Rain falls. I slide open the glass door and listen in the dark to the gentle pattering on the leaves of that big Maple out back. I pull the curtains back and tie them with a string of jute--my morning ritual--and then sit on the couch and sip coffee as morning light seeps in. Leaves quiver. A lot like my trembling heart. I survey my heart and come to the conclusion that I've been far too anxious for far too long over things that I cannot control. Situations I'm just not sufficient enough to handle. But, this rain, it ministers to me. There's something about all the drizzling down that reminds me of God and the way He comes with His peace to a heart that quivers like a leaf. He is constant, bringing with Him grace and I am drenched. Soaked right through. This peace that pervade[...]

I love how intertwined their lives are with mine. Them and me-- pretty much we share everything. He wants my buttered toast, she wants to sip my coffee. And little britches, oh man, he’s on the verge of wearing me out. No matter how far out of reach I perch, he finds me and confiscates my computer cord. Suddenly no toy on planet Earth is as fascinating as momma’s computer cord. Nothing is really mine anymore. They scribble on my paper, tote around my books, wear my shoes, lay their head on my pillow. In vain I attempt to recover my things, only to find them in their grimy clasps again. It’s all good, though. I deserve these children. I do. Because I can recall explaining to my Pa on more than one occasion, after he inquired where his t-shirts went, “Just remember--what’s yours is[...]

I set out for a walk in the morning, while the kids and Brent still sleep. I’m not used to this—taking walks in the morning, but on this particular morning, I decide to be a little crazy. Switch things up a bit and try something new. More often than not, I sleep right up until Brent is smooching my forehead goodbye and one of the kids is crawling into bed with me, letting me know it’s time for some chocky milk and breakfast. But, on this particular morning, I actually do what I wish I would always  do. I get up early enough to enjoy a cup of coffee while spending time with Jesus. He calls Himself the Word and He teaches that we humans weren’t created to function on bread alone. Our life fuel shouldn’t only consist of coffee and toast and the physical kind of stuff. Because we’re mor[...]

Tonight, I give you a song from David Crowder, that keeps singing to me. I give you this with pictures of my Hope-love. May Jesus be your peace, friends. Just press play and scroll down. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjgioXrnEME

I wake up early in the morning to feed Samuel. And when he's done nursing and tucked back into his little bed, I have this internal debate. I could sleep some more, which always sounds appealing, or I could go ahead and stumble to the coffee pot and sit and read my Bible and go hunting for God. I really want to sleep, of course, but there's this promise God makes. He says that when we go looking and searching and hunting for Him, hungry to find Him, that He'll be found.  (Jeremiah 29:13) You might wonder why I speak of God in this way. As if He hides Himself and yet wants to be found. The prophet Isaiah wrote about God like this when he exclaimed, "Truly, you are a God who hides himself." (Isaiah 45:15) And Dallas Willard, my favorite philosopher explains: And why would God hide hims[...]

    Mom, this applesauce tastes weird. Like, it tastes squishy. All applesauce is squishy. Yeah, but this kind is different. Like, it's even squishier. It has this taste on my tongue and the taste is squishy. Huh. I don't know, son. I don't know how that happens.   Well, how much did it cost? Not very much. How much, though? I don't know, bud. Like, a dollar and something? Yeah. Well, the less amount that it costs is the less amount that it tastes good. Yeah, that's why I don't like it. That's why I was asking you that. Because I think you should get the kind that costs more. I mean, this kind is okay. It's just squishy. Because I think the apples that it was made from were squishy. So, it feels weird on my tongue. Well, you need to go t[...]

There's this girl I know, this girl with a wrecky house, and she never seems to be able to stay on top of things. Well, she does good for like one whole day, but it's hard for her to keep up with these three kids of hers who create as much chaos and disorder as a small tornadic disturbance. She tries, though. Every day she tries so hard. Though, it's a little bit difficult because she feels likes she's mostly either hungry or tired. She sometimes wonders if there are any other emotions in the world besides hungry and tired, but then there is an occasional hour or two in the day when she has a fleeting amount of energy and gumption. Like, right after she drinks a large glass of sweet tea. Yes, right after that, she does acquire a minute amount of happy motivation to conquer th[...]

Listen mom. I know it's nap time right after this. But, I was thinking maybe we should have a negotiation. I was just thinking that instead of nap time we should have some more snack time and then you could push me in the stroller for only just one hour and then I could swing. You know, instead of that sleeping thing. I promise I won't get fussy. See, I'm not even tired one bit.  Besides, I have too much to do and I don't really have time today. For one thing, I still need to yank Hopey's hair at least three more times. She hollers real loud and it's funny. Then I need to wreck Bubby's train track and eat some cat food and pluck out a few of Rascal's whiskers and spit up on the carpet. There's way too many clean spots left on the carpet. Then I gotta swipe s[...]

Last week, I went on this walk in the woods. Well, I was supposed to be on a jog, but then I saw the woods and I always have these lines in my head when I see the woods, this poem by Robert Frost, The woods are lovely dark and deep But I have promises to keep And miles to go before I sleep And miles to go before I sleep. Only I sort of rewrite the lines and they go something like this The woods are lovely dark and deep And I have dishes in the sink And I’m trying to go for a jog and get in shape But I think I’ll look for a turtle and some wildflowers instead. So, I was meandering through the wild woods, looking for morel mushrooms and keeping my eye out for a box turtle, all the while, talking to my Maker about the stuff just right there on my heart. Like how overwhelmed [...]