Being that my husband and I were both first-born, type-A personalities, there was little doubt in our minds regarding whether or not we would find out the gender of our first baby. We most definitely wanted to know, not just because it made for easy decorating, but...
As a young single woman, I spent most of my free time in ministry. When I got engaged, my fiancé was equally involved. During our engagement, we envisioned great plans for us in ministry after we married. We talked about leading small groups for young married couples,...
My kids can’t wait until Christmas morning when they get more stuff. They already have a room overflowing with toys and craft supplies and books and stuffed animals. I don’t even know what to get them anymore! But they can’t wait to get more every December. ...
When I married my husband, Robbie, his favorite time to introduce some “romance” was in the middle of a fight. I think he thought his gestures would stop the fumes coming out my ears. It didn’t work. Years later, we still struggle with our understanding of what...
I love to watch the sky. Our city rests on the foothills of the Ozark Mountains, so it’s easy to find a hilltop where one can see the clouds swirling on top of a dark azure blue. At times, the clouds have been simply breathtaking. No artist could paint the glory of...
“I was just tired of my boring life,” Brenda confessed as we sat at the lunch table sharing our family stories. Her kids were grown, and her husband seemed aloof and uninterested in joining her in her empty nest adventures. So, Brenda decided to make a drastic...
I bought my first smart phone about a year into my journey as a widow. For me, it was a lifesaver. I was a stay-at-home single mom of two toddlers. At the time, my son, Ben, was three years old, and my daughter, Katherine, was around a year old. I had very little time...
The frail woman tiptoed down the watery staircase into the baptismal toward the pastor, aided by a young deacon to keep her from slipping. Ms. Sue had struggled spiritually for years, doubting the legitimacy of her salvation. She knew in her heart that what she...
“They kiss, and kiss again. When they do finally pull apart, it’s with a new knowledge. They have a sense that the length of a day is mutable, and you can never see the end from the beginning. They have a sense that love changes all things all the time....
With terrorist attacks, dangerous dictators, life-threatening viruses, and senseless murders all around us, sometimes it feels like the whole world has gone crazy … and maybe it has. Satan is certainly on a rampage of evil. But God is still on the throne! Even when...
My husband and I sweated in the sun of an early southern summer morning. The dirt and dust of our belongings darkened our fingernails. It was garage sale day—cleaning out the old house to move into a new one. Around the tables of knick-knacks and useless electronics...
When my daughter was 6 years old, she looked like Shirley Temple—naturally highlighted ringlets all over her head, sweet dimples, and big brown eyes that shined with every smile. And she had the upbeat personality to match her face and hair. But she heard how...
