I was at the parent’s meeting for our new homeschool group when the mothers lamented that they wished they had another group community service project idea besides tying blankets for our local children’s hospital. Since I used to hot a monthly service club for kids, I jumped right in. I learned a lot while hosting … Read more

I teared up in the cardiologist’s office this morning. My daughter got a wonderful report on her heart repair. Reflecting on where we were throughout this year, hearing the report today, I felt so grateful. It looks so good, and her cardiologist said she doesn’t need to be seen for six months! For someone who … Read more

Just over a year ago I received the news that my fifth child (a girl!) would be born with Down Syndrome. I felt so overwhelmed at the thought of adding a child with special needs to our family. Could I still homeschool? How would I devote equal attention to her four older siblings? Would I … Read more

I watched two of my kids leap onto a zipline swing yesterday. I was too far away to hear their laughter, but I saw it on their faces. And my heart surged with joy. I wanted to hold on to that joy, keep it from leaving. And it got me wondering about joy and how … Read more

I’ve been reading Psalms lately. And it’s brought to the forefront of my mind a truth that I learned this year. Praising God brings us the peace of His Spirit. Seems simple. Yet, it’s something that I hadn’t really experienced a whole lot of until this year. I’m naturally quite tone deaf. And I’m a … Read more

It’s a busy season over here. Busy might actually not describe this season. We are fluctuating between chaos and stumbling. And I’ve had to pare back on what I can do. And today I just wanted to step in and say, it’s okay to not do everything. It’s okay to let things go for a … Read more

I’ve spent the last few months fluctuating between feeling gratitude and frustration.I’ve felt so grateful that the Lord has prepared me through previous experiences for this current trying time. Yet, I’ve felt so overwhelmed that I’ve cried out that I didn’t ask for this and I don’t want it anymore.  Our youngest child was born … Read more

I read a post about motherhood today. One where the author insisted that though she often felt the need to justify it, she was not “just a mother.” It’s not the first post I’ve read like that. It won’t be the last. But today I really got thinking. She is no more “just a mother” … Read more

I am a believer in doing God’s will. I believe in doing hard things when God inspires it. I believe in approaching God in prayer and asking what He wants us to do. So often when we approach God in prayer we feel like He is asking us to let go of what we want. … Read more

A letter to my daughter We found out we were pregnant with you in June. It was warm. I was with the kids in Utah, visiting our family. Dad was starting his new job in Ohio. And even though Dad and I felt overwhelmed by having so many kids to love, we loved you already … Read more