The past week I've been obsessing over an issue in my life that is totally out of my control. It has consumed my every waking thought. I was given the advice to just be patient and give it to God. Sound advice, but strangely difficult. Have you ever been there? In that place where you… Continue reading Peace
9 in 90
We always think that we have to wait for the New Year to get started with goals, but why is that? Let's go out with a bang! There are just under 90 days left in the year, Friend! Ninety days! Thanks to Pinterest, I found nine fill-in-the-blanks for the next 90 days! How can you… Continue reading 9 in 90
The Road is Long
The other day my two-year-old came running to me. He was crying with big tears running down his chubby cheeks. I picked him up and held him, rocking him and stroking his hair. Within a minute he was calm and stayed there with his head resting on my shoulder, comforted by his mama. It makes… Continue reading The Road is Long
One Never Knows
When is the last time you took a leisurely walk? Taking a walk with my four-year-old is an adventure. He just notices everything. The dead moth on the ground, the cracks in the sidewalk which he inevitably jumps over, the flock of birds flying in unison. These are things I might walk right past and… Continue reading One Never Knows
Do You Feel Heard?
Well, today was the first day of Kindergarten for Ryerson. A year's worth of prayers went into this day and I'll tell you, God answered. He answered MY prayers, that is. Ryerson prayed daily that the school would get destroyed. I prayed for peace for my sweet, anxious boy. This is a hard lesson, but… Continue reading Do You Feel Heard?
The Ministry of Presence
A little over a decade ago I was asked to mentor a high school student whose dad was the pastor of a small church. This girl, I thought, was a lost cause. She was into drugs, drinking, sex, and wanted NOTHING to do with God or me. She hung out with me because her parents… Continue reading The Ministry of Presence
Do What Scares You
Have you ever read a book that changed your life? "I thought it was Just Me (but it isn't)" by Brene' Brown is one of mine. She's a shame researcher whose impact on my life has been profound. I realized through reading her book that a big portion of my life was/is being lived out… Continue reading Do What Scares You
Lessons from the Bass Pro Shop
Anyone want to guess how many times today I asked my kids, “Do you trust me? Four. The answer is four. In a parking lot as my four-year-old began to pull away I said to him, “It’s not safe. Do you trust me?” Picture this. We’re wandering around Bass Pro Shop…THE ORIGINAL BASS PRO SHOP… Continue reading Lessons from the Bass Pro Shop
Curve Crush
Two thousand eight was a good year. The year I felt the most beautiful in all my life. The year I read Harry Potter for the first time and wore skirts and lived in the Taij (a house off campus) and rode my bike to class. The year I studied film and listened to classical… Continue reading Curve Crush
Progess
From June: My mind is a busy bee. I've been sick for three days. It's amazing, isn't it, the perspective being sick brings? It's June in North Dakota and believe it or not it actually does get hot here! But yesterday I walked outside and because of my fever I got goosebumps. In June. Yesterday… Continue reading Progess