Paper plates and the kids' toothbrushes. The two things we forgot to bring with us on this camping trip. Granted it was only our third time camping, but you'd think we would have remembered those two fairly important things. Not to worry we told ourselves, we will just go buy some. We went not once, … Continue reading Five Life Lessons I Learned on a Camping Trip: Lesson #5 We Never Stop Learning
Jesus
Five Life Lessons I Learned on a Camping Trip: Lesson #4 When the Car Gets Hot, Roll Down the Windows
After three days spent making memories together in a beautiful campground, it was time to pack up and start the trip home. We went through the usual routine of tidying up the trailer and loading everything back into the car next to our three garbage bags full of dirty clothes. The kids of course started asking … Continue reading Five Life Lessons I Learned on a Camping Trip: Lesson #4 When the Car Gets Hot, Roll Down the Windows
Friendship In the Storm
This past Sunday my husband and I went for a walk with our daughter around the property. A storm was blowing in and we wanted to get some outside time in before it was no longer possible. The clouds came in faster than we had anticipated, and we were treated to quite the show by … Continue reading Friendship In the Storm
Holding On to Hope
It was just about three years ago that our family life took quite an unexpected turn. For a week or two I had just been feeling off, my chest had been hurting, and it was starting to make me nervous. It's hard not to let your imagination run wild when it comes to health stuff, … Continue reading Holding On to Hope
My Struggle Out of Shame
A dear friend recently asked me to contribute on her blog, Lemons In My Coffee. She started a series titled "I'll Go First" and there have been so many amazing stories shared of redemption and grace, and I was honored to be asked. My struggle with shame has been a long one, but it's brought … Continue reading My Struggle Out of Shame
Learning to Be Small
It is a gloriously rainy day here in Northern California, and I have delighted in it. Rainy days have always had a marvelous way of speaking to my soul and prompting a whole lot of self introspection. Something about how big the clouds are makes me feel small and safe somehow. It has been over … Continue reading Learning to Be Small
Twas the Night Before a Mother’s Christmas
A few years ago I was tasked with writing something for the Christmas meeting our local MOPS was having. I tossed around a lot of ideas, and thought of various skits and dialogues, but nothing felt right. I just couldn't get Twas the Night Before Christmas out of my head, and I kept catching myself … Continue reading Twas the Night Before a Mother’s Christmas
All in the Heart
“I’m past my limits!” The text message read. “I feel like a failure!” My friend was verbalizing what I had been internalizing for quite a while. Pushed far past my limits by my kids, everyday felt like one big fat failure after the other. My patience has been shot, joy has been elusive, and I … Continue reading All in the Heart