A Year of Hope

Each year, I end the year reflecting on the word or phrase that has followed me throughout the year. I know this is backwards in some ways. Most people choose a word or mantra for the new year, but that’s never how it’s worked for me. Instead, as I move through the year, so too …

A Year of Hope Read More »

Waiting for the Center

Last night was the darkest night, the most time we will go without light for the whole year. Each day from here on out, we will gain just a little more light each day. Isn’t it interesting that we start gaining more light just as the Light of the World is about to come? As …

Waiting for the Center Read More »

Let Every Heart Prepare Room

When we decorate for Christmas, it take a little…rearranging. We have to move things around just a bit in order to prepare room for our Christmas tree. We have to stash some mugs and plates in the garage to prepare room for the Christmas dishes. All of these preparations make room for our house to …

Let Every Heart Prepare Room Read More »

A Weary World

I didn’t realize over the weekend how spotty my reception was until we came back down the mountain and my phone started ringing with calls encouraging me to buy this or that and my messages started to buzz to alert me to upcoming Cyber Monday deals and breaking news alerts. Normally. I don’t notice how …

A Weary World Read More »

Black Friday Joys

This year, we spent Black Friday at Dollywood. Our oldest two have been many times. Sam and I had been before, but never together. The youngest three had never been to any kind of theme park. Throughout the day, I found myself smiling and laughing so much that my cheeks hurt, watching a four-year-old experience …

Black Friday Joys Read More »

Wide, Wide World

There’s a wideness in the world when we take a moment to stop and wonder. A grandeur that helps us realize all that weighs us down, really doesn’t matter in the wide, wide world. It’s easy to be consumed with all that is around us and forget that wideness. When you don’t know what to …

Wide, Wide World Read More »

Toddling Grief

Today marks two years living without you here living among us. Like a toddler, my grief rides a roller coaster of emotions – The pure delight of memories filled with fun and celebration. The intense anger at how unfair it is to have to put on shoes and go on as if life continues. The …

Toddling Grief Read More »

I Rocked My Baby Tonight

I rocked my baby tonight and watched her eyes flutter and listened to her coos and felt her life. I rocked my baby tonight while Mamas in Israel and Gaza rocked theirs shrouded in white for the last time. I rocked my baby tonight with tears in my eyes and fears in my heart the …

I Rocked My Baby Tonight Read More »