Week’s end with thanks

January 21, 2012

A quiet week holed up at home, rain pouring outside, fire roaring inside. Shelter, warmth, food to eat. Husband who runs errands. Husband who builds new LEGO table for budding builder boy. Up late in the dim lamplight, finishing a good book. Falling asleep with a full heart. Laundry all done. Clean. Meals made ahead. [...]

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#6 Create a Family Purpose Statement {52bites}

January 20, 2012

“Mommy, do you think somebody will write a book about us after we’re in heaven?” Startled, I looked up. Dutch had asked the question completely out of the blue, while stirring his bowl of soup at the dinner table. We have never talked about writing books about people after they’re in heaven, and of course if [...]

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When you’re desperate for grace …

January 19, 2012

“So, you have someone who will watch Heidi while you speak?” I thought about this for a moment. Yes, now that you say it that would be the logical thing to do. But no, I don’t have someone. I suppose she’ll just be with me while I speak… Hmmm… It’s true that sometimes I agree [...]

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When you feel like God is silent …

January 18, 2012

{Thoughts from Richard Foster’s book on Prayer.} There is a kind of prayer we don’t often wish to pray. Richard Foster calls it, “The Prayer of the Forsaken.” It is the kind of prayer that Jesus offered on the cross, “My God, My God, why has thou forsaken me?” Knowing Christ prayed these words reminds us of [...]

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When your motives are misunderstood …

January 17, 2012

I can see in my children’s eyes when I’ve mis-judged their actions. Just today I was in the kitchen and called Heidi in to me as I had heard her being rude to Dutch. She dawdled (was not obeying) and I thought I overheard Dutch say, “You’re getting a spank!” In my mind this was taunting [...]

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Savoring these short days that feel so long.

January 16, 2012

I just tip-toed out of Heidi’s room, her sleeping soundly, my heart full. After five years of diligently following the “let-your-children-fall-asleep-on-their-own” rule, I have just now indulged in a precious afternoon ritual: I lay down next to Heidi as she falls asleep.  Yes, she knows how to go to sleep on her own and does [...]

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Week’s end with thanks

January 14, 2012

Weekend retreat with college girls … reminds me of sweet old Real Life days. Being with AJ again. Three kids hunched over the Lego Star Wars book. Heidi, “Where’s my padawan?” A printer that works. So many sunny days! Roaring fire. Wearing Jeff’s slippers. Finding a new pair of jeans in my closet, bought years [...]

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#3 Establish a Morning Routine {52bites}

January 13, 2012

Confession: I had planned to do Family Mission Statements this week, but you know what? I’m driving to Yachats as we speak to teach a women’s retreat (and taking Heidi with me, prayers please!) and I’ve spent every spare minute this week preparing and haven’t had time to write a stinkin’ mission statement! Just trying [...]

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Because there’s only one way to have old friends …

January 12, 2012

We were inseparable that year: Janae, Courtney, Bernadette and me, four freshman at OSU on the 5th floor of McNary Hall. We had weekly Ben & Jerry’s runs, lots of late nights huddling in the dorm-kitchen (the only place that was warm) and way too many times discovering that the boys had switched around the [...]

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When you’ve read Curious George six times today…

January 11, 2012

{Revisiting these thoughts today … }I remember reading about a missionary who devoted his life to a certain people group in Africa.  He was only one of many missionaries to this group, but he soon became their favorite and they were receptive to the gospel message he shared. Why?  The natives said, “We know that man really [...]

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Prayer for the persecuted … and the persecutors

January 10, 2012

I played her hurtful, stinging words again and again in my mind. Like a child touching a wound over and over again. And every time I touched it, it hurt worse. My mind began to spiral down, a tailspin of self-pity. Why? Why did I deserve to be treated like this?  Slowly I slid, I could think [...]

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On the nightstand …

January 9, 2012

Who will influence you this year? The people you spend time with are the most significant influences in your life. And while we don’t always have a choice about who we spend time with in person, we do have a choice about who we spend time with on the screen and on the page. What [...]

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