Brent is a good daddy. I know he's only been a daddy for a few years, but he's been a good, good daddy all those years. And he's such a good daddy, that I'd like to commend him. Because it seems like really good daddies are pretty rare. And every kid in the whole world, they all need a good dad, but not everyone has one. And sometimes my heart is so full of thankfulness that God would give my kids, (my prized possessions) such a good man to protect and lead them, that I just have to spill it out and tell you how wonderful he is. So, here it is. This is what makes Brent such a good daddy man.Firstly, and really importantly, Brent loves me. He loves his kids by first loving his wife. That's pretty rare. He's intentional about staying connected to me. He calls throughout the day, sends emails[...]

At the end of the day, you might have a wreck on your hands. But, you might have made this new year's resolution, back, way back when you were feeling very resolution-y and you might have told yourself from here on out that you would do the dishes before you hit the hay. Because that way you'd wake up with a clean slate and a clean kitchen and that would make you happy in life.And that way you wouldn't yell at your kids so much. And you wouldn't glare at your husband. And you wouldn't kick the cat. And you wouldn't spit on spiders.P.S. I don't spit on spiders. Spitting is disgusting and I think it should be outlawed. And I don't kick the cat on purpose. But, sometimes I do those other things.P.S. again. One time when I used to share a bathroom with my sister, she was brushing her teeth and[...]

So, I have this friend, this dear sweet friend, who moves to to the big city to work for this publishing company. But, weeks before she goes she tells me of her plan and she says to me, "Maggie! I'm gonna make you an author!" She tells me this with a gleam in her eye and a happy grin and she says it like it's her shining dream. "You need to write a book," she adds, and in the moment, I don't exactly believe her. I mean, goodness, I've got my own list of need-to's. I need to get my house clean. I need to start by making up my bed on a consistent basis. I need to become a runner. So I can eat chocolate and not look like I eat chocolate. There's a lot of things I need to do. But, my friend, she doesn't let up and every time she sees me, she says it again and she plants this seed in my heart. [...]

I dreamed a dream.My friend was in a prison cell. She stood there, eyes looking down, face against the wall, and she was all alone. All her growing up years, her mama was a yeller and when she did something wrong, her mama screamed and came running with those angry eyes and she hit, fists pounding. And this friend, she'd just brace herself, while the blows came, bruising up her back and etching scars into her soul. And my friend's heart grew tough like leather, so she sewed it up to keep the pain from leaking out and the rage from seeping in. Or so she thought. I loved my friend and I missed her so I went down to that prison cell to see if perhaps I could get her out. I found the door was open, just barely open, but there she stayed. So, I went in to that cell and I took her hand. I gently[...]

Photo creditToday we went to church. We do that on Sundays. And I like church but I haven't always.  Actually, it wasn't all that long ago that I didn't really like church. Yes, this is confession time. I confess. I went through this phase where I just really didn't understand the point of it. We all sat in pews. (Or nice comfy chairs.) We all stared at the preacher while he stood behind this podium and talked. We sang some songs. No one seemed all that enthused. We wore our Sunday best.Maybe it's pretty basic to most people, but I just didn't get it. Like, who decided we would all sit in pews? And who thought that we should all face the front? And why did only one guy get to get up and talk to everybody? And why did everyone dress a certain way? And why did we all just stand there wh[...]

Today wasn't like my best day ever. I mean, it started out good. I got up early. Like before the kids. That's always a victory. But, it pretty much went down hill from there. As in, as soon as the kids got up. I didn't do a lot of things I wish I would have. And I did a lot of stuff I wish I hadn't. But, I forgive myself. It's not all that surprising to me that I can be a train wreck. Tomorrow will be better, I think.The part I regret the most was how terribly impatient I was with my children. At one point, I had to ask Gideon's forgiveness. And again, it's not all that surprising to me that I can be a real jerk, but I am always surprised at how quickly that little guy forgives. I mean, right away he forgives. And he hugged me big and made me want to be more like him. We prayed and asked J[...]

True love is when you've got this whoopie pie and you're very fond of whoopie pies, very, very fond of them... But, you've got this big brother who is also fond of whoopie pies, and even though he already ate all his, he seems intently fond of your whoopie pie...So, you go ahead and share your last treasured morsel with him. And you don't even mind. You're glad to. Because he's your big brother and you're just glad he exists. Yep, that's true love. Pretty much. And true love is never half-hearted. Because even when you'd really like to lick your fingers and get every last bit of sugary goodness off, you notice that your big brother seems especially interested in that last little bit of sugary goodness too...So, you go ahead and let him lick your fingers. And you don't even mentio[...]

We're addicted to color around here. And lately, we've been coloring everything. We color our eggs and our cream of wheat and our ice cubes and our cheeks and our shirts and our paper and our patio and pretty much anything we can get our hands on. We like color. Color makes everything so colorful. God must love color, too. Because He colored the whole world with it. Even the galaxies. Did you know the galaxies are different colors? Breathtaking colors. And underneath the sea, way down deep, there's all these colors, too.  I mean, He could have made everything black and white and we never would have known. But, He didn't. He made all these shades and hues and they make life brilliant and vibrant and nice to look around at.Do you ever wonder if God has a favorite color? Because it seems[...]

Today I marry my pictures with the lyrics to my favorite musical CD. If you don't have this CD,  you should get it. It will minister to you deep. I'm praying these words into the lives of some dear friends who are really hurting. And I'm praying them into my life, too."I Am Here"Do not fearFor I am with youDo not be dismayedFor I am here,I am Your God,I am here.I will strengthen you,I will help you,Uphold you with My steady hand.For I am here.I am Your God.I am here. So take courageFor I am with you. I will never let you go.For I am here.I am your God.I am here.I'll defend youAnd protect youFrom those who wish to cause you harmFor I am here.I am your God.I am here.  So rejoice In the Lord God.Rejoice.I am your God.I am here. "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxio[...]