Since Amelia’s family came to stay, we have needed to establish a bedtime routine that works for everyone but also one that aids the children in adjusting to the major changes they’ve experienced in recent weeks. We have a reading light next to the rocker where we read our Bible stories. The current favorite is …
What Scares You?
Remember packing for camp when you were a kid? Me neither. My parents did the work of making sure I had all the necessities and usually one or both chaperoned so I did not have to look far if I needed anything. More than once, I shared my things with a friend who had done …
Gain Your Footing
Our home was established thirty-four years ago when my husband and I married. We have inhabited many different dwellings but as the old saying goes, home is where the heart is and my heart is forever bound up in God-ordained oneness with Paul’s. In fact, these words were clearly communicated in our marriage vows. ““But …
Hard Hearted
I asked Amelia to choose two apples from the crisper drawer. She wanted to help make apple cinnamon pancakes and she had already pulled her stool up to the kitchen counter. She turned to open the refrigerator and stopped. “Ezra can’t help,” she started. Then grinning slyly, she continued, “Tell me I’m gonna be last.” …
Suppressing Truth
If you’ve ever had a standoff with a toddler then you know just how deep your humanity runs. It doesn’t take very many days for a newborn to effectively communicate displeasure and by age three or sooner, self will surfaces with a vengeance. No! Followed by foot stomping and back talking is just the beginning. …
What Sort of People?
“I need to open the window, Lolly. Mr. Leo and Mr. Noel are cutting grass. What kind of snack can we take them?” The rush of Thomas’s words matched his sprinting pace as he rounded the corner to the kitchen. He’d heard the mowers cranking and lost no time in getting into place for the …
Let It Pour
Rain has interrupted our evening walks for more than half of the past two weeks. A drizzle would be fine. The cooling mist mingled with the humidity of the south is refreshing, but downpours that leave shoe deep mud in our yet ungraded land, though a wonderland for our toddlers and Great Dane, Jake, requires …
Leveraging Today for Eternity
Ezra climbs up steps and onto furniture easily at nearly nine months but he needs a spotter. He doesn’t think twice about abruptly turning or plunking down regardless of what’s behind him. He’s very cautious cruising on level ground. He carefully squats until his bottom finds the floor, but today he pulled himself up onto …
Gratitude of Grace
“God is great. God is good. Let us thank Him for our food. Amen.” “Thank You, Jesus, for this day. We love You, Jesus. Amen.” “Thank You, Jesus. Thank You, Jesus, for this day, and our food, and our many blessings, and our many blessings. Amen.” Thomas, Amelia, and Timothy’s special blessings at mealtimes mean …
My People
Three married children, who made their vows before God and many witnesses, means our family is now eternally intertwined with three others exponentially. His and hers, mine and yours, ours and theirs can become quite confusing, especially since we now have two sons who use the same given name. (It happened in my family too …
A Fitting Reply 