Growing up, it nearly always rained when we went camping.  It was truly uncanny and I am pretty sure we ended some seasons of drought by choosing to take a camping trip.  Despite this bad luck, we loved camping and being in the woods as a family and went camping fairly often. Due to this,… Continue reading Camping Weather

“Look at my picture, Mommy.  It’s really good for a five-year-old!”  Those words were from Hannah a few minutes after she and I finished examining a magazine page filled with kid drawings.  We had used the same phrase over and over again as we admired the artwork of the talented young artists featured.  I couldn’t… Continue reading An Offering of Grace

“The spring flowers are so brave.”  Those were the reflective words of Clara as she admired the green shoots just beginning to emerge a couple of weeks ago.  With the exception of a few more moments of daylight, there hadn’t been much to welcome these hardy plants as the sun neglected to shine throughout days… Continue reading Being Brave

  “For behold the winter is past; the (snow) is over and gone.  The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.”  Song of Solomon 2:11-12 The anticipation of spring is one of my favorite events.  I love pausing to search… Continue reading Embracing the Moments

One thing I have enjoyed about being a pastor’s wife is having a front row seat to the growth and development of Ian’s preaching.  I have been able to watch him through his first experience as an intern in seminary to the trial sermon he preached as he interviewed with his first church and on… Continue reading Finding Faithfulness

I didn’t start my day in a bad mood, but as all but one of my children woke up expressing their grumps, I started to feel aggravation creep into my heart.  My initially peaceful, content mood was quickly being conformed to the downcast mood around me.  My issuing of consequences and breaking up of fights… Continue reading Toothbrush Dance Party

I have come to admire her more with each interaction.  She has an honesty that is refreshing, a wit that is charming, and a grace that pulls you in with an easy feeling of comfort and acceptance.  It was after church fellowship and I found myself seated right by her side; me with a small… Continue reading In This Sacred Moment

A new year…a fresh start…a time filled with hope and new beginnings. We’ve just celebrated and enjoyed one another and relaxed throughout the holiday season. Now, we are ready to gear up and get life back on track with dreams of improving our habits and lifestyles. We are refreshed, renewed, and ready to handle whatever… Continue reading Marginally Speaking

Clara, lover of all things beautiful, rushed into the house with an air of excitement, holding out her hands for me to inspect a bouquet while exclaiming, “Mommy, I found a flower growing in the garden!” Elyse, as practical as her sister is dreamy, quickly countered with, “That’s a weed.” Before replying, I had to… Continue reading A Flower or a Weed?

Connecting with my children on an individual basis has been on my heart this year and a recent addition to our bedtime routine has been especially meaningful. It started with this blog post which highlights 3 questions to ask your child before bed at night. As I snuggle up with each child, we reminisce about… Continue reading What Did You Wonder?