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How to feel your pain when life goes on
People said some lovely things to us when we first learned that Mason had Down syndrome. I know their intentions were good and they wanted to encourage us with comments like, “God only gives special kids to really special people,” and “It takes such wonderfully kind people to raise kids like this, so it’s obvious why God chose you.”…
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Weekend Links for the New Year
There is what the weather folks are referring to as a BLIZZARD happening outside right now. We braved the cold and I think lasted all of 25 minutes. The clothes are drying and the kids are warming up for another round at some point today. Like all unseasoned snow people, we have milk and bread, plenty of toilet…
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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…
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A Prayer for 2017
Looking back on this past year, we feel a mix of emotions. Some of us are rejoicing that 2016 is behind us; some of us are fighting fear in the face of a new beginning. There were challenging seasons and moments of great joy. But through it all, You never changed, Lord. Your character remains the same and so…
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For those who feel the tension of grief and joy
This is our seventh Christmas without my brother. He would be 26 now, probably married, and as much as he loved kids, he most likely would have been trying to keep up with the size of our family. Christmas is always bittersweet; all the holidays and family gatherings are. There will always be a void, an empty seat, painful…
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It’s Never Too Late
Yesterday was the warmest day we’ve had, by far, all month. The thermometer hit a whopping 79 degrees at its highest point, we had the windows open, and the kids were wearing t-shirts and shorts while playing outside. We’ve been battling an odd combination of strep throat and mild flu in our home, so I stayed home with three…
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Why being quiet during Advent might be necessary and good
There was a lot of noise on the night of Jesus’ birth. The fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan was taking center stage, and heaven shouted the news to a group of shepherds. They listened to the announcement, left to find Jesus, and were the first to encounter the majesty of the incarnation. Mary and Joseph had most likely…
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A look at the shepherds & what happens when we receive the word of God
The story of the shepherds is one of my favorite parts of the Christmas story. The fact that this group of ordinary people were the first recipients of the greatest message of all time is just one piece of evidence that God’s gift of salvation is not reserved for the great, the powerful or the socially elite. Salvation through Jesus is a…
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How to have joy when Christmas doesn’t feel joyful
I recently made a list of things that spark joy in my life. I tried not to overthink it and as I wrote them down I found myself smiling and feeling grateful. Life holds a lot of simple pleasures that contribute to our joy: good food, good sleep, good conversations, helping others, obedient children–these were a few of…
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7 Things I Learned this Fall
In many ways this fall has seemed like a blur and at the same time it has dragged, pulling me along with emotions that I’m still sorting out. The pace of life with five children has been overwhelming and it has affected my soul. I’m learning to pay attention to what causes me to feel overwhelmed and if I can make changes, I…
