Category Archives: faith

Holding tight to what really matters

As I write this, my husband and I are nearing the end of a full day’s drive at the end of a quick family weekend. It’s been the sweetest two days with my Dad, our bonus mom Mary, my brother and sister and several of the nieces and nephews. We had entirely too much food coupled with long conversations and the usual banter and ridiculously loud laughter. We’ve walked away with a mixture of lofty dreams, shared griefs and plenty of prayer needs for the days ahead. And at the end of these hours together we find ourselves holding tight to what really matters.

Sarah, Dad, Andy & I at Thanksgiving

Many of you have been praying for my brother, Andy and his wife Liz as he battles glioblastoma. Thank you! We’ve posted updates on facebook but I want to take a few minutes today to share with you the effects of your prayers. Andy finished Read More

Moving from broken to beloved

I don’t know your story, but I’ve heard quite a few this past week. Stories permeated with heartache and brokenness in every realm – physical, spiritual, emotional, mental, relational. Stories of so many longing to be moving from broken to beloved.

For some it’s just a page or two of their story, for others it feels more like chapters. Chapters of broken fragments longing to be whole and dearly loved.

The only comfort I know is found in my relationship with my Creator and His declaration that I am His beloved child. We don’t always feel that way, but we also know that our feelings can be a terrible barometer of the truth of a matter.

So, I suppose this reminder is for Read More

And this is my prayer for your marriage

Today we’re just one month shy of 1000 days from our last big family event and three days ago marked a mere 100 days until our next. This pledging to a spouse is the most beautiful of family celebrations. It ranks right up there with bringing babies into the world, and grandbabies too, or so I’ve heard. You, our children, have chosen well. And this is my prayer for your marriage …

KS attendant prayer
Photo courtesy of Behind the Face Photography

That Christ will always be the foundation of your marriage. Learning what that looks like in the day-to-day is much more complicated than tossing  Read More

Advent Hope Devotion and Free Nativity Set

The Christmas season is one rich with traditions and significance. It can also quickly become so chockful of good things that we miss the best things. Many of us can look back to years when we did okay in quieting the chaos and focusing on Christ and other years not so much. One of the things our family has always enjoyed is some sort of Advent observance. There are as many ways to celebrate advent as there are those celebrating. We want to share a simple Advent hope devotion and free nativity set for you to use with you children, grandchildren, nieces & nephews, church kids or whomever you choose.

Observing Advent

Advent begins the first Sunday after Thanksgiving, which this year is Read More

Advent Devotion Round up for All Ages

Why so early with an Advent devotion round up for all ages?

In just one week we’ll find our thoughts quickly shifting from turkey and stuffing to twinkle lights and wrapped gifts. Many of us feel a deep growing need to quiet some of the chaos and noise of Christmas in an effort to focus on the birth of Christ. We have used a variety of books and devotions over the years to celebrate Advent and today I want to share some of our favorites. And we have a sneak peek at a fun ornament set for the kids to make starting next week. So why share an advent round up for all ages today you ask? Why to give you time to order a copy for yourself and begin planning for your own family advent, of course.

advent-devotions
A few family Advent favorites

Family devotions and activities with younger children

When our four were clustered more around the preschool years, one of our favorite books was Read More

Because God is good.

Thirty years ago this month was one of the sweetest Thanksgivings our family has known. Not that those before or since haven’t been good, mind you, but 1986 was a significant one. It was the year my brother hit a semi head on traveling home for the holiday weekend. They pulled him and his friend out of the car thanks to the Jaws of Life. He spent the ambulance ride singing hymns and telling the EMTs about Jesus. They probably thought him a bit delusional, but actually, he was speaking the unfiltered thoughts from Read More