“Caroline Rebekah,” my iPhone announced. My daughter set up my cell to announce my calls so when I’m busy studying or writing or when I’m occupied with one of the children, reading a book or playing along with one of their elaborate imaginations, I can continue without interruption unless it’s someone special calling. When she …
Moved
“I don’t know how you and dad have moved so many times, Mom,” Jacob half groaned as he passed me with yet another armload of boxes. “We’ve moved a crazy amount of stuff and we’re still not done!” Their closing is one day away and it’s crunch time. They sold, shared, and donated what seemed …
Yes and Amen
The first time I saw someone agreeing in prayer, I was younger than ten. I know because my family moved with my dad’s job and I started fifth grade in a new school. Being almost ten and starting over at the end of elementary school was tough but not nearly as difficult as my sister’s …
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 …
Casual Conversation
Amelia has almost outgrown whining or groaning when she wants something but Timothy and Ezra have taken up that battle cry. Their words are coming now. They parrot new things they hear daily, some decipherable and some not so much. When I had a chance to say bedtime prayers with Timothy, I started with “thank …
Living Lessons
Ezra is walking at least as much as he’s crawling now, but he can climb seemingly impossible things. He reminds me at once of his sister and his daddy when they were his age. Parenting a child learning to walk is more damage control than coaching but as they begin to comprehend more of our …
Giant Prayers
Thank You, Jesus Thank You, Jesus For this day And our food And our many blessings And our many blessings Amen Amen Amelia sang my Timothy and Ezra echo blessing over our lunch today. It’s my choice for asking a blessing when kids are very small. Their little tummies are short on patience so I …
Wearing God Out
My daughter and her sons traveled to and from the beach with me. My daughter drove. I take the passenger seat unless the smaller passengers become restless. Timothy munched or dozed contentedly the majority of our return trip, but Thomas, who is nearing four, fights sleep with words. His repeated chants of I wanna get …
No Shame
My husband and I have enjoyed the warm temperatures this week by taking a walk in the woods once daily and sometimes twice. Our path snakes around the top of our property before plunging through the middle above the creek line. While the trees were bare in winter, Paul and Jake, our Great Dane, have …
Can I Trust You?
My life from age twelve asked, “Can I trust you?” I asked myself this of every human being I encountered, particularly males. Everyone became suspect, even God. I fear I am not alone in my questioning. You have been hurt, have you not? Your trust has been shaken by sickness, circumstance, or sin in the …
A Fitting Reply 