. I wanted them to know about other cultures. Who knows if God may someday … [Read more...]
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