The last few weeks have found me fighting the "winter blues." Coming off of the high of the Christmas season + getting back into a homeschool routine + some really cold, dark days have left me feeling more melancholy than usual. One day in particular, it...
It's January and my kids are running outside after snow flurries, praying for a big snow. Meanwhile, I'm thinking about dinner - again. Summer is so easy - throw a bunch of meat and veggies on the grill and call it done. Winter sometimes finds me...
I ran quickly through Six Flags Great America, chasing my ten year old daughter, Grace, and my sister in law Lisa, who both had caught the roller-coaster bug. It was only a few days after Christmas and happened to be a warm-ish day for Chicago,...
My youngest daughter ran down the stairs towards the advent tree hanging under our fireplace. She moved the little candy cane to December 20th with a little cheer, “Only five days til’ Christmas, Mama!” “I know, sweet girl. Can you believe it?!” For our family and...
After becoming a mother, I became more interested and aware of the role of Mary in the Incarnation and birth narrative of Christ. As my pastor preached about last Sunday, Mary was an incredible example of humility and surrender to the will of God. When...
Where does Thanksgiving find you this year, friend? Perhaps you are bursting at the seams with joy, brimming over with praise to God for all He has done this year. On the other hand, maybe as you gather with others this year your table is...
I had only been a mom for about five seconds when I was clued in by some neighborhood moms about our local thrift store. I think my discovery went something like this: Me: "Oh I love that outfit on your baby! It's adorable!" Mom A: "Thanks! I...
My eight year old daughter came to me with tears in her eyes: "Momma, I have a headache." This was her third headache this week and by this point I was standing up and taking notice. In typical "Mom fashion," I began to ask her some...
My Dearest Grace Yael, The day you were born was unlike any other I have known. As you know, we weren't expecting you that day, since it was five weeks before you were due. I was on the metro coming home from work and asked the...
A few weeks ago, our church family walked through a great tragedy. A newly married man in our congregation experienced a fatal fall while hiking on his honeymoon on the Hawaiian island of Kawai. In the days before he was found, the members of our...