Thankful

Category

On Bouldering and Being Brave

We went bouldering on Friday. Accidentally, because that’s how I fall headlong through our life these wild and wooly days. Second son shouted from the top of every rock, “It’s so beautiful up here!” And insisted on winking at me in almost every photo.Darling Girl insisted on jumping off or over every obstacle in her path, adamant that I not steady her. Wee Man took a running start over the edge of a boulder, only to break his fall with his sister’s kneecaps....

An Open Letter to my Mother-in-Law

(In the space of two short weeks, we’ve celebrated my husband’s birthday, our 12th anniversary, and Mother’s Day. This felt right today, to honor my mother-in-law the way she honors us. Don’t worry, I love my mom too – you’ll learn more about her tomorrow.) Dear Kris, Thirty-nine years you’ve had this boy (man), and for the last twelve, you’ve ever so graciously relinquished him to me. You embraced me into your family with all the attending chaos – the feet...

On Perspective, and Resurrection

(Easter is mostly over, and my newsfeed is awash in scrubbed faces, pouffy dresses, and coordinating outfits-of which I am a willing participant, don’t get me wrong. But there is still time for a meditation on Resurrection Sunday, because truthfully we celebrate year round. Written last Sunday, technically). I’m tucked in the corner of a wooden pew in a small, brick-clad Anglican church in Knoxville, TN. My children, my wild ones, make quiet reflection an elusive, tantalizing goal on Sunday mornings....

Holy Moments of Motherhood

Today, I found tortilla chips in my son’s back pockets before throwing his pants in the washer. I told my boys to stop knife fighting at the bus stop. (Not real knives.) I haven’t showered much this week.I held my baby and let her sleep on my chest because she has the flu.Four out of six people have had the flu at our house in the last four days.I logged some serious time in the hammock. These are the holy moments of...

Wee Man: A Birthday Letter

(We’ve endured a series of curveballs, but I am determined to write this boy a birthday letter. We are going on four months now…) A Birthday Letter Dear Son, Happy Birthday (ish). This birthday letter is long overdue. Five whole years you’ve been taking in air. You with the impossible grin and your daddy’s eyes peering up at me at 5 am. From the moment you exploded onto the scene, all red and squalling, you’ve been living your life at max capacity. It is...

To The Military Spouse

For the military spouse.  Monday night was spent saying goodbye to old and new friends. They are moving on, to parts west and far east of here and it’s got me thinking about my people. We’ve landed here in the woods of Northern Virginia close to a year now and still the moving is hard. And truth be told, this girl is tired. So tired. And we are at the tail end of a weighty two weeks and I look around...

Resurrection Day 2016

Happy Resurrection Day. I’ve written this before, but I need reminding. I measure our life often times by the Before and the After. And oh friends, the after is often times a hard place to rest in. But wouldn’t you know the in between is bridged by a blood-stained cross. And the Story is told across sixty-six books and God-breathed words and Truth is spilled out on the pages and whispered into my broken heart.  And the after never looks...