Encouragement
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How To Overcome Obstacles to Your Calling: Interview with Dr. Angie Ward, part II
Happy Book Launch Day to Dr. Angie Ward, who gave us warm, wise advice last week on how to embrace God’s calling in our lives. No surprise, I’m recommending I Am a Leader: When Women Discover the Joy of Their Calling to everybody–Go Get This Book! But until you can head to the store or…
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Called to Be a Leader: Interview with Dr. Angie Ward, part I
“The question is not WHETHER you have influence. The questions are WHERE do you have influence, and HOW are you going to use that influence to bring honor and glory to God?” That statement from Dr. Angie Ward in I Am A Leader: When Women Discover the Joy of Their Calling jolted me from my…
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How Will You Stay Faithful When Your Faith Is Rocked? Galatians Devotional 8
Reverse puberty. Fun phrase, and no, I’m not wishing kids would morph into their younger selves. Where would the adventure be in that? No, “reverse puberty” is how doctors explain the “profound amount of [biological] stress that causes physical, mental, and emotional strain” during a woman’s perimenopausal years. Well, thank you, doctor. I’ll just have a…
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Hand Those Kids Their Crowns!
It’s only fitting as we round out our month of parenting strategies for launching teens that graduation announcements are arriving daily. I love them, but they sort of terrify me as reminders that my first baby will be a senior next year. To my friends letting us share in your joy, thank you! Your babies…
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Houston, We Have a Pollen Problem
Pretty sure this is the worst pollen season in Houston history. I say that every year, but y’all, it’s been going on for 6 weeks now. McLeod worked so hard the other day cleaning the outdoor furniture. Didn’t last long. I broke down and washed my car. As of last night, it’s got a light…
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How to Take a Spring Break from Worry
A change of scenery is good for the soul. Last week we took a trip to Mexico and delighted in crystal-clear underground rivers, Mayan ruins, tropical birds and flowers, and of course, lots of sand and sun. Though I’m now busy dumping out that sand from shoes and bags, I’m trying to hold on firmly…
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Finding God’s Faithfulness in Everyday Life
How ‘bout them resolutions? Anybody still winning with theirs? I can tell you I’ve mostly kept up with one of them, but it’s neither the one I made about eating more heart-healthy fish nor the one about getting more exercise. (Insert list of excuses here. Take a deep breath. Get back on the plan with…
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Reading Roundup: 3 Takes on Family and Community
It’s been awhile since I shared some great books, so it’s time for another Reading Roundup. Other than the fact that all three of these reads have blueish-greenish covers, I thought they were an eclectic group. However, I realized while writing about them that they all touch on themes of family and community. Explains why…
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When Holiday Busyness Distracts, Battle Back
Happy weird week between Thanksgiving and December 1st! Maybe you’ve been more productive than I have, but I’ve treated it like the calm before the storm. I didn’t even do Cyber-Monday shopping like I normally do, opting instead to grab my dog and go play outside. Pretty sure I was trying to stay far, far…
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Access that Trust Fund You Didn’t Know Was Yours
McLeod sat down beside me on the couch the other day with a meaningful look. With the arrival of August, he made an important announcement: “Just 30 days ’til Alabama football.” Now the race is really on to finish the covered patio that I was convinced would be done by now–oh, how optimistic I was…