So I said to the Lord, “You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there have only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?” The Lord replied, “The times when you have seen only one set of footprints, is when I carried you.” – Mary Stevenson
Thanks to my dear friend, Lisa, for sending me this very important reminder. Love you, Lis!
It feels like we’ve been waiting for a good winter snowfall for significantly longer than we’re accustomed to here in Michigan. We even had a pretend snow day just a couple weeks back … you know, the day the world was going to end? Continue reading
I must admit that it’s been very difficult for me to focus on anything this weekend other than those families impacted by what happened in Newtown, Conn. on Friday. I wrapped gifts late Friday evening and watched as emotional news anchors recapped the events of the day, and on Saturday, as one of the victim’s fathers described his last conversation with his daughter in Portuguese, a language he had been sharing with her. Continue reading
Because there are no other more appropriate words, today I share a prayer delivered by Max Lucado.
Dear Jesus,
It’s a good thing you were born at night. This world sure seems dark. I have a good eye for silver linings. But they seem dimmer lately. Continue reading
I remember very distinctly when one of my very good friends told me in third grade that a man that visited my house (by way of our chimney) once a year wasn’t real. She was very matter-of-fact about the situation and I? I.was.devastated. Continue reading
On the advice of a fellow blogger, I’m going to write down a list of ten things I’m grateful for … because today, I need to. This certainly isn’t exhaustive and I jotted them down quickly as a reminder that there really is so, so much.
Hearing my boy’s sweet voice.
Soul Revival dark roast coffee courtesy of WSCJ
Agreeing, within seconds, on the place we’re going to put our Christmas tree this year. This seriously made my week last week.
Pictures with two great families in one weekend.
Dinner parties with friends and a new game, Apples to Apples.
Trying new foods with Connor … and him actually liking them.
A Celiac diagnosis at age six vs. age fiteen.
A good workout.
This beautiful weather.
Listening to someone like Lee Strobel, a former atheist and author, share his amazing journey to Christianity at a local church.
I went to visit him last night. To be completely honest, I didn’t get out of the car but I still talked to him. I told him that I was sorry and that I can’t believe he’s been gone for four years. And then, in typical fashion, he made me laugh. I remembered that last in-person conversation we’d had just a few months before October 6, 2008 … the one where he invited me to his funeral. He laughed and I may have punched him but he reiterated that he meant it. I really was invited. You still make me laugh today, JJ. I’ll love you forever, and just like I signed off the text to my dad last night about that story … brat.
the only great-grandpa he ever knew
First, they were a couple.
fall 2010
Then, they became one.
winter 2011
And now, they are a family of three. May God bless you, little Emry Jean.
summer 2012
Connor and I pray every night before bed. Sometimes he asks me to pray because he “did it last night” but most often, he leads. Continue reading
Connor and I finished up our addition flash cards the other night and I couldn’t help but beam with pride at my boy who’s quite adept at math. I’ve mentioned it before but he just has a way with numbers … adding, subtracting, even some simple multiplication.
It got me thinking. There are things in life that need to be added and those that need to be subtracted. For some, that list is pretty small. They are in balance. For me, the list gets longer. I’m still much, much too hard on myself and I get frustrated when I feel like I know what I need to have more of and alternatively, less of, but I just.can’t.do.it. Continue reading
a brand new ending 