When tragedy strikes, it’s amazing all the things we don’t care about anymore. Every time I read my friend Shawna’s blog, I am reminded of what really matters. I’m reminded that a spotless kitchen isn’t that big of a deal. That even if there are crumbs in my car, life will go on. That if I […]
This weekend we have a few plans: Run a 200-mile relay Don’t sleep Attend 4 church services Attend a baptism Say goodbye to 1,500 people Host 40 people for a BBQ at our house I don’t know, does that seem like a lot? I’m not sure how we managed to have Hood-to-Coast and our farewell Sunday […]
Yesterday it was 2pm before I left the kitchen. Why? Why am I always there? Do any other moms feel like this? Yes, we cook all our food from scratch. Yes, we have lots of (wonderful!) people over for dinner. Yes, we’re taking in lots of produce from our garden and other generous gardeners. Yes, […]
I remember on May19th, after speaking at a conference, I said to my friend, “I have no plans this summer. This is a summer to relax, lounge by the pool, read books, just REST.” Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!! I’m sure if I listened closely in that moment I […]
I sat down just now and typed out this title, then realized there were lunch dishes still in the sink and dried clothes in the dryer. Apparently I need to read this post. I’m happy to say I got up, did the lunch dishes, folded the clothes, and even put them away (applause, please!) before […]
I can still remember our first date. Aristocats. It was my first movie in the theater. I was six-years-old. I wore my favorite outfit and felt so fancy, so grown up walking into the theater, the cold air-conditioned air on my face, the smell of popcorn engulfing me as we walked in. I slipped my […]
It’s always fascinating for me how each vacation becomes themed by whatever ideas were prevalent on the pages of the books I carried along. Past trips have been marked by The Same Kind of Different As Me, Half the Sky, and The Glass Castle. I love that each book-themed trip becomes a sort of educational, retreat-like […]
Technically this bite is called “Regularly turn off your TV,” but I adapted it a bit since TV is just one small way we’re plugged in to the outside world. That has been one of the joys of this trip. Even though 11.5 hours in the car isn’t necessarily bliss, it was bliss to have that much uninterrupted time […]
After yesterday’s news, I kind of don’t want to do anything but pray! I want to just walk around asking people what they need and PRAY for them. Wow, seriously. But in the few spare moments when we are not praying for miracles, it’s also helpful to have meetings with our spouses. Truly, I […]
Summer is here!!! My favorite things about summer: Oregon strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, cherries (are you noticing a theme?), fresh salads, dinner from the garden, early morning sunrises and late night sunsets, and of course–summer reading. Summer is the time when I stack up on my nightstand all the books I have neglected during the busy […]