Words are powerful. They can build up a life through language doused in love, or they can cut a life down like a scythe slicing through brittle grass. When I recently asked my oldest daughter what she loved most about her two best friends at school, she replied, "I've never heard either of them said a bad word about anyone. Ever. They are always kind. Not just to people's faces, but all the time. It's hard not to love being around girls like that." Her reflection caused me to evaluate my own life. Jesus told us what comes from our…

Sometimes I don't have much to say. Not enough words to fill up a haiku, much less a blog. Life gets busy, my body runs on fumes and caffeine, kids scream for attention...you know the drill. Yet despite the normal grind of living, the fear never completely goes away. The enemy is always lurking, ever hissing and flinging his accusations, preying upon my darkest secrets and coldest fears. There are some battles that must be fought over and over again. That's okay. If you're a recovering people-pleaser like me, remind yourself of this truth today: "Some people will like me,…

It seems like yesterday I was welcoming you into the world. I thought you would always be in diapers, watching Sesame Street and learning your alphabet. I blinked and suddenly we've traded Cheerios and sippy cups for makeup and iphones. And now, much to your father's dismay, your heads have begun to turn when a handsome boy gives you a wink and a smile. Boyfriends will come and go. You'll face heartbreak and joy, tears and laughter. As someone who is, ahem, a bit older than you, here is what I want you to know, so you'll have the happiest…

As I watched the footage of the horrific shooting in Las Vegas, my heart ripped a little further. Senseless. I can't understand the hate that would fill a mind and heart so completely that they would shoot into a crowd of happy, oblivious people. Not just one shot, not two, but over and over and over again. My chest aches and my throat swells as I relive the terror captured on screen. No sooner had I posted my condolences and prayers then I saw it. Wave after wave of posts along these lines... "It's Sin City. Sin always exacts a…

While in Great Britain, I noted many peculiarities in speech and customs different from my own---the use of a "water closet" instead of a restroom, tea rooms on every corner instead of Starbucks (although I did find a few of those too), Cornish pasties instead of sandwiches, and my favorite...the moment a bakery worker stared at me in utter confusion when I ordered a "cocoa" instead of a "hot chocolate". When he finally realized what I meant, he slapped his knee and belted out a booming laugh. "A cocoa, says she? Funny word for a chocolate, that. You Americans are…

I spent last week in the beautiful hills and hollows of the United Kingdom. Quaint villages and ocean-side drives by enormous bluffs greeted us at every turn. We visited lovely towns like Lacock, Bath, Cotswold, Lynmoth and Lynton, to name a few. We witnessed stunning vistas where movies like Disney’s Cinderella were filmed, as well as Harry Potter, Downton Abbey and Poldark. There was history and beauty in every moment. However, it was one single soul in the bustling city of Oxford who captured my heart and overshadowed all else. I had just finished a walking tour through the cramped…