Tag Archives: God

Focus Matters: Choosing Light Over Darkness

Posted in Devotions by

I once read a devotional by author and speaker Max Lucado in which he instructed his readers to pull out a piece of clean white paper. He then asked them to place a black dot somewhere on that paper.  Interestingly, even though there is an entire sheet of paper to look at, most people will zero in on that one dark speck.

Isn’t that so true of life in general? We can get so focused on the negatives – those dark spots in life – that we miss out on the blessings that may be all around us. Continue reading →

A Fatal Distraction

Posted in Parenting by

My four-year-old son was silently struggling for his life near the edge of a swimming pool filled with people, and no one knew it… including me.

It happened so quickly.

I had just taken my little guy’s life jacket off so he could run into the house and go to the bathroom.

The pool party we were attending was starting to wind down and my mind was preoccupied with our after party plans. I wanted to call my husband to confirm our dinner arrangements. Just then, my son tugged at my arm. Continue reading →

Dumpster Diving

Posted in Devotions, Parenting by

“I’m hungry!” My 3 ½ year-old son said repeatedly as we made our way down the stairs and into the cluttered kitchen below.  Still rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I mumbled a drowsy: “what do you want for breakfast?”

Much like the red laser beam from one of his favorite nerf guns, my son’s gaze zeroed in on his target:  a stash of candy that I had placed on top of the refrigerator.  I tend to keep “the really good stuff” up and out of reach.  But some of the kids lingering Valentine’s Day candy had recently been moved to the top of the refrigerator as well.  I had naively thought that it would be safe from grabby little fingers up there. Continue reading →

A Life Well Used

Posted in My Crazy Life by

My feet began to burn as I immersed them into the swirling water churning inside the salon’s pedicure sink.  I didn’t care.  I knew it would only smart for a moment and then I could finally sit back and relax.  With three energetic kiddos, 6 years and under, relaxing is something I don’t often get to do.  At least, not for long!   I was determined to relish in this rare moment.

I glanced over at my friend who had joined me for an afternoon of uninterrupted pampering, and we shared a knowing smile.  FREEDOM! Continue reading →

Let Me Be Your Mirror

Posted in My Crazy Life by

“Why did God make me this way?” I lamented, as I looked at the make-up-free, acne-spotted reflection staring back at me.  “I am 34 years old!  Why am I still breaking out?!”

My less than perfect skin was just the tip of the iceberg of unreasonable complaints I was about to spew forth.  There was the stubborn 5 pounds that I could never seem to lose and those gray hairs that were starting to creep into my unruly red mane that is sometimes curly, and sometimes straight, but usually just frizzy, since with three little kids I often don’t have the time to style it. Continue reading →

Will You Hold Me?

Posted in Devotions by

“Mommy, will you hold me?”  My three and-a-half year old son whimpered and looked up at me with big pleading eyes.  He was sick and wanted to be snuggled.  How could I say no to those insistent baby blues?  “Sure buddy. I’d love to hold you.”

Despite his faucet of a nose, croupy cough, and feverishly hot body, I was honestly thrilled to hold him close.  Usually he is too busy running, wrestling, climbing, crawling, jumping, sliding… MOVING!   He has no time to sit still, let alone cuddle with his mom. Continue reading →

Dare You To Move

Posted in Parenting by

To say it was a bad morning would be an enormous understatement.  It was one of those ‘can I please go back to bed and hide under the comforter until tomorrow,’ kind of mornings.  My daughter, who is now 14 months-old, had been up multiple times in the night for the third night in a row!  In her defense, she had just gotten over a second round of a stomach illness.  But honestly, if you aren’t throwing up, why are you waking me up?!

As if my daughter’s late night shenanigans weren’t enough, my middle son decided that he needed to join me in bed at 5:45am.  I have tried hard to establish a “we are not getting out of bed until 7:00 am” rule at my home.  So far, I am the only person who routinely adheres to said rule. Continue reading →

The Daughter I Havent Met…Yet

Posted in Parenting by

The abdominal cramping started less than an hour into the trip home from my girl’s weekend away. I figured I was experiencing indigestion from the exceedingly rich and creamy entrée I had devoured at lunch. As we continued down the road, however, I quickly realized this was more than just a stomach ache. Sweat formed on my brow as my abdominal muscles continued to contract with increasing intensity. Then the nausea set in.

“Can you pull over?”

I stumbled out of the truck and dropped to my knees. I could feel the rough roadside gravel digging into my jeans as I hunched over and prepared to expel everything from my insides. Instead, I curled into the fetal position as another wave of pain coursed through my body. Continue reading →