After we got the kids in bed Friday night, Michael and I sat down on the couch for a couple minutes. In complete silence. And it was wonderful. It was so rare that my attention was actually drawn to the fact that I didn’t hear anything but the ticking of the clock. It was in … Continue reading Removing the Noise

I love watching my children explore and be creative, but sometimes I just want them out of my hair. It’s usually when I’m cooking or cleaning up that I need them to be elsewhere.   The time between lunch and nap is usually when I prep supper and clean up the kitchen. There always seems … Continue reading The Joy of Unplugging

I am not an open person by nature.   I like to keep things to myself.   I like to stay protected, so in the past I would do my best to shy away from vulnerable situations, because I didn’t want people to know the truth. I didn’t want them to see the flaws I … Continue reading Opening Your Heart to Others

I have struggled with contentment ever since I can remember. It’s so easy to fall into wanting something else, wanting something more, wanting something just out of your reach.   If only I could have…   If only I could be…   The world is constantly screaming at us that we need to have this … Continue reading When a Dream Come True Doesn’t Feel Like Happily Ever After

I send her to bed with a not-so-gentle reminder to stay in her room. I’m fed up. She has come out three times already, and I’ve had it.   Just go to bed.   It has been a long day, and I want to unwind. I want to be kid free. I don’t want to have to … Continue reading When Our Words Don’t Show Love

As I was washing dishes one day this week, my four-year-old came up and said, “Mom, you can go do something else. I’ll take care of the dishes for you.”   That little one, oh my! It made my heart melt.   There was absolutely no prompting. She just wanted to be helpful.   This … Continue reading Encouraging Children to Have a Servant’s Heart

"I'm not the right person. You have to choose someone else."   My girls have been watching the movie Moana over and over again. I think I have most of the lines memorized by now.   As we were watching it for the umpteenth time, the above quote stood out to me. Moana is feeling … Continue reading When You Want God to Call Someone Else

I’ve never wanted to be a dance mom. Nothing about it sounds enjoyable. Maybe it’s because of the way the media has portrayed that world. I swore I would never sign my kids up for it, but my four-year-old is starting a dance class in the morning.   Yikes! I’m sitting here biting my nails. … Continue reading Something I Never Thought I’d Allow My Kids to Do

I have always been a writer.   Ever since I can remember, I’ve scribbled on paper and created stories out of nothing.   I don’t fully understand why, but I’ve always been drawn to the written word. But for the longest time I never wanted to share my writing with other people because it was … Continue reading Being Intentional About Using Your Gift