My husband, Ben, and I recently needed to sell two houses, both purchased prior to our meeting each other and just before the housing bubble burst in 2008. We were also simultaneously renovating a 1966 fixer-upper to move into once our other houses sold. This was a crazy-busy time for us, our three young children,…
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33 NIV). I love to watch Hallmark Christmas movies. They’re cheesy, sappy, and unrealistic; they all have unbelievable premises; and the plots are all similar. All problems, even…
When the first day of January hits, I pop out of bed and begin dreaming of what I want to accomplish over the next 365 days. Usually I commit to reading a certain number of books, and every year I try to set a goal for my health. In the past I’ve set some over-ambitious…
It’s funny how, in the most unexpected moments, we find ourselves spouting wisdom we didn’t know we possess. It’s as if we’re used by God as his mouthpiece when we least expect it. I’ve been thinking about these serendipitous moments since last week, after I took a walk by the beach with my overwhelmed friend,…
Like many parents, I worry about my children’s exposure to media content. I carefully monitor their online searches. I read reviews of movies and television shows before allowing them to view them. I try to read books before I pass them along to my young readers. To keep unwholesome talk from their ears, I keep…
My husband and I recently purchased three acres of mostly wooded property as the site of our future home. We were (and are) excited to be building the house of our dreams; however, the land needed a lot of preparation to be ready for construction. First, the land had to be cleared. One acre didn’t…