Once upon a time when I was a young mom, three ugly but invisible ingredients converged on me right in the middle of my kitchen. Isolation, worry, and failure to live up to my own expectations. They all collided and stirred up a toxic cocktail I never wanted to drink. I’d never felt anything like … [Read more...] about One Way to Rest from the Weight of Worry
Faith
The Truly Good Father
It sounds almost the same in Latin based languages. It’s the language of a baby, or perhaps a toddler. One repeated syllable packed with endearment. Dada, in English. Pappa, in Afrikaans. Taata, in Lugandan. Abba, in Hebrew. It's one of the first words spoken by a child to one of … [Read more...] about The Truly Good Father
In the Dark
Recently I watched a moving Under Armor commercial featuring the most decorated Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps. I might have even cried a tear (one that I could not even manufacture when my youngest went to kindergarten.) Can you imagine your own commercial? I tried: Do you need help … [Read more...] about In the Dark
Zooming In: On Magnifying Mirrors and Mountains
Kurt and I recently stayed in a pretty swanky hotel. We were swimming in “amenities” we didn’t even know how to use: For the safe keeping of my Walmart jewelry, there was a safe which I couldn’t open. There was also a spa and fitness room which we never found. But there was one “amenity” that was … [Read more...] about Zooming In: On Magnifying Mirrors and Mountains
All I Want for Christmas
It came up again last week at bedtime. A gift from the past: hand print snow man ornament. “Mom, what do you want for Christmas?” I could not think of one reasonable thing to say. A few years ago Zach asked me this same question, and I was ready with a completely practical … [Read more...] about All I Want for Christmas
When Trick-or-Treaters Make You Think of Jesus
I counted about 27 princesses and nearly as many ninja warriors. Not to mention a walking vending machine, and a few pixelated Minecraft characters. There were little girls who felt perfectly secure as princesses and insecure teenagers who were “too old” to dress up, but still young enough to be … [Read more...] about When Trick-or-Treaters Make You Think of Jesus