Awhile back, Ron and I started asking each other 2 questions. I don’t know how it started or where the idea came from. But at the close of a week, at some point when we found a moment to actually look each other in the eye, we would reflect together with these 2 questions. Sometimes, it was on a date, a blissful date at the close of a hard week of work and kids. But other times, it was just on the couch after a show, at the table as the kids were getting ready for bed or in bed ourselves before we drifted off to sleep. We had no idea the power of these 2 questions in our marriage and now in our family as we have started doing it all together. It causes us to pause and...
Read MoreI just made a list in my journal of the things I would love to accomplish today. There are too many and not enough time – I find this is the story of my life, but I greet the “undone” better than ever and just look to prioritize and choose well! So, I choose “The Kitchen Table.” I have words brewing in my heart and mind on the topic, and I must make sense of them through this medium of words. I often say that our kitchen table is the most important piece of furniture in our home, and once again, I celebrate this truth. Dinner last night and breakfast this morning were nothing short of miraculous, and I take a step from the crazy and mark the truth of the...
Read MoreFor Journal this week, the kids had to pretend they were being interviewed about the Me cards. I created some questions and just asked them to write their responses. We have worked through the Me cards about 4 times now over the years. I thought it would be rich to see what they are getting and how they are processing! And I thought it would be great encouragement for you! So, here are some questions and the answers they wrote. 1. What are the Me cards? The Me cards simply tell you who you are in Christ. – Maya The Me cards are pictures of gifts that God gives us. – Carson The Me cards are our identity in Christ. – Ada 2. Where do they come from? The...
Read MoreAfter the 3rd “get-up” and last “tuck in” last night, I was reaching deep into my bag of tricks to find the thing that would comfort Maya’s crying eyes. Ron had left for Louisiana yesterday afternoon, and Maya was overcome with sadness and fear. “I just miss Daddy. I don’t feel comfortable when he is gone. Aren’t you scared all by yourself, Mommy? What if?” And so the conversation went – the 1st, 2nd and 3rd time. We hugged; we prayed; we talked logically through all the options; we hugged again. We even called Daddy. Finally, in desperation or identification, I gave Maya the idea of getting the God cards and...
Read MoreThe Christmas boxes are outside on our deck just waiting to overtake our home! Not sure how I feel about all of that! So here is the conversation Father and I had this morning! “Father, the girls are so excited about decorating for Christmas. I am staring at all those boxes out on the back deck that have been cooped up in our garage all year. They are dirty and dusty, and there are so many of them. I don’t want all of that mess in our house. I can’t keep up with the mess already going on in our house. How do I cope with what is about to happen? And I am supposed to like all of this – enjoy it! I can’t believe we have already had 10 Christmases as a family! 10!...
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