A few months ago I read Andrew Peterson’s book, Adorning the Dark. In this incredible work, Andrew describes the labor and intentionality of creativity and community. He describes his family’s decision to leave the city and move out to the country, putting down deep roots. He encourages the reader to be purposeful in settling down … More Give your house a name.
I took my dog for a walk this morning, noting the silver slug trails scribbled across the sidewalk. The light of dawn made them shimmer and become almost beautiful. For the first time in several weeks, I felt inspired to sit down and write. The flowers in the South are in full bloom, knockout roses … More Endings and beginnings.
It’s been a dream of mine for while, now, to get away to somewhere remote and just write. No noises. No distractions. Just for a couple of days. Because of the sweet generosity of my husband, who gifted me this very thing last Christmas, my bags are packed as I type. As soon as I … More Retreating
It’s an intense season. I’ve been immersed in all things “end of school” and barely have time to breathe, much less write. My firstborn graduates from high school in less than two weeks, which does not seem possible since he just started Kindergarten five minutes ago. But, alas, it’s true and we are about to … More Stopping to Smell the Roses
Every year, as December draws to a close, I ask God to give me a word for the coming year. It’s a little leap of faith, an exercise in expectation as I press in to hear His voice and fight to suppress my own. I look for it everywhere, in songs, books and conversations. I … More The Word for 2019
Have you ever talked to yourself? Asking for a friend. 😉 Really, though, I can think of many times throughout my life where self-talk took on the form of a prayer, when I realized I was no longer trying to work out the situation in my own mind but, in fact, crying out to God. … More The Love of Advent
Our family spent Fall Break on the beach. (Can I get a hallelujah, Amen?) My oldest son (a legal adult, though I swear he was toddling around my house just a few minutes ago) followed me down so he could have his car to meet up with his buddies. As we made the 7-hour-plus-many-stops drive … More On Being Followed
Boy, is this ever a big topic. So many books and blogs claim to have the answer but, when all is said and done, we still end up empty and searching. Advice ranges from getting a manicure to “washing your face.” (Yeah, I went there.) I, I, I, me, me, me…we fight for peace and … More How to be True to Yourself
What is the best way to learn to swim in the ocean? I would venture to say that the toddler pool would not be very helpful. Even going as far as the adult pool, maybe the 8-12 foot deep end, would not be enough. Why? Well, for one thing the ocean is vastly deep and … More Into the Deep
It took years for me to find what worked, to develop spiritual disciplines that I could “stick with” and that felt grace-filled instead of burdensome or rote. I tried the “read-through-Bible-in-a-year” programs, only to get stuck somewhere in Leviticus. I bought a Bible that had daily readings from the Old and New Testaments along with … More A Simple Discipline
A Life of Simple Joys 
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