What do you do when things don't turn out the way you wished they would? When people you love are suffering. When you're holding your breath for a miracle, but the miracle doesn't come. What do you do with that? The Bible says, "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" (Rom. 12:12). … Continue reading When Things Don’t Go As Planned
Embracing wonder. If I were to choose a phrase or theme for this year, this would be it. The wonder of learning. The wonder of living. The wonder of simply being together. In all the heaviness and nitty grittiness of life these days, there is loveliness to be found. Even if it's sometimes hard to … Continue reading Embracing Wonder
In the noise and in the hustle, there’s a voice that whispers, “Come, My child, and rest.” In the twirling, whirling chaos of life, there’s a place of quiet that beckons. Peace, Even in the midst of it all. “Come away with Me.” Words so sweet, so full of promise. Words so soft, they … Continue reading Rest for the Overwhelmed Mom
He was threshing grain in a winepress when the angel came. It was hardly the ideal setup. There was no breeze down there to blow away the chaff. Gideon would have had to separate the wheat kernels by hand. Laboriously. Bit by bit. But it was the only way to protect the harvest from marauding … Continue reading Tea With Gideon: When God Asks You to Do Scary Things
Slips of white paper curled and blackened as flames licked the edges. We gathered round, my three daughters and I, and watched our handwritten words fade into fire. And then they were gone, and all that was left were a few glowing embers and a bowl full of ash. I added a little bit of … Continue reading The Grace-Filled Homeschool: Rituals that Touch the Heart
I've spent a few days studying Judges 4 and 5. It's the story of Deborah, the only female among the twelve judges listed in the book. It's the story of Barak, the Israelite man who was too afraid to go to war against the king of Canaan's army unless Deborah came with him. And it's … Continue reading Tea with Jael: Just an Ordinary Girl
I'm sipping tea from the beautiful glass mug that my four-year old gave me for Christmas. Chai spice, because it's my favourite. The worn study Bible that lies open on the bed beside me used to belong to my mother. I tried to get another Bible a couple of years ago, but the pages were … Continue reading Tea With Ehud: God Made You Weird on Purpose
My life dreams. They were in a hardcover sketchbook, large and thick. Every New Year's, I would write a list of short-term and long-term goals in that book. But not this year. A few months ago, I threw it out. And let me tell you, it felt good. Perhaps I was a little impulsive. After … Continue reading I Threw Away My Dreams
To the mom who feels forgotten, You go on social media, longing for connection. And you see pictures. Pictures that were you once upon a time. Sometimes, you miss it. It was a lifetime ago that you had it. The camaraderie of coworkers. The dinners and events. Phone calls and meetings and the whirlwind of … Continue reading To the Mom Who Feels Forgotten…
Every December, I pack in the activities: Christmas parties, homeschool get-togethers, crafts, free concerts/plays, local Christmas events, and on it goes. If I can make it, I'm there with my kids in tow. By the time Christmas arrives, I'm exhausted. Don't get me wrong. I love Christmas. But a few days before it even … Continue reading Why We’re Slowing Down this Christmas
