Category: Gratitude

Thankful Thursday – Friendship

Slowly, gently, she grew into my life like a beautiful, flowering vine: mom of Tween's friend, friend of a friend, eventually, my friend. And way too soon, she moved a world away. Of course she would. She came from across the world. She and her sweet family were always on loan to us. I just didn't … Continue reading Thankful Thursday – Friendship

Thankful Thursday – Every Breath I Take

The last few weeks have cycled through deep soul excavation, self-reflection, confession and forgiveness, and difficult, honest conversations. These weeks have been hard, tearful, and also so good, resulting in helpful new insights. Growth can be hard work. One of the healthier ways I've managed all the feelings has been to get active. Moving my body … Continue reading Thankful Thursday – Every Breath I Take

Thankful Thursday – Maundy Thursday 2017

I did not grow up with a tradition of observing Lent but, as an adult, I have grown in appreciation for spiritual discipline in general and this season of church life specifically. God does great things when we give Him great access to our lives through disciplines that help to tune our eyes and ears … Continue reading Thankful Thursday – Maundy Thursday 2017

ReBuild: Mexico 2017

One of the best things our church does fills one week with life-changing experience and takes the rest of the year to plan, then debrief, before planning the next trip: our spring break house building trip to Mexico with Amor Ministries. This year, as in most years, about 250 high school students and adults built hope, … Continue reading ReBuild: Mexico 2017

Thankful Thursday – Beach Therapy

I am a beach girl, all about toes-in-sand over body-in-water (although I have heard stories of little me evading my parents' grasp and running headlong into the waves, fully dressed and shrieking with delight). With proximity to the shore, I breathe differently: deeper, more fully, relaxed. Robinson Jeffers wrote, "The tides are in our veins," and I … Continue reading Thankful Thursday – Beach Therapy

Full Friday – March 2017

The week before spring break is a crazy one in our office as each year we prepare to send about 250 people from our church and community to Mexico to build hope and homes with AMOR. This year, in this one week, our group will build fourteen homes. I am FULL of gratitude for this trip, … Continue reading Full Friday – March 2017

For Cryin’ Out Loud

How many times have I sat with a group of women, Bibles open to Luke 10, as criticism of Martha zings around the room? Martha’s too busy. She’s caught up in the wrong thing. She’s obviously Type A. Clearly she’s a fussbudget busybody. She’s overly dramatic. She’s causing a scene. Does she think she needs … Continue reading For Cryin’ Out Loud

An Uncommon Commitment

The month, and again the week, before he began 6th grade and a new school (Aug 2015), I asked Tween when we could get his hair cut. The first time, he shrugged, very pre-teen of him. The second time he responded, "I'm not. I already put it out on Instagram that I'm growing my hair … Continue reading An Uncommon Commitment

Thankful Thursday – My Awesome Doghouse

No matter what you do, how hard you work, how much you invest, how great your love or commitment, you will disappoint people. The junior high and high school popular kids. Certain teachers or college professors. Friends and neighbors. Bosses and authority figures of all stripes and spots. Family members, community members, and church members. … Continue reading Thankful Thursday – My Awesome Doghouse

Thankful Thursday – Embrace Truth

Follow my blog with Bloglovin No matter how forcefully you jab at your phone’s red “disconnect” button, it won’t satisfy like the plastic crunch of slamming down a landline phone. The news I’d just heard warranted a strong response. Something terrible has happened. People I love are hurting. I am hurting. Through deep sighs, voice … Continue reading Thankful Thursday – Embrace Truth