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an unbreakable bond
I rolled over restlessly at the first morning light and spotted the thick, folded pile of papers that had been pushed under my door.
My heart dropped to my feet and I jumped up to grab them. For an eighth of a second I thought, Did he run away? Did he hurt himself? but I knew better.
a legacy of love
What do you think people will say about you after you’re gone?
What do you want to be remembered for?
What will your legacy be?
Back in high school, my classmates and I once had to write our own obituaries for a homework assignment. I remember feeling it was extremely morbid, but now I see the value.
Choosing Kindness in a Cruel World
Seeing his arm, waving like a windshield wiper out of his enormous truck, woke me from my buoyant reverie.I was singing along to “Beautiful” by MercyMe, my daughter by my side, and admiring the bright sun, fall colors, and cornflower blue sky when we slowed to make a left.There was unending traffic coming from the other direction so as I waited to turn, I looked into my rearview mirror and noticed several cars backing up behind me. That’s when I spotted the truck driver with an infuriated face, making sure I saw his middle finger pointed high in the air, loud and proud.
a wing and a prayer
Being petrified of flying has its advantages.
Okay, advantages is an overstatement, but there is one reason I'm thankful for my intense fear.
When I'm up in the clouds and my heart is hammering in my chest, I can pray to God for hours on end—which is exactly what I did this past July on an eight-hour flight to Paris.
your people
She looked breathtaking in her wedding dress.
When her nine bridesmaids danced through the bedroom door to get a first glimpse, many of their eyes filled with tears. They were happy for her and overcome with joy to see their dear friend wearing the gown she'd soon be married in.
Hosting the entire wedding party for the three previous days was exhilarating. What I had anticipated to be an exhausting week turned out to be life-giving and energizing.
point to the son
Today is my middle child's twenty-first birthday. Only yesterday, I was dragging myself around the supermarket in tears because it was his first week of kindergarten and I felt like both of my arms were missing. Two kids now in school, and I walked in circles for weeks until I figured out my new normal. Today, this birthday boy is six weeks out from marrying a radiant and vibrant young lady from Canada.
a chain reaction
No sooner had the words come rushing out of my mouth that I saw a single, fat tear roll down her cheek. She looked at me with incredulous eyes, and my heart pounded.
the last turn home
As we rounded the corner onto our street, the anticipation I'd felt for the last ten days couldn't be contained one second longer. In our driveway, I left everything in the car and ran through the snow to the front door, flinging it open.
a fine line
There's a fine line between joy and despair, laughter and tears, the truth and a lie, life and even death. We should've seen it coming—we already knew we were on very thin ice. Especially after our agency was shut down by the U.S. State Department in December, but, still, we had hope. Looking back now, that shutting down was the beginning of the end
our bodies, our vehicles
I drove my daughter to school today in our well-used, ocean mist Honda Odyssey van. It's rusted in a few spots; dented in the rear from our sons' driver education days; and smelly from transporting dogs and athletes, wet snow boots, skis, bathing suits, and God knows what else. That old van is worn out but reliable. Rusty but sturdy. Beat up but because I'm nostalgic, dare I say beautiful.
out of the mouths of my babies
After I'd kissed and tucked him in, he sat up and said very sweetly, "Mom, I don't want to hurt your feelings, but you smell bad at night. I don't know why ... I don't want to hurt your feelings though."
I gargled with mouthwash and put some perfume on. I went back into his room as he was falling asleep. I asked three year old Collin if I was smelling better now. He smiled drowsily and said, "You do! What did you do? Put some make-up on?"
the dash that is our life
Yesterday, I visited the cemetery where my dad was laid to rest in 1985.
I hadn't planned to stop there, but construction and a wrong turn after dropping my mom at the airport led me on an adventure through the city of Chicago and then to the highway that passed his exit.
I settled in the shade in the summer heat and was surprised that tears can still appear.
live as though everything is a miracle
She was speaking to a ballroom overflowing with women but, at that moment, it was as if I was the only one there. I saw her final question "What is God leading you to do?" float slowly above me until suddenly, wham, I felt like I was hit over the head. "Adoption."
peace, love and homeschooling
Like putting sore, tired feet in front of the fire, homeschooling has brought peace and rejuvenation to our hearts and to our household. And sleep! Ahhhh, did I mention sleep?
pull the plug on porn
I put this letter in the mail today and hope to hear back: Dear Mr. Allen Smith, We've had the great privilege of staying at several of your amazing hotels. We think the Four Seasons are the most luxurious on the planet. My husband's company often uses your properties for their incentive trips.
Seeing Beyond Appearances: A Parenting Insight
For the dear life of me, I couldn't justify the hateful looks I was getting from the woman a few people ahead of me at the check-out line. My daughter and I had been driving by one of our favorite stores and decided to pull in to buy a needed gift. She grabbed her new doll from the car, and we walked through the door.
homesick at home
I once read that you start saying goodbye to your child the moment you give birth.
Trusting another to watch them for an hour, their first crawl and first steps, the beginning of pre-school, start of kindergarten, first time sleeping away from home—on and on the goodbyes go.
the affair
I'm having an affair. I should feel very, very guilty ... but I don't. He's a married father of three. I'm also married with three children. I happen to know his children very well. In fact, I've known his wife my whole life. I am her, she is me. I'm having an affair with my husband.
just go to bed angry
Craig and I locked hands during the ceremony.
We were touched to see Brett and Collin serve as ushers, and Brett escort Craig's sister, the mother of the bride, down the aisle to her seat.
Marina soaked in every second and loved seeing her cousin appear with her adoring dad, our brother-in-law, by her side. He was an attendant at our wedding twenty-six short years ago.
these kind of days
I awoke to the alarm this morning at five thirty, heart pounding, with a list of things I must accomplish today running through my head.
First off, dentist appointment. Next, dress, gift, and grocery shopping before returning home to clean the bathroom. Then, send a card, finish emails, and make a meal to bring to a new mom.
My self-imposed agenda was growing by the second.