Finding the path
We run downhill on a single track through a lush Midwestern woods, sunlight and green rushing past. Our feet staccato over roots and stones, undergrowth brushing our legs as we fly. I let out a [...]
Words every kid needs to hear
My son, my youngest child, turned 18 yesterday. By some definitions, an adult. A letter from the Selective Service showed up in today’s mail. (Gulp). I will always be his mother, and he will continue [...]
Four alternatives to family devotions: family spiritual practices
Family devotions have often felt like an epic fail for us. When my children were small, my husband and I wanted to be what we thought were good Christian parents, so we read Bible stories [...]
The empty nest
This couch feels vast tonight. Alone, I cannot fill it. I sit, laptop on well, my lap. How many times did I sit on this generous couch, a tweed the color of coffee with cream, [...]
Cairns, continued…
Day 2 (Last week, I wrote about cairns, the small piles of rock used to mark hiking trails. The cairns provided a metaphor for spiritual truth, and also gave me a clear picture of some [...]
Deeply Loved, part 2
How honest can you be on the page? When you read a non-fiction book (but not a memoir) how much do you really want to know about the author’s life? A few months ago, I [...]
Coffee, books, and connecting in the Pacific Northwest
Sea-Tac Airport, Monday morning Waiting for flight 1474 at Gate A-9 of Sea-Tac International, I watch planes land and sip a Starbucks. My heart is settled, content. I had no idea how much I needed a [...]
Self-discovery through service
When my son Aaron had to write an essay in school this year about a difficult experience in his life, he chose to write about having to go to a Christian summer camp for a [...]
Choosing to trust
Living with teenagers is like sailing a small ship on a rolling ocean. You have to constantly adjust to keep your balance. It’s full of surprises: like last week, when my daughter asked if I’d [...]
Giving what you cannot keep to gain what you cannot lose.
I love to cook, given leisure enough. I make family meals a priority—we try to gather around the table each night, even if it’s for something simple. But busy nights with carpooling and obligation often [...]