John David is 3 years old, but he already knows that Christmas equals presents. He is also fully in love with Santa Clause, aka the King of Christmas. And in all fairness, who wouldn’t love a man who shows up once a year just to give you all the things you wanted???? Sign me up for that! So you might be wondering why I’m talking about Christmas in October, but the thing is that if you are planning a children’s […]
» Read moreJohn David asks me one question every single day. “Mom, are you so happy? I just want you be happy, Mom.” If I cry, he can’t take it. “No, Mom! I just want you be happy!” If I get stressed and start rushing around, “Mom, I just want you be happy!” If he’s in trouble for something, well, if John David gets in trouble for something he does that thing that little kids do that will melt your heart. He […]
» Read more“Your wedding dress? What do you want me to do? It’s…” I don’t remember exactly what my mom said, but I got the idea. “Ah, man! My wedding dress? I didn’t even think about that. I forgot that was in there. It’s damaged too? Well, everything is. It has smoke damage?” “Well, yeah. We can try to have it treated,” she offered. I don’t know how much exactly insurance covers, but I want them to use that for what they […]
» Read moreDid you make goals for 2016? Or “New Year’s Resolutions?” We’re over 3 months in now. How are you coming on those? I remember vividly saying something like, “I’d like to get rid of my hip pain. That’s my goal.” That was it. Even when I said it, I had mixed feelings about having such a simple, dull, and yet seemingly unachievable little goal. So I went to doctor appointment after doctor appointment. I surely took every blood test ever […]
» Read moreLife is so much more fun when you quit worrying about what others think of you. It’s not about “me” anyway. The other week I sang a solo at church. It used to make me ridiculously nervous. Why does it make us nervous to do something we love in front of other people? Because there are people! And they are watching! And what if your hair is messed up, or there’s lipstick on your teeth, or you miss a note? […]
» Read moreA couple of weeks ago something strange happened. Four mornings in a row I woke up at 4am with my heart pounding and my chest all tight and uncomfortable. “What. Weird. Why can’t I go back to sleep?” I thought, as I stared at the clock. 4am. That’s a time I usually only see if we make foolish airplane travel plans. April does not do early. Pound.Pound.Pound.Pound.Pound. Well, I can’t possibly go to sleep like this! I felt more like […]
» Read moreToday I went to my very first cardiology appointment ever. It was both helpful and confusing at the same time. My cardiologist thinks all of my pain and heart issues are probably related. Structurally, my heart looks superb, but the beat and the blood pressure are too high. She thinks this may be autoimmune in nature. And then she said two things I would rather have not heard. Don’t worry, it’s actually kind of funny: “No exercise […]
» Read moreLearning how to suffer well looks like the theme of my life lately. Have you ever been through something hard that you knew could not be walked around? Life is a muddy puddle for me right now, but there’s no way around it. It must be walked through. Do you know what I mean? We all have our things that we go through. My chosen theme for 2016 was to fix my SI/hip/back/leg pain. That’s the goal. Instead, 2016 has […]
» Read moreThis morning I struggled with my precious but incredibly clingy two-year-old. The problems of life that I cannot get off my mind swirled around in my brain. I found comfort in these promises from God’s Word. “Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust.” Psalm 16:1 “My flesh also will rest in hope. For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You will show me […]
» Read moreI know I keep telling you about this book: But hear me out one more time because I am STILL not over it yet. No, that’s not true. Hear me out today, and then probably several more times. I highlighted half the book. I loved so much about it. Rather than make a huge list, which I could, I’m going to just focus on the first great thought that this book inspired in me. We’ll talk about the rest another […]
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