Today's saint was St. Anthony of Padua! (Thank you, Shannon Hards!) We began the day with our song "Waves of Mercy, Waves of Grace". We are starting to get the moves down, and it is certainly a great way to shake off the grumpies. Then, I read an email from Shannon...
Family
DIY Vacation Bible School
Every summer, Vacation Bible School is something that my kids cannot wait for! They look forward to the t-shirts, the songs, the snacks, the friends, and all of the fun! We usually attend two or three each summer. Mary Alice had been so excited, because this would be...
We won the jackpot
Julia has this incredible way of creating original games for every celebration. Mother's Day was the weekend before finals, so they gave me a sweet redo today along with Father's Day. This year, we were invited to the lottery (lemonade stand) and given a dime from...
She pondered them in her heart…
I've taken a little time off of writing to process all that has been happening - a pandemic, voluntary isolation since mid March, riots and looting and protests, racial injustice, pain, hurt, and confusion. Every time I sat down to write, Luke 2:19 would pop into my...
You don’t have to pretend
After bedtime tonight, I just laid quietly with Riley. He was sound asleep on my arm. I grabbed my phone and decided to catch up listening to messages on Marco Polo. My dear friend Shauna said something remarkable that I had to share with you. "You don't have to...
Joy – Look up
This is day 50 of social isolation for us. The number doesn't sound as high as it felt when I was counting the days on the calendar. The past few days I've been searching for joy. I thought I was looking really hard. I thought I was searching every under every stone...
Mary Alice’s Ballet Recital
The dress was hanging in the closet, begging to be worn by the sassiest five year old I've ever known. The date for the ballet recital came and went on the calendar. I know I am probably the only one that noticed, but I just had to see her dance in the Cinderella blue...
Easter 2020
I think during the quarantine (or social distancing or social isolation or whatever we have agreed to call it), we all have a day that we feel especially disappointed. Today I was supposed to wake up in The Woodlands, Texas. I was to stand as a sponsor for my parents...
Mary Alice’s 5th Birthday
This may have been the sweetest birthday in the history of all birthdays. I love a good birthday. I blame my mom. She always made the most amazing meal, the sweetest cake, and we usually had some amazing outing. I'm not the kind of mom that is great at cute...
Joy, Laughter, and Matching Outfits
It has been difficult to write something pleasant or cheerful. For a few days, I felt guilty being hemmed in by laughing children and the beautiful desert spring. I feel strange that I can take a deep breath knowing others are suffering. But my position as a wife and...