• Jan. 2nd, 2012 New Year – One Word

    A new year. What’s a task-oriented, planner-toting, stressed-out-mom-of-three, wanna-be-writer to do? There’s a part of me that longs to open a spreadsheet and plan the next twelve months. There’s another part of me that knows just how long that spreadsheet will hold up under the steady stream of daily life. So this year, I’m trying [ read more ]

  • Dec. 28th, 2011 Book Review and Giveaway! :: The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge by Tony Dungy & Nathan Whitaker

    Are you feeling a little blue? Post-Christmas malaise settling in? Are you thinking that there will be no more gifts for a year and you’re a bummed about that? Well, then I’ve got great news! The fine folks at Tyndale House Publishers will be giving one of my blog readers a copy of Tony Dungy’s latest book, The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge . **If you [ read more ]

  • Dec. 22nd, 2011 Joy – What Christmas is All About

    Merry Christmas!

  • Dec. 19th, 2011 Joy – In Suffering

    It’s something we struggle with—this whole concept of suffering. We have an ingrained worldview that suggests suffering is only “fair” if it’s deserved. When we know our desire is to serve God and we are still clobbered by life, we wrestle with “why me” and “this isn’t fair” thoughts. These are the time when I [ read more ]

  • Dec. 15th, 2011 Joy – Bigger than our whole world

    As I’ve been mulling over the idea of how big God is and the miracle it is that He became flesh, I’ve also been thinking about how often God does things in ways that are both unexpected and incomprehensible. I’m wondering how often I don’t see God’s hand because what’s happening doesn’t make sense to me. I’m [ read more ]

  • Dec. 12th, 2011 Unlimited Joy

    As my daughter opened birthday gifts several months ago, a sheet of paper fluttered on the edge of my sight. All I registered was that there were at least twelve steps and for a fleeting moment, I questioned my sister’s sanity. What was she thinking? Why would she give Emma a gift that would be [ read more ]

  • Dec. 8th, 2011 Joy – In the Moment

    I’m a wife, mother, and writer. I’m a daughter, sister, and friend. I’m a reader, knitter, and scrapbooker. I’m a cook, maid, and seamstress. I’m an engineer, manager, and bookkeeper. With all that stuff going on, you’d think I’d be fulfilled. Nope. Not even close. More often than not, I feel anxious. Desperate. Inadequate. My [ read more ]

  • Dec. 5th, 2011 Rediscover Joy

    I used to love this time of year. Before I grew up. Before I discovered that buying Christmas presents on a budget is hard work. Before I longed to be in two places at once. Before I spent hours cleaning, preparing, shopping, wrapping. Before I realized that all those decorations would have to be taken [ read more ]

  • Nov. 29th, 2011 Guest Blogs and Giveaways!

    So, it’s Tuesday. Not Monday. I could tell you that I planned it this way and just skip over the fact that I enjoyed, spent, wasted most of the day yesterday as I searched through box after box for the missing Wii games. (Which were eventually found right where I left them eight months ago. [ read more ]

  • Nov. 24th, 2011 This is a test . . . this is only a test . . . but does God grade on the curve?

    I was a straight-A student in high school. I wouldn’t go so far as to say I enjoyed tests, but I was good at them. They were a source of pride. Proof that I had learned the material. And then I went to college. The first year or so went smoothly. But then my engineering professors [ read more ]