Cultivating Self-Control: It Takes the Spirit Plus Some Effort
Note: I wrote this as a guest post for Mary Kathryn Tiller: Cultivating a Faithful Heart Amid a Frenzied World. When I caught my son sneaking Netflix after he was supposed to be in bed, I could’ve used some self-control.…
The Dale Family
A friend of mine from college recently lost her son to the horrible disease known as cancer. He had been battling it for about a year and a half, and he was just a few days shy of his sixth…
Towel Hugs
I don’t remember how it started, but sometime after my firstborn learned to walk, the tradition of “towel hugs” began at our house. Here’s how it works. After the toddler/preschooler gets out of the bath, they give their hooded towel…
Our Family Is Growing
A few years ago, Kevin and I began to feel that we should expand our family. It’s not that we thought that having three kids wasn’t enough. We weren’t bored. We weren’t missing the baby days. Rather, we felt compelled…
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
I was born at 5:05 pm on March 5, 1975, which was my Granddaddy’s 50th birthday. I love the month of March…and the number 5! I also love that I was named after my Granddaddy’s mother, Carrie Elizabeth. In turn,…
Now Available: Unlimited Fresh Starts
Fresh starts. New beginnings. Second chances. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like these ideas. And there’s something about a brand new year that gets us all excited about “starting over” and making changes and improvements in our lives. Undoubtedly,…
It’s Always Time to Be Thankful
November causes many of us to be particularly mindful of counting our blessings. I wish we didn’t need a reminder, but I’m glad we have it. I have found personally that when I am focused on being thankful, my perspective…
The 23rd Psalm: A Mother’s Reflections
As I was reading through Psalms, I came to one of the most famous ones–the 23rd. Since becoming a mother nine years ago, so many images and illustrations I identify with involve God as a parent, and here again, I…
Helpless
Shortly after my daughter Katie’s first birthday, I took her for her check-up. I didn’t think it would be a big deal. Weigh her, measure her, give her a couple of shots, and we’d be on our way. This is…
