Confession time. My name is Shelley. I write romance books, and I used to never celebrate Valentine’s Day. When you write romances for a living, the month of February is usually a busy one. Booksellers are open to book signings, librarians invite you to speak to their patrons, and people who usually proclaim that they…
There’s no place like home for the holidays, or so the song goes. We envision snow and mistletoe and presents under the tree. Instead, we sometimes get scheduling conflicts and family drama. Going home for the holidays can be complicated when you’re dealing with parents, siblings, in-laws, children, and all sorts of relatives who have…
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (Col. 3:2 ESV) There’s a common admonition among Christians, to “be in the world but not of the world,” but you may wonder what, exactly, this means. Does it mean we don’t engage the world, that we avoid anyone and…
I’m sitting in my bedroom this evening—Kansas summers are surprisingly sticky, and I’m thankful for air conditioning and to have all of my babies tucked in for the night. There’s a peace in knowing we’re all here and accounted for. I can rest in knowing that all of my ducklings are in the nest. I…
A funny conversation often occurs in my home when people come to visit. We’ll be standing in the kitchen, visiting or waiting for food and someone will glance at our fridge. “Um, why are you going to so many weddings?” they ask. Or, “Why are you invited to so many graduations this year? Your kids…
All kinds of imprints exist in life. We all have them. In some ways, we collect them and they shape us. Take the everyday imprint: you wake up from a nap and scramble to get the kids at the bus stop or from school on time, only to have your friend walk up to the…