October Recap

The leaves are changing, and the days are cooler here in Virginia. As I pause to breathe and reflect on the last few weeks, I am so very grateful for all God's goodness, and equally exhausted because the days have been filled with busyness and unexpected challenges. I'm...

What Are You Wearing Today?

Old egg cartons, an empty box, and a teal trash can clutter the floor of my kitchen. My son sits in the midst of the pile of trash imagining the transformation possibilities. In less than an hour, he converts the pile of waste into a...

Facing Battles You Can’t See?

Driving through my neighborhood, I’m always a little surprised at how early the fascination with the creepy and macabre begins. Reapers, witches, graveyards, and ten-foot skeletons pop up in yards long before the leaves even start to change. I understand that many people enjoy decorating for...

Are Your Eyes Open Today?

“Sweetheart, I need you to talk to me.” My husband requests as he stares out the window at the dark road before him. Out of words and ready to rest, I reply, “What do you want me to say?” “Anything! I need you to keep me awake,”...

Life or Death: The Power of What We Speak

My friend's face conveyed shock and hurt. The careless, harsh comment I tossed her direction landed like a grenade in the middle of our friendly lunch. Justification was futile. The damage was already done. The shrapnel from my words cut right through to my friend's heart. ~~~ I threw open...

A Prayer and a Purpose

"Lord, give us clarity and direction for the next step. We want more of you and less of us." Sitting silently around the kitchen table, Cari and I wait for an answer. This prayer is uttered from our mouths regularly, as our hearts yearn to only go...

Feeling drained? Try this instead…

Dashing across the parking lot, I ran into the building and slid into the room just as things were starting. Having risen early after a week of busy days and late nights, I had arrived at a local children's mission to volunteer for the day. If I'm honest, I...

Who brightens your day?

Feet trudging through the snowy slush, I made my way to the mailbox across the street. Newly married, living twelve hours from home with new jobs, my husband and I were also enduring the hardest winter in New England in thirty years.  I was surrounded by...