This is a confession. I don’t receive well. The curse of an insecure introvert, my sweet husband has been frustrated by this, perhaps more than anything else in our marriage. (Don’t ask him, though–I don’t really want to see a long list of other possibilities… :/) I don’t think I even realized what I was…
Decorating the tree with ornaments old and new. Hanging of the greens. Carols. Lights. And bows. Pretty packages and stockings hung by a fire. These “little things” are what make it feel like coming home. Even though we have only been in this house for a year now, this really is HOME. We have really settled…
December is here, Christmas is coming, and it’s time to pull out all of those Rubbermaids filled with red and green and silver and gold. If you are an early shopper like I try to be, it also means that you have probably already begun the shopping frenzy for gifts. And the budget never seems…
I am not a controversial person. Seriously. I do not enjoy arguing and I would rather avoid conflict, if at all possible. But this one has got me riled up. Tweets and blogs implying that it is inappropriate for churches to have patriotic services. I respectfully disagree. And I cannot ignore this stirring in my heart…
You think that the moment will be seared into your brain forever. And then you start to forget. For me, death became a reality for the first time when my uncle passed away suddenly. It’s hard for me to even remember things about him now, but this favored uncle that lived right across the street was…
If you give a Mom a minute, she might just take a breath. And though she could spend it on herself, she will probably do laundry. If you give a Mom a minute, She might just take a bath, but she will see the toilet, and she will feel an incredible urge to start cleaning.
I suppose the game of hide-and-seek has been around since the beginning of time. When we’re not hunting Easter eggs, my grandchildren delight in hiding other objects around the house for us to find, or playing hide-and-seek outside. What is the allure of such a simple game? The thrill of finding something that was once…
Hear me out. Seriously. I know you don’t want to hear it, but it’s for your own good. For my own good. We must forgive. NOTHING— n.o.t.h.i.n.g. can replace the this simple act that can bring complete freedom. The tangled web that begins with a tiny thread of unforgiveness turns into a giant web of bitterness and…
I am excited to share how Pinterest helped me prepare my new home for the Christmas season! I really try to use what I already have to decorate, and using new/different printables means you are only paying for the price of a piece of paper. FAVORITE FREE PRINTABLE: Come Let Us Adore Him
It’s right about now that many of you shoppers out there are thinking one of two things: ONE: “I really, really, really NEED to get started on my Christmas shopping!” or, TWO: “I really, really SHOULD have simplified and done LESS!” I am happy to say that after hearing about Four SImple Gifts, and implementing this…
Angels and tinsel and tree tops and lights and sparkling, glittering gold and silver. But nothing shines brighter than the joy on their faces. I love giving gifts. The most heart-warming, rewarding gift of a gift-giver is the pleasure of seeing the recipient glow with delight. There is nothing like Christmas morning with the lit…
Sure. I want to live a life that is grateful. I want to dwell on the good. And I definitely prefer to camp in the “out of the woods” zone. But sometimes life is just so hard. I talked with a woman at church today that wept over a friend’s struggling marriage. My nephew is undergoing…
We live in a country like no other in the world. My travels around the globe have only solidified and confirmed in my heart and mind that America truly is the land of opportunity. You can choose to be critical of our leaders, our government, our taxes, or any number of things, but the reality…
When life takes a turn–for good or for bad, it can come at us like a curve ball–and we don’t know whether to come out swinging or stand still and risk a shot at a home run. Another not-so-good option is often the most appealing: tuck tail and run! We are so quick to judge those disciples…
Some days it is SO HARD to imagine how someone could be so blind… Until the blinders fall from my eyes and I realize how easily it happens. A crowd hears that Jesus the Nazarene is coming. They lay palm branches at His feet. “HOSANNA!” Straining to catch a glimpse of THE MAN. The one…
