"I'm okay. You stayed last night. I want you to go home tonight. Trust me; it's okay. You need some sleep." Neither of us slept the night before.
Submission. I have worked on this our whole marriage. Well, actually, long before that. But tonight, I cried out to God, "There is no way I'm leaving ...
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Today, Trust God
What's on your mind?
Our thoughts cover swaths of mind space.
Thinking, replaying memories that hurt or that keep us from living forward.
Thinking, stewing over offenses, times that we've been wronged.
Thinking, as we wait. What's going to happen? When will I know? How will this play out? When will ...
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Becoming Who We’re Designed To Be
Have you ever watched your child watch another child?
Sometimes our child is inspired. Other times, not...
Our child's attention is captured by the other child's strength. Her face and body language communicate a wrestling within between "who I wish I was" and "how I see me". Reacting to the pain ...
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A Daddy-Daughter Story
"I hope I'm doing okay at what God still has me here for... I pray a lot... but there's not much else I can do." Rocking on the back porch looking out at the marsh, Dad softly voiced his heart as mine quietly responded with admiration and sadness. Later, I scribbled his words to paper, adding: May ...
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Becoming Strong
Saturday morning I sat speechless on the sofa. I've been praying for a long time for direction about something and God gave it...Or, maybe he's been saying it and I finally heard it. Anyway, there I sat. Petrified, excited, overwhelmed, grateful, teary. Have you ever felt that way about something ...
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Pause, on Purpose
I need a few more hours in this day.
I need a couple of extra days in this week.
My thoughts when I'm stressed... when I feel like I'm running out of time to accomplish what I (or someone else) thinks needs to be done.
It's crazy how often the unexpected happens: Driving around town in search of ...
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Fruit Sweeter Than You Hoped For
Raising children is hard work. Some days are easy, encouraging and fun. Many zap our strength, rattle our confidence and tempt us to doubt our objectives, strategies and capabilities. We're imperfect, learning-as-we-go moms pouring into imperfect, absorb-it-when-I'm-ready children.
...Do you ever ...
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When We Learn Our Own Lessons As We Teach Our Kids
As 5 and 6 year-olds, Terrell and Ellison were best buddies but they had their share of fights, too. When they fought, Terrell or I required they reconcile by apologizing, asking for forgiveness and giving forgiveness, in turn. They knew the routine and obeyed, though sometimes begrudgingly. ...
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Trusting God in the Meanwhile
When our children were 5, 7 and 8, they began weekly lessons on our keyboard "piano". A sweet friend agreed to come to our home and give each child a 20 minute lesson. Making sure each child practiced 20 minutes several days a week was my role. They loved Miss Amy. Practice was a different story. ...
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Celebrate Growth
It is summertime in Houston, Texas, and it is hot. However, this season yields my favorite fruit—peaches, watermelon, nectarines! I'm so grateful for the faithful farmers who provide these farm-to-table treats for me.
I say that, but seldom do I really think about what they do. Each season the ...
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Recognizing Seeds
When our children were single-digit ages, I could pretty readily tell when one was about to do something that needed redirecting. Often my back was to the child or I was in the next room within earshot as I said:
Don't turn on the TV; let's head outside for a while.
Don't interrupt your sister; ...
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Making Big Memories of the Littlest Things
We have this little thing we do....
I love to hear the little things that parents do with their child to mark particular moments. They are almost like little rituals, special yet intimate, between parent and child. Neither plan it. It just happens one day...and sticks. In and of itself, the gesture ...
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