I Carried Them, But I Didn’t Create Them
I carried them. But I didn’t create them. A place containing nothing was mysteriously filled with something, a treasure too incredible to have been constructed by my faulty human hands. My still and silent womb suddenly swayed to the rhythm of life. The chorus of rushing blood and…
Seeing the Mess Through the Lens of Gratitude
“Is this all I’m meant for?” I thought as I stood over the kitchen sink scrubbing yet another stack of dirty dishes. My ears were ringing, not just from the clatter of pots and pans, but from the shrieks of my children who were running circles around me…
Time Will Heal the Wounds of Motherhood
Time doesn’t heal all wounds. But sometimes it truly is the only cure. I have felt wounded by motherhood lately. Not the deep, searing wounds of years past; loss and grief, depression and anxiety. But the surface wounds that result from typical daily hardships; ongoing sickness and sleepless…
When I Long For More, Here’s What I Remember
Here lies a mother and her children in the aftermath of Christmas “break.” We’re all sick. We’re all sugared out. The house is a disaster. I haven’t slept in weeks, because they haven’t slept in weeks. And I feel wrecked. This break…
When I Teach My Kids, I’m Learning Too
We didn’t leave the house today. It’s Christmas break and with the icy winter wonderland just beyond the front door, I had neither a reason nor the motivation to do so. It was the perfect day to stay in and rest after a busy Christmas with…
Perhaps the Giving Will Become My Children’s Most Memorable Gift
Some of my most vivid Christmas memories include the image of a Salvation Army Angel Tree. I remember journeying through the mall with my mom in search of that modest, yet magical tree, and after we’d picked a couple flimsy paper tags from its branches, we’d…
Fewer Christmas Presents Means More Room for God’s Presence
I spent the first few Christmases after becoming a mother going way overboard, buying too many toys. It was all so cute. The tiny kitchens and talking animals, the cuddly teddy bears and pretend appliances. I couldn’t resist the cuteness, especially when it was all on sale. But…
Even When I’m Disappointed, I’ll Love You Anyway
Dear Children, I haven’t got this parenting thing down, not even close. I’m no expert and never will be. Parenting and being parented – well they are both hard, replete with mixed emotions and utter confusion. But one thing I know for sure? It’s that…
Gone Are the Glory Days of My Childhood, But My Child is Still Living Hers
If you need me, I’ll be back in 1992, because apparently I haven’t gotten out much since then anyway. My daughter has been participating in the “Book It” program and recently earned her first free personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut. As I drove her to…
Beauty Abounds Even When Bitterness Surrounds
Bitter. That’s how the morning started out. Determined to have a few minutes of peace before wild chatter and hollering signaled the official start of the day, I dragged myself out from beneath the bundle of warm blankets atop the bed. I was immediately jolted from my usual…