Dear friends, I have some fun news! I have been praying over things I can offer that would be inspiring, community-building, and life-giving. I’ve have had some inspiration, and I’d love to invite you to be a part! Through the summer months, I will be offering Journaling Parties to women who would like to host…
Author: mackenziechester
My name is Mackenzie Chester. I am a wife and mother of seven. Welcome to my blog, The Sacred Everyday, where I write about waking up to the miracle of ordinary life through prayer, reflection, and creative practice.
Rhythms for Motherhood and the Creative Life
This is the story of my life as a creative soul–going all the way back to my childhood, my teenage years, the early years of college and marriage, and then into the wonderful and difficult and all-consuming seasons of motherhood (15 years and 8 children into it..). I share the things I truly needed as…
The Sleeping Face of My Beautiful Boy
After the lullaby, I see the sleeping face of my beautiful boy, two years old. And at once, all the world is still. Time moves forth from this moment in reluctant ripples. Slow-moving reflections of memories, past and future that will become a whole life. Separate from my own, but always flowing in and out…
My Heart Trembles and Sings:Thoughts on the Beauty and Fragility of Life (Podcast #27)
Have you ever had an experience that startled you into a fresh awareness of the fragility of human life? This podcast is a putting-to-words of just such an experience. Last week my baby boy and I were helicoptered into the Children’s Hospital of Atlanta with a medical emergency which is thankfully resolved now but has…
Show and Tell
Hello friends. A couple of new things I want to share with you. Innermost Journaling Course is now available in Patreon. If you have been curious about my journaling course, now is the time to act! I just uploaded and restructured the entire course for my wonderful Patreon supporters. If you join me on Patreon…
my heart trembles and sings
my own dear child eyes of bluest bright, alight body in holy motionbrimming over with lifesongand the beating, beating, beating heart beautiful breath that flows inside you like a melody for the gift of your love and living presence my heart trembles and sings (This is the image I saw outside my office window as…
I Go Back to the Ocean of My Childhood
When you were a childdid you lose yourself at the seashoreand forget life aches? Did you run to the waters laughing? I go backto the ocean of my childhoodwhere I was a girlphotographed by my mother,my father looking out to sea I want the waves to whisper somethingbut they are stillsuspended in memorythey do not…
The Great Value of a Hidden Life (Podcast #26)
Sometimes motherhood can make me feel very small. I have such ideas and plans and ambitions and so little time to devote to anything but what seems like the most basic of needs. God has been impressing on my heart the beauty and great value of the hidden life, here in this house, raising my…
New Video Series: One-Minute Read-Alouds
Dear Friends, I have begun a new video series called One-Minute Read-Alouds on my Instagram page. Sending out words of hope and inspiration for 30 days through this project, and I hope they are encouragement to you! Even if you don’t have an Instagram account, you can click on the picture above to see them….
Sometimes Small Hopes Die
Sometimes small hopes die. And there is a grief that comes to us that cannot be measured by reason. A future that has lived in the illuminated imagination of the mind is set backward in time and exists only in shadowy remembrance. Upon the sunrising, we are met with a difficult choice: To live in…
Family Rhythms: Homeschool (Podcast #25)
When Randy and I first started homeschooling, it was because we wanted the flexibility of having our children with us. We imagined traveling, playing music, and bringing our children along… Life shifted as we had more children and we began to restructure our life within the comfort of home. As our children and family size…
Setting Up Stones of Remembrance (Podcast #24)
I have been reflecting on God’s goodness to me and my family more than usual this week, reminded of the miracles he has done in our lives in bringing us safely through so many questions, fears, doubts, and prayers over these years of marriage and parenting. In this podcast, I am sharing about setting up…