The evening before the birth of my second child, I went into a “nesting” phase, that time of urgency to clean and organize to prepare for my new baby. I had decided that our bedroom needed a splash of character, so I had bought a few frames and pictures to put up on the wall.
The following is an excerpt from my prayer journal written last month: “Dear God, I have been having stomach pain for the past 3-4 days. Everything I eat is causing me discomfort. So, I’m hungry because I am afraid to eat anything as it will lead to discomfort. I decided to call in sick at work,
Earlier this week, my mom needed a medical procedure performed at a facility, but the water levels were rising in Houston. Hurricane Harvey was leaving devastation in its path. Although her home was dry, the streets were flooded to a point that made travel dangerous. She had no way to get there. The procedure needed to
Have you felt inadequate or too afraid to speak up because you feel unqualified or even rejected? I’ve been there. I’ve felt ashamed to speak up because I felt like an outsider, like my opinion didn’t matter. Second Kings chapter 5 talks about a young Jewish girl who was pulled away from her home in
My daughter likes to walk around in my heels and wear my jewelry sometimes. It’s amusing to see her shuffling with the shoes, trying to keep her balance. The other day, I was wearing a sundress, and she asked me if she could have it when she was all grown up. I reassured her that
One of my favorite things to do while I was pregnant with my first child was settle in and read about how she was developing inside me. The book would describe my baby week by week, and would even use tangible, descriptive words to give me a better idea of how big she was: Week 12:
“Did you hear that they’re having a sale that ends today?” “You’ve got to buy this…you’ll be so happy you invested in it!” “They’re running out of this style…get it right away!” Phrases like these put a fire under our feet, and if we can’t get our hands on the latest and greatest that the store has to offer, we
There is a fire station on my way to work, and while I wait at the long light for the train to pass by, I have the opportunity to watch the morning routine of the firefighters there. In those early morning hours at the station, the ladder of the fire engine slowly rises and the bright,
As the pastor’s daughter, I had the honor to play many roles at our church. Before the congregation would trickle in, our family would set up the pews with the appropriate books, choose the songs for worship, and get the projector ready for Sunday School. At about 9:45 am, I would sit at the piano
With young children, it takes effort to stay connected with my husband. The morning rush tests our patience. We hunt for matching socks, grab school snacks, and scramble to get everyone in their car seats before heading out of the garage. And, oh! Is it Monday? We forgot to grab their blankets for nap time!
Practical Advice
The first time my parents dropped me off at college, it was just the three of us in the van. As the oldest of 4 children, it was a sweet and rare opportunity to have
