Dearest Hope-y. I know you're fast asleep right now, but I just wanted to tell you something. You belong. We're your family so you're with us. Like, you're in. This is your safe place.Now, I'm not sayin' that there won't be some dysfunctional moments. Or times of chaos. Or those instances when though we all love each other, we may not exactly like each other. That just goes with the territory. But I am sayin' that if you ever run away, we're comin' with you. Or that is, we're comin to get you.Because remember, you're with us. We're with you. That's family. So, hold on tight, little girl. Sometimes things get a little turbulent. But if you feel your fingers slipping...no worries. Mama's got you. And Daddy's got us, too. Oh, and we've got Bubby. And Jesus...well, He's the one who really hold[...]

This is me with my kids with my little brother. Well, I should say my younger brother. He's much bigger than me, now. But he used to be littler than me and I used to beat him up. I was a mean sister. Like, really mean. And mom and dad would always say, "Maggie--someday he's gonna be bigger than you, so you better watch out." Funny. I didn't believe them...but it happened. And when it did, I learned not to pick on him anymore.But before I learned, I would do some mean things. (You know, because I was a mean sister.) Like, one time we were waiting at my dad's gas station and my mom had to go run an errand. She gave me money to get a treat out of the snack machine and told me I had to share it with my brother. Well, David fell asleep on the dirty old couch in the lobby. So, I got us a brownie[...]

I don't get out to the woods as often as I used to. When I was just a girl, I'd venture out to the wild frequently. I'd go to think and to talk out loud to God and just to wonder at all the beauty I could find. And it wasn't hard to find it--I just had to go and look. And by look, I mean, stand still and see. Now that I'm a mama to two little ones, it gets a little more complicated. The woods keep calling me, but I just don't always get to come. But sometimes I just can't help myself. Like the other day, when me and Bubby were all bundled up. I glanced over at the wild edge and saw something I couldn't resist seeing more of. So, I scooped up my little guy (as heavy as he is) and tramped through the snow. Then, I set him down beside me in a knee-deep drift and said, "Wait just a second...Mo[...]

Aaaawe…nottin better than a nice relaxing drive on a wintry afternoon up and down the driveway. This. Is. The. Life!(Yawn.)Besides, a guy's gotta do somethin besides crush cheerios and unload the cabinets all day.Now, if only I could find a good tune here….oh yeah, baaaby, found it!Aaaaa Beeeee Ceeee Deeeee…. No, wait, I need something a little more up-beat...oh yeah, yeah--here we go.Twinkle, twinkle, liiitle st...(Chuga, chuga, umph….hissssssssssssss.)Huh? What was that? Oooh, you’ve got to be kiddin me. I always heard that if your car’s gonna break down, it’s gonna either be during a tornadic disturbance or a snow storm.  Welp, better get out and take a look around.  Stuck? Tongue is stuuck. It's STUCK!!!And, oh no! I can't move my aaaarms. I can't get up!Uh...h[...]

If I could hear the morning's voice, I wonder if this is what it might be telling me:Hey...psssst....little girl, time to wake up. Rise up, little earth-child, shake off your sleep--there's something I want to show you. Quick, go take a peek out your window. You might miss it if you stay there in your bed. Go, look at the dawn--the first gleam of light. See how it comes so quietly? So peacefully? See how it illuminates all the world? The light you need--here it comes. So you can see.Now, little girl, do you hear that Voice? Your Heavenly Daddy? He's calling for you. He wants you to come. He has bread for you--His Word. And He is the Bread, the Word. You need Him today. You need what He has to give you. Though all the world may try to live this life on their own, you need to go abo[...]

Written for a friend with a sore heart. Hoping this will help, if even just a little.Photo creditI've been thinking about you here lately. Thinking about how it doesn't bug you to be alone, and  how much you like to go exploring, walking those winding sand-dune trails all the way to the sea. I think about how you don't give a rip what the neighbors think as you sit on your roof in the middle of your busy street, for hours, and stare at a rainbow until the last smidgen of color fades.  I've been thinking about the story you told me of how you found this one "wishing" tree out on the seacoast and this chair that hangs from it by one bolt and how you climbed up there and out on that limb and just sat there taking in all the view. The view of waves crashing and unfathomable dept[...]

Today, Grammy (Brent's mama) gave me an amazing gift. She came over for the afternoon to play with the kiddos while I got to do whatever my little heart desired. So, I packed up my back-pack (well, actually it was the diaper bag because in case you didn't know, the new cool is carrying around a diaper bag) and I headed out to the local coffee shop.Do you wanna know what I put in my diaper bag...ahem...cool back-pack? Well, I was gonna put the lap-top in there but then I thought about what I most needed...and that was my Bible. Just my Bible and a journal.You see, lately, I've been missing something. I've been missing some quiet alone time with my Savior. I do try to read His Word each day, but usually, it's in between breakfast and play-time when I'm trying to keep Bubby from falling out o[...]

Sometimes I wonder if she can sense it. This love from me that feels like it's flooding out of my heart in a torrent all about her.Can she actually feel it on her skin? Like drops of rain? Like beams of sunlight?I really do wonder this.Surely she can, because I can feel the current of it, moving toward her. The surge and swell embracing her. Wrapping her up.But just in case, I go ahead and say it. Speak it over her.I love you.I'll be here for you.I'll try my best to understand you.I'll stay up late to talk to you.I'll fight for you...me and Daddy both.And somehow, as best as her little heart can comprehend, I think she knows she's loved.Because when we know we're loved, we radiate beauty. And we can't help but smile...for no apparent reason.I'm glad you're here, Hope.I think we'll be good [...]

Hey guys--Bubby, here. I would like to make an announcement. At the wee age of nineteen months, I've properly mastered the art of doughnut consumption.(Get ready for some raw talent here, folks.)I come by this quite honestly. I'm an offspring of people who unabashedly slam on breaks and squeal their tires soon as they spot the glowing red sign at Krispy Kreme. (They assure me that everybody takes advantage of the free doughnuts and gingerly walks out...but it's still embarrassing.)Anyways, as a rule, I make it my aim to cram in as many doughnuts as my little mouth can hold and repeat "Fluffy bunny" four times fast.It's always nice to mix a little snot in there with 'em as I scarf 'em down.Gives you kind of a sugar-high, you know?Woe....puuuurple dragons are coooool.Now, where's the milk?