Forty-one doesn’t actually feel as old as it sounded when at 21. After 40 you start to realize every person does not have the capacity to become who you hoped they would. They are probably doing their best. Let it go, Elsa. Forty-one is young enough to still exercise but old enough to realize that doesn’t have...Continue Reading
Dear Catie (on your first day of middle school)… Suddenly, here you are, at the tipping point between childhood and adolescence, right at the center of growing up. The teenager-you is slowly emerging. You’re suddenly taller than some grown-ups, your wide brown eyes are pretty, in the way that will never need mascara. You can cook dinner, beat Daddy and me at trivia, and understand...Continue Reading
Dear Elisabeth…. Wow! You have been so READY for today. You packed your backpack days ago. You set out the perfect first-day-of-school outfit last night. As we’ve talked and prayed about this year, you’ve said over and over: I want to do everything right. Elisabeth, you are outstanding at doing what’s right. You are a homework-finishing, uniform-wearing, seated-before-the-bell-rings...Continue Reading
Dear Nate… You are so ready for Kindergarten. You have heard the stories about how ridiculously fun Mrs. Miesner is. You have watched the Kindergarten classes as they played big-kid instruments at chapel. You have heard unbelievable tales of Kindergarteners reading whole books–on their own. You have listened wide-eyed to the incredible stories of a class with no naps, who has cooking lessons and...Continue Reading
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Help me accept our schedule is about to be nuts. Summer is family interdependence, melting into each other, and learning life together. Next up: jarring tardy bells, horrible flash cards, afternoon practices, and late nights of fractions. These will blow our family cocoon to smithereens. Give me the...Continue Reading
This question haunts moms: what does my kid really do all day? No matter how many different way I ask my kids about their days, their hopes, their fears, and what makes them happy or hurts them, they don’t give great answers. During the school year is the worst. At the end of every day, I feel like a...Continue Reading
Our kids are back from a week of camp. Right before it was time to send them, I almost chickened out. But I kept thinking of this bit of wisdom,”Parenting is about preparing your child for the road, not about preparing the road for your child.” I’m good at road construction for my kids. I always believe they need...Continue Reading
Comfort zones are big liars. You’ve probably already learned this, but I’m just starting to understand how tiny and controlling our comfort zones are. What if God is more creative than our comfort zones? What if God gives the fantastic dances to the epic players, the ones willing to take out their headphones and listen to His...Continue Reading
Our family is back from almost two weeks of vacation. We have done justice to the Family Road Trip. We have travelled thousands of miles in our dirty minivan. We have peed in hot gas station bathrooms and eaten terrible breakfasts at hole-in-the-wall cafes. Yesterday we drove 900 miles in a little over 13 hours. Instead of stopping for...Continue Reading
Maybe you’re like me and your relationship with your iPhone has become codependent. Maybe you need an Apple Watch. Here’s how it’s worked for me, tell me if it sounds familiar. Your phone is no longer a tool to help you save time. Yes, you can thumb-type texts and emails to everyone you know. Those of...Continue Reading
