Last week, I had the privilege of speaking to a group of homeschool moms. As I was praying about what to share, I realized that the most important thing I can share with anyone is what Jesus has done in my life. Our stories of redemption and grace hold incredible value. So I shared. I … Continue reading An Omer of Manna: Finding Joy When Life is Hard
We sit cross-legged on weathered wood and look across the lake. Gentle hills, thick with trees, rise and fall on the other side. And in the water, lily pads rise and fall too. “Dose weaves are walking on da water!” my three-year old exclaims. Last weekend, thunder crashed and the lake churned. Lightning lit up … Continue reading The Rhythm of Rest
It was cool in the gazebo. Flowers bloomed boldly all around, cicadas buzzed in the treetops, and a little nuthatch tap-tap-tapped on the roof, looking for seeds he had hidden away between the gritty shingles. Despite the beauty of the day, I was a little out of sorts. My dream house was for sale—and totally out … Continue reading Revising the American Dream: What Homeschooling (and my Dad) has Taught Me about Life
The sky was a brilliant blue streaked with wisps of white. As we walked through the forest, red and gold leaves gently fell around us. “Look at that!” my daughter said, pointing to an old log. “It’s beautiful!” The log was rotting and covered in fungus. We stooped low to examine it. “Did you know … Continue reading Embracing Where You Are
I lugged the heavy bins down the attic stairs, one at a time. Once I got them into the bedroom, I carefully opened the lids and peered inside. Mounds of clothes stared back at me. They were all shapes, colours and sizes. There were clothes from when I was at my thinnest just over … Continue reading Letting Go
It is amazing how one little act can change your life. I heard about Ann Voskamp's book One Thousand Gifts shortly after it came out. What a neat idea, I thought. So in the spring, before I ever even sat down and turned a page of the book, I began writing down a list of things for which I … Continue reading How Gratitude Can Change A Life
Thanksgiving. We were just about to leave for a family hike when the phone rang. It was the hospital calling my husband into work. The sun was bright, the air was crisp and the red and gold trees were breathtaking. I wanted to be outside with my family, all of us together. Instead, I found … Continue reading The Thankfulness Tree
A lot of people have been tweeting about "1000 Gifts" by Ann Voskamp. I haven't yet read the book, but wanted to write down some blessings anyway. I think there are about twenty gifts buried within this post. So here goes ... some things for which I'm thankful: My toddler, who has beautiful blue-eyes and … Continue reading Gifts
"The blessing of the Lord makes rich ..." (Proverbs 10:22) We had dinner out on the water yesterday. It was spontaneous and special. We threw the canoe on the car, packed the girls in the back, and drove off into the Hamilton wilderness. (That would be Cootes Paradise, for those of you who are scratching … Continue reading Canoeing the Desjardins
I shall the effect of this good lesson keeps as watchman to my heart. (William Shakespeare) On Thursday, I read a Bible passage that filled me with the faith to believe that a frustrating season of life was almost over. Two days later, when my circumstances hadn't changed, I got discouraged. "God, it's been TWO … Continue reading Are we there yet?
The Grace-Filled Life 