“What is this?” Amelia asked, pointing to something at the bottom of a page full of items in the Christmas catalog. “I’m not sure, sweetheart,” I responded from the other side of the kitchen island. “It’s too small for me to see from here.” Then to her mom walking in from the other room she …
Two Builders
Paul and I are contemplating our tenth construction project in our thirty-five years of marriage. We’ve built two houses from the ground up and we’ve renovated others, two in several phases. One we lived in with three preschool children during the entire process. Nine months living with us while they build their own home across …
Half Baked
I stumbled halfway down the porch steps on my way to the trash bin, dropping the loaf of bread I had attempted earlier in the day. Easy Irish Soda Bread with raisins, the recipe had boasted. After twice the recommended amount of time in the oven, the loaf appeared done but the inside was still …
Scripture That Sticks
I had the privilege of watching as Caroline taught the memory verse for Thomas and Timothy’s preschool group in Vacation Bible School at their church for the past two summers. This was not her first Bible teaching experience. From a young age, she lined up her stuffed animals and dolls and taught them. She led …
Gentle Reminders
Thomas and Timothy met their new brother, Titus, today. Until this weekend, my five and two year old grandsons have interacted with their brother through the bump on mom’s tummy. They’ve kissed him sweetly, talked to him and prayed for him, and starting last week, they’ve adjured him to hurry up and get here. In …
Who Is Your Yes?
“Daddy’s not here,” I told Jake on my way from the kitchen to the laundry room for the third time in half an hour. His head pops up anytime I walk near the garage door between eleven and two. His internal clock keeps trying to push dinner earlier and earlier. “You can wait until at …
The Lie That Keeps Deceiving
“That’s what you want. Are you sure?” I asked before ordering Amelia’s ice cream. “Because I’m having this one with chocolate, peanut butter, banana, and almonds,” I added, pointing to the picture on the menu. “Ezra is sharing with me. You could share with us,” I offered one last time. “I don’t like chocolate,” she …
Remember Your Roots
“The boys have loved watching the seven and a half minute video you made of us bringing Timothy home from the hospital,” my daughter told me during a recent visit. “Do you have it on your phone, Lolly?” asked Thomas, joining the conversation. We sat down together on the sofa as I opened my Google …
For the Beauty of the Earth
A sea of green waves triumphantly where for more than two years red clay painted the torn landscape in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. What was washed and rutted, a daily reminder of the storm’s devastation, is gradually becoming a perfectly situated oasis. Construction is expected to begin in the next few weeks on our …
Make Believe
My four grandchildren squeezed into the two foot by two foot by three foot cubby near the floor meant to hold audio video equipment for a home theater in our room above the garage. The shelves and door were never installed. A hand-painted blue and green tree lined canvas rests against the back wall secreting …
