When it comes to big-picture thinking, it seems there are countless more parenting books and resources promoting the concept of living in the moment. And while I'm all for learning to appreciate these singular gifts and even continue to count them myself, I believe limiting ourselves to the here and now of motherhood also limits us and our children. How easy it is for just one moment to consume and drain and overpower us faster than we consume our first cup of morning coffee. How quickly we lose focus and motivation because the impact of a moment knocks us off-balance and even off course. And how unexpectedly we find ourselves held captive by the drama of a moment we can't seem to escape. Instead of marking our moments, they leave a nasty smudge on us and our day. We become the mom Continue Reading
Embracing New Beginnings and Beginning Again
There’s something to be said for new beginnings and beginning again. I’ve had my share of both as I’m sure you have also. Some of new beginnings may not be exactly what we want or feel that we needs, but even this can be fuel enough to put things in motion. Likewise, when beginning again and again doesn't work, sometimes it's time to close the door and embrace a fresh, new beginning. Beginnings can be a bit scary, rejuvenating and even bittersweet. Both hold the anticipation of something better - something more. Each bubble with gentle grace, filled with moments of tender blossoming and sweet redemption. Leaving behind all we’ve come to sink comfortably within and braving our way toward a hope-filled tomorrow isn't easy. Loosening our grip on what we think we must have to make way Continue Reading
Hope in the Savoring
I’m not sure if what I love most about the holidays are the lights, the smells or the tastes. sweet gingerbread fresh from the oven, the earthy scent of pine, serenades of Michael Buble and Bing Crosby, warm candles glowing, hot chocolate, peppermint, and marshmallows It's all a whirlwind for the senses and for the soul. And in this whirlwind, I tend to get lost in the excess. I plunge into overload, all for the sake of savoring the experience of Christmas instead of the hope of Christmas. Because I don't want to be reminded of how hard life is during the holidays. The truth is we can expend so much energy in trying to forget that we miss out on the true gift of hope lying unwrapped beneath the broken layers of our heart. a marriage hanging by a thinning Continue Reading
The Christmas Ninja
Too many years have gone by to remember names, but the image on Christmas morning is forever etched in my mind. We were newlyweds, celebrating our first Ohio Christmas together, both of us bored out of our minds. The tiny “blink and you’ll miss it” country town held little charm and even less in the way of evening entertainment. Our first ministry in the brick church by the railroad tracks wasn’t going so well, and we had lacked hope that our efforts were making any lasting impact on the community. I’m not really sure how it all came about because we really had no extra money to speak of. But we were both hungry for something more. When the opportunity to give hope presents itself, it’s a good idea to grab hold and let it take us places we might not normally go. We Continue Reading