The title for this picture should be, “Idealistic Maniacs Before a 5K.” Because that’s who we are—unstoppable runners who will tackle any obstacle. Who cares it’s early and cold out? A little chill can’t diffuse our excitement for ROCKING this race. We are the champions. Cue Chariots of Fire music. But the caption for the...Continue Reading
Everybody’s got a story. What’s yours? What are your family heirloom stories, the ones you tell your kids about their grandparents and great-grandparents? When you think of yourself in junior high, which story comes to mind? What’s your best college road trip story? Tell the story of meeting your spouse and seeing each of your babies for...Continue Reading
Dear Lord, Give me a heart so peaceful, I can look at this picture and not cringe. Help me not to see the wrinkles on my forehead, the fine lines around my eyes, the dark roots, desperate for some highlights. Let me look past the poor photography skills that make my kids’ heads look like they’re...Continue Reading
This Christmas our family relearned a terrible lesson about holidays. Every birthday, every New Years Eve, and every Halloween ends with one or more of our kids crying. One day is just too fragile to hold our months of anticipation. Under all those expectations, the day usually falls apart. For our Christmas this year, these expectations meant our day ended in tears....Continue Reading
Last week we hosted the African Children’s Choir at our house. They came right in the middle of one of the busiest weeks of our year, including the kids’ Christmas Program, faraway basketball games, big work deadlines, etc, etc. Late at night, when I was exhausted and needed to go to bed for the night,...Continue Reading
Our family needs a different kind of Thanksgiving this year. We need a holiday like these homemade pecan pies. Our pies took a lot of time, but these were intentional hours. Unrushed hours together. We need that kind of a Thanksgiving. These pecans were from our friends’ orchard. They tasted sweeter because of the conversation...Continue Reading
Last week I was at the Storyline Conference, which is pretty much the happiest place on Earth for creative people. Experiencing Storyline was the same thrill as watching our kids experience Disney for the first time. Welcome to Disneyland, kids. Dance with the bubbles streaming out of the streetlights. Scream on your favorite rollercoasters. Laugh hard...Continue Reading
After twelve years of trying to figure out what it means to be a successful Writer, I’m finally learning a bit. I’m starting to realize that playing the role of Writer is ego-feeding, control-freak work. It’s not writing, and real writing is what gives me the healing I desperately need. When I’m scared, I try to...Continue Reading
The kids and I handed out thousands of water cups at a triathlon Mike competed in this summer. Even though our family had a great day helping those thirsty runners, I can see the metaphor in this picture. It shows a lesson God is teaching me more and more every day. Here’s what I’m learning:...Continue Reading
My friend, Bonnie, has been in a coma for several weeks. She is 31 years old. Even though Bonnie is a decade younger than me, she’s always been wiser. We were supposed to travel to Chicago together this month for the Storyline conference, and we joked she was in charge of our itinerary because...Continue Reading
