I look back over the rocky chasms and green fields of the past almost 30 years, and zoom in on those beginning months that were shaping me to be a parent. Yes, we were excited to be having our first, don’t get me wrong. It’s just, well, I didn’t like being pregnant. It wasn’t magical […]
[Continue reading...]The bane of “Must be Nice”
Wait. Shhh. Do you hear that sound? It’s the whirr of your inner lens constantly refocusing while you search for the perfect subject. It’s the satisfying click when you capture that small snapshot of another person’s life. What do you do with this prize? Well, you snip it from the album of context, of course, […]
[Continue reading...]Five Minute Friday-Loud
Shhhh. Can’t you just be quiet? Are you sure you want to wear that outfit? Don’t you want to be pretty? Don’t you want to be liked? Do you really think that joining that group is a good idea? Uh oh. I can hear my inner child ramping up the volume in response. But I’m […]
[Continue reading...]The parable of a man and no margin
You may have had that hair-raising experience of standing too close to the edge of mountain trail only to lose your balance or feel the ground shift beneath your feet. Thankfully you scrambled backwards and out of the danger zone before you went over, your heart pounding all the while as you consider the accident […]
[Continue reading...]5 Ways to create margin in your life
The much anticipated and equally dreaded Spring Forward! time change has arrived. Those of us who have experienced it with children know how exciting it is for the kids to be able to play outside longer and later, but also know how it can disrupt sleep and morning routines. If you are functioning right to […]
[Continue reading...]Five Minute Friday-Brave
photo: stevendepolo Brave? That word used to send me scurrying under the bed with my good buddies the dust bunnies. They were good company: quiet, companionable, and most importantly, asked nothing of me. We’d just rest there until Miss Fearsome Opportunity stopped her insistent knocking on the door and moved along to scare share with […]
[Continue reading...]Offering ourselves grace
You know the drill. You line the kids up before they sit down at the table, and ask to check their hands to see if they are actually clean. A reasonable request, don’t you think? What if God lined us up at the end of the day, and asked to inspect our hearts, especially in […]
[Continue reading...]Creating pearls from your problems
Last week I wrote about the power behind embracing your problems, that if we grab hold of them rather than hiding or running away, we have so much to gain. Today I am sharing stories of folks who did just that so as to illustrate a glimpse of the possibilities that are available. ~~~~~ A […]
[Continue reading...]Five Minute Friday-Empty
Empty. That word can bring up images of being wrung out and worn out, of having nothing left to give to your family, of gray days and long, dark nights. How about instead, we view it as an opportunity, of a clear and lovely place, delightfully awaiting the Master’s touch? We can imagine ourselves and […]
[Continue reading...]Are you embracing your problems?
Welcome, welcome, whether you are a familiar face or a new visitor! For you first timers, I am so glad that you have found me, as I am passionate about sharing resources and information to help you builder stronger and more satisfying relationships in your lives. I regularly mix family, faith, friendships and frugality for […]
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