• There Are Indeed Good Things

    I am not what you would call a person who lives in a perpetual state of optimism. I am in fact a realist. Not a downer, for those of you optimists who don’t know the difference. I’ve experienced enough life to know that life isn’t necessarily smooth and easy. Quite the opposite, actually. Jesus confirmed this one, so you can take his word for it (John 16:33). So, I have to be honest with you. I’ve seen a lot of people sharing posts on social media about all the good things this year, how there’s so much to be grateful for, and come on guys, be thankful! And you know…

  • Reflecting on a Year of Practicing Sabbath

      “I’m prescribing rest for you.” Words I never would have expected to hear from my Doctor  had me fighting tears in the examining room.  I’m not sick, in fact my health is stellar with low blood pressure, no abnormalities in this pregnancy, and minimal discomfort at this phase.  But I think she could tell from our conversation that I was tired and possibly trying to do too much. Rest doesn’t come easily to me.  “There will always be something else that needs to be done,” were her words to me that day and that has always been the battle in my mind when I try to take a few…

  • What worked & what didn’t work in 2016

        Last year I joined my friend Julie and wrote a post on what worked and what didn’t work.  Reflecting on the past year in this way proved to be extremely helpful in evaluating the past and projecting things that would best suit the needs of our family in the coming year.  I read through Julie’s 2016 list the other day and it reminded me that I needed to take the time to do this again, and it also opened my eyes to some things in our family.     Emily refers to this as a Life-Energy List.  The idea is the same, and she also recommends making this list throughout the…

  • Redeeming Saturday

    Saturdays have always been one of the greatest days of the week.  No work, no school, no routine.  Relax, get a project accomplished, have friends over for dinner, watch a movie.  The possibilities are endless. And then children. Saturdays can now be some of the hardest days of the week.  And I know I’m not alone in this because I’ve talked with other Moms that feel the same way. There are probably many different reasons why Saturdays can be challenging, but here are mine: 1. Everyone is home ALL DAY.  The older girls are home from school.  Mason doesn’t have therapy.  Bradley is off from work.  Our general routine is interrupted…

  • Life with 5 looks like this

    The top question we get asked these days is “So, what is life like with FIVE?”   I don’t always know how to answer because it’s complex.  It’s wonderful and it’s awful.  I love it and some days I just want to crawl into bed and hide from everyone. Bradley keeps saying, “We did this to ourselves.”  Yes, yes, we did. For those who have asked and maybe didn’t get a full response and for those who are just curious, here’s what life with five is like right now: It’s messes in almost every room of the house. It’s diapers, boxes and boxes of diapers.  Hello, subscription for diapers and…

  • What Worked and What Didn’t Work in 2015

      Looking back on the past year and looking forward to the coming year are always two of my favorite things to do.  This year, I’ve had a little less time to sit down and reflect, because most of my spare minutes are spent feeding or holding this boy: I’m not complaining about that one bit!  However, for a routine person like me, who craves alone time, the fact that I don’t have time right now to fill out planners and my new prayer journal, and sit down to write out my goals has been a little disheartening. Yesterday, I was finally able to read through blog posts of a…

  • Signs of Spring

    Spring is one of my favorite times of year.  I love the signs of new life that erupt from the trees, the flower beds, and the birds that I hear chirping in the wee hours of the morning.  Spring is the season for being outdoors, going around barefoot, and preparing the front porch for late night visits with friends. Bradley’s parents were able to come down for a long weekend over Easter and we enjoyed some special times with them.  Mom planted some bulbs and flowers in my beds, and discovered that I have several peonies–one of my favorite flowering plants.  When you buy a house during the winter, it’s…

  • The Story and Gift of our Home

    We found out in October that we would be moving to the Virginia Beach area, stationed there probably for three years.  Immediately we began a search for the perfect place to live.  We spent hours on the internet looking at houses.  My brother-in-law connected us with a realtor in the area and we started receiving updates as new homes went on the market that met our criteria.  It was rather discouraging.  Prices were higher than we were accustomed to, the homes had small yards, many were a long commute to Bradley’s work, and nothing really jumped out at us. Except this house that that had no interior pictures with the…

  • The Beginning of 2015

    Happy New Year! It’s been a whirlwind of Christmas celebrations, moving, house-hunting and birthdays around here!  The kids and I are currently living with my parents, Bradley just left Florida with our moving van, and this weekend we’ll start our hotel living once again while we do a bit more house hunting in Virginia Beach.  I told my mom just this morning that I don’t mind change, but it’s the transition in the midst of change that is most challenging .  Each day that goes by means another month (at least) before we’re settled in our own place.  And somehow in the midst of all this  I’m supposed to become a teacher…

  • The Home I’ve come to love

    During the 8+ years we’ve been married, we’ve lived in seven different cities, purchased two homes, and rented various apartments.  Each place has been unique in style, age, and function.  All of them have been home. This place that we’ve been in for the past four months in Florida didn’t feel like home when we first moved in.  We were without belongings for almost two weeks which stretched us, contributed to my closing the blinds and refusing to answer the doors, and we were frustrated living here for about two months.  The carpet and fixtures are dingy.  The rooms are smaller than we’re used to.  We don’t have a beautiful…