BLESSED BEYOND EXHAUSTION
Dear Jonah, This week you will start your high school career, and I can’t believe the time has flown by so quickly. It seems like just yesterday I was meeting you for the first time, walking into the hospital room and seeing you in the arms of your birth mother. You were so tiny and she was so young, yet both of you looked content with each other. It actually…
Well, folks. Summer is almost over, and I am super sad about it. June was filled with Vacation Bible School and doctors’ appointments and soccer tournaments and visits with family while July has been relatively quiet and lazy. But life will soon be busy again so I’m trying to soak in the last few days of pool time and afternoon naps. Here are a few things I’ve been loving lately:…
Why is my memory so short? Why do I always seem to focus on what’s going wrong in my life instead of what’s going right? Are you the same way? Because when I talk to others, I sense a common theme. We are constantly bombarded with bad news and terror and sadness; therefore, fear, not joy, makes its way to the forefront of our minds more often than not. I…
My grandmother called me the other day, checking on our busy family. Three of us were in Tampa to watch Vivienne play in the National President’s Cup (aka national soccer championship) while the other three of us were holding down the fort at home. We laughed about how Jonah and Vivienne love to sleep till noon while Jillienne is wide awake at 6:30 every morning, ready to start her day.…
One of my favorite posts every year is my Best Books list. I love to read, and when I say I love to read, I mean I’ll read pretty much anything! This year has been such a good reading year, that I decided to go ahead and give you some insight into my favorite books so far. I hope, if you’re in a reading slump, that you can find something…
I love summer and I especially love thinking about getting away to places I’ve never been. Three years ago I wrote a post with my five year vacation plan (you can read it here), and it resonated with so many of you that I thought I would give you a few updates. Here are my Top 7 vacation spots, with updates, that I wanted to visit over five years (2022-2027):…
“We can’t wait to see all the incredible things each of you will do.” “You’re all going to do great and amazing things in the future.” These words, or something similar, are being spoken all across the country right now in fifth grade graduation ceremonies, eighth grade promotions, and high school and college graduations. In fact, I’ve heard them multiple times over the past few weeks. And every time I…
It’s June! Summer is halfway over – how can it be? We’ve been super busy with a Regional Soccer Tournament in Texas and an upcoming trip to Tampa for Nationals. In between all the soccer, I’ve been busy getting kids ready for camp and visiting family. June always seems to rush by! Here are some things I’m loving right now. Something to Read: Here One Moment: This book came out…
Well, friends, I totally skipped my favorite things for March and apparently my April faves never posted! I’m telling you – it’s been a real struggle lately to keep up with all the things. Anyway, here are some of my faves from the past few months. Something to Read: The Things We Cannot Say: This historical fiction novel is set in World War II Poland and present day America and…
Our basement flooded. Three times in a 24-hour period. Eight hours of vacuuming up water, at least 100 gallons sucked up and dumped outside, only to have the waters rise again two more times. The standing water over and over was disheartening. The anger emanating from Peter was palpable. I tried to keep a healthy perspective. No one was dead, after all. But how much money was this going to…