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Encouragement for every season of lifeMarriage is Hard
My husband and I have always used traditional anniversary gift ideas as inspiration for our presents. For example, on year 4, the gift is fruit...so I gave my husband Fruit of the Loom underpants. Naturally. On year 10 , it's tin, so of course I made him a homemade...
When the Sun Goes Down
It’s October and in three short months, we have lost about three hours of sunlight. We will continue to lose sunlight at the rate of about 2 minutes per day until the winter solstice, which occurs on December 21. Many of us miss these hours of daylight--even if, and...
When It’s More than You Can Handle
“God doesn’t give you more than you can handle,” she said. That’s what her son told her as they waited on test results for his baby girl. It’s a sentiment I’ve heard often by well-meaning people who are hurting or trying to extend hope to others. And it certainly does...
My Best Cake-Baking Secrets
Years ago, I stepped out of my comfort zone and signed up for a Community Ed class on cake decorating. Best. Decision. Ever. Each week, I would go to class armed with a cake, frosting, spatulas, and decorating tools. And each week, I would leave class with a...
He Named Me
We didn’t expect to spend Thanksgiving in the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, but there my husband and I were, trekking down the long white hallway carrying store-bought pumpkin bars for the nurses. Our little five-pound girl curled up in the plastic...
What To Do When You’re Tired
Some days I wake up in the morning, and the first thing I say is, “I am so tired.” At times, fatigue seems to overtake me. There are many reasons for this fatigue: lack of sleep, lack of iron, lack of time, lack of self-care, overcommitment, and disobedience to God’s...
Your Story Matters
I had the opportunity this past week to interview a 94-year-old man who was born in Austria, primarily raised in Hungary, and later immigrated to the United States. His story was fascinating, and it was my job to take his life story and condense it to 1500 words for...
Leap of Faith
This summer, my family spent six days camping. Three days we were with family friends at St. Croix State Park, and the next three days we were at Gooseberry Falls State Park with families from our church. On the first night of camping, we sat around the campfire and...
The Stain is the Story
Worn wood edges resist my diligent scrubbing. I scrape with fingernails and put my elbow grease to good use against my foes—flecks of fuchsia nail polish, a rainbow of paint splatters, glitter now a permanent part of the wood grain, and an array of marker stripes. My...
The Incredible Body
The human body is amazing. Each part of our body has a certain function. But what is interesting is how every part is connected. This summer, I attended physical therapy for TMJ (temporomandibular joint) dysfunction, where I gained a new appreciation for just how...
