My husband has been working on a project that involves understanding the behavior of shepherds and their flocks. As he’s done so, we’ve discovered some interesting facts about the love and responsibilities a shepherd has in leading sheep—most notably when his flock has to cross a stream of water. The sheep closest to the shepherd…
My mom would tell you that me growing up unscathed by dysfunction and trauma is a complete miracle. My mom is a chain breaker. She worked hard to avoid passing on the unhealthy patterns of family life in which she was raised. Instead, she set me on solid ground with a strong dose of healthy…
“I want your life,” she said. “I’m jealous of what you have.” We were standing in my kitchen, looking out over the farm I have lived on for just under a year. Our husbands were out with the hens, moving them into a newly built egg mobile. My four kids were scattered around—two helping catch…
“It’s not fair.” I can’t even begin to count how many times those words have crossed my lips—or the lips of my children. Something in the human condition seems to make us crave this idea of fair. After all, in the story of Cain and Abel, wasn’t Cain motivated, at least in part, by thinking…
The doctor moved the ultrasound wand back and forth without a sound. He stared intently at the screen. I was petrified. At last, he put down the wand and sighed. “You may want to consider terminating the pregnancy,” he said. “It will save you a lot of heartache. Your child will probably die before it’s…
Few circumstances are more terrifying than being unable to breathe. I truly believe the inability to draw productive breath yields a level of panic like no other occurrence. Unless you are watching your child struggle for air. That raises the bar exponentially. About a month ago, we were eating with friends at a local restaurant….