I love my kids like crazy, but mothering is hard and my sins are many. I am prone to discouragement, and wallowing in my failures only leads to more of them. It is looking to Christ that fends off condemnation and gives the power to change. He is the hope-giver and the heart-changer for crappy … Continue reading Sometimes I’m a Really Crappy Mom
..."remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Acts 20:35 Do we remember these words? Or, more importantly, do we really believe them? So often, the snares, struggles, and sins we face in our Christian walk are related to unbelief. We have this … Continue reading Believing Jesus: Is it really more blessed to give than to receive?
I never read Kisses from Katie. I knew her general story from a friend who loved it, but I didn't get around to checking it out myself. I'll admit to being a little skeptical. How could a 23-year-old adopt 13 kids and actually function well as a mother? Perhaps this skepticism is one reason that … Continue reading Daring to Hope Book Review
I've never considered myself an overly-critical person. I typically think of overly-critical people as miserable, ungrateful, difficult to please, and always dissatisfied with the people in their life. I don't really fit that description. I'm pretty easy-going. I tend to like people and get along with them. I'm low-maintenance relationally. I make a practice of … Continue reading Criticism: Kill it or Make it Constructive
When you're in a situation like mine and live amidst the middle class and wealthy, it's easy to raise kids who lack compassion. Before you think this is some judgmental assumption or attack on their character, hear me out. They might be kind, but still lack compassion. They might be responsible and thoughtful, but still lack … Continue reading The Only Way to Have Compassionate Kids is to Expose Them to Suffering
Article originally published on Her View From Home: Common suffering has a unique way of building community. It starts with those small and inconsequential struggles. Two moms with tantruming toddlers throw sympathetic smiles to each other at the park. A knowing glance is cast when the woman in the checkout line buys chocolate, ice cream, tampons, … Continue reading Shared Suffering Builds Close Community
26 months since application, 12 months and 1 day since receiving her referral, and it finally happened. We were united with our daughter! In many ways, things have been far better than we could have ever asked or imagined. Meeting our daughter's caretakers was incredibly encouraging. We were bracing for a large orphanage where everyone … Continue reading The Problem I Wasn’t Prepared For.
It's been just over 2 years. The call is coming any day. FINALLY. My ringer is set as loud as possible, but I still impulsively check my phone every five minutes. I can't miss this call. Somehow I've missed all the other ones... the one telling us they'd found a placement, the one telling us … Continue reading The Call That’s Going to Change Everything
I love extravagant demonstrations of mission. My heart is always stirred by the testimonies of those who take radical steps of sacrifice for the glory of Christ. The millionaire who lives simply in order to give the majority of his income away, the family who adopts children with significant health challenges or special needs, the pastor … Continue reading Sometimes Radical Mission Takes the Boring Road
