The Climax of a Real Story

The climax of a real story is always movinggrowing upgraduationtruelovemarriagebecoming a mothergetting the kids to bed so you can finally sit down for the eveninghitting send to the publisher after a decade of writinggetting the kitchen clean after breakfast In stories, there is one climax. And then there is the hope of sustained joy.There isn’t…

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…

The Birth Story to Come: Impressions of a Life Yet Unseen

I love to have conversations about birth. No matter how many times I find myself here, in the “any day now” space between pregnancy and delivery, I am struck by the sheer power of the experience of bringing a baby into this world. There is nothing routine about it. No matter how many times you…

My One Small Voice

Standing at the edge of still watersin the middle of my lifelooking out on the reflection of the world that God in his lovingkindnesscreated for me to inhabitand enjoy The beauty of trees, sky, grassthe V-line of geese mirrored above and before me the sound of wind the distant moving rush of riverthe hum of…

The Story of a Miracle

On November 22, I got a random message from someone I barely knew. Hi!! Weird question… are you home? I thought it was odd, but odd things often happen to me, and I said, “Haha. Yes, what’s up?” The next text came: Wondering if I could stop by real quick? I know…so random… Just trusting…

Broken Open-Hearted Love

Yesterday I learned that a dear friend is dying.  There is no time to visit.  No time to wrap up loose ends.  This news just rips it all back open–that wound that I thought was nearly healed.  The blow from my fall where I realized that death is actually a part of the human story….

Swan Lake, Violet Fairy, and The Love Cats by The Paper Doll Club

We have lots of dolls for you this week!  Swan Lake is a ballet with amazing music by Tchaikovsky.  I have never actually seen the ballet, but I listened to the story with the music as a child.  This morning, the girls and I listened to a great rendition of the story on spotify called Swan Lake,…

The Snow Child Paper Dolls

This week’s paper dolls were inspired by a beautiful play that the girls and I saw with a friend over the weekend.  It was based on a Russian folktale called The Snow Child, about a barren couple who build a child out of snow.  Through love and magic, the child comes to life.  The play…

The Daily Turn #19: Country Radio

There are only so many songs that you can write with choruses that include the way a pair of jeans fit a girl who also happens to be wearing cowboy boots. And I am truly beginning to question the sincerity of the genre of songs that begin with being a child, and end on the…