Judging by the outcry, you would think we had banned our children from candy or something. Last Wednesday evening, we pulled out of the church parking lot and headed home. While the kids were busy gabbing about life in teen/preteen-land, my husband looked over at me and mouthed, "Half-price shakes at Sonic". I smiled and nodded. We didn't say a word but I anticipated how excited the kids would be when we pulled up to their favorite shake place. But when we passed the road that led to our house, the children began shouting in panicked frenzy. "Dad! What are…

Mother's Day is a day I both cherish and dread. Cherish, because of the sweet bond my three living children and I share. We giggle and play, worship and love. Yet, I also dread this holiday too. Why? Because I have two babies in heaven. I wouldn't wish them back for anything. (I often tell my audiences that I have five children. Two are with Jesus and the other three are stuck with me.)  But Mother's Day is a sharp reminder of their absence in my arms. It fuels my longing for little Taylor and Morgan and resurrects memories of…

I did it again. After years of battling approval addiction, after years teaching others how to break free from the chains of people pleasing, I found myself right back at square one...I took on a task I wasn't meant to take because I wanted to be the agreeable good girl. Someone asked something of me, but instead of requesting time to pray, I blurted out, "Sure! I'm happy to do it." And now I'm resentful. The same old pattern. The same old struggle. Have you been there? Each of us battle with different things. Some of us find ourselves lured…

I opened the mailbox and rifled through the collection of papers waiting to be opened. Bills, bills, junk mail, bills...I stopped when one brightly colored advertisement caught my eye. Clutched in my fingers was the smiling face of Dolly Parton. I scanned the ad, admiring the bright, glossy sheen. Dolly Parton was coming to my hometown? Why hadn't I heard about this? Miss Islands-in-the-Stream-I-Will-Always-Love-You was coming to my city next week? Why wasn't this being blasted from every television and radio station in town? I'm not a mega fan of Dolly's, but still, someone of her acclaim should be welcomed…

My super hero son didn't understand. I climbed on the lawn tractor to chop down the rapidly growing grass surrounding our home. Nate watched. He blinked. Frowned. I thought he didn't like the noise the large piece of machinery churned up. Oh, but his frown sprouted from so much more. Over the clatter of the tractor, I heard high-pitched squeals of laughter. My two girls were doubled over with giggles. What was so funny? I glanced behind me to see my three year old son running towards the moving tractor as fast as his chubby little legs could carry him.…

Some days, homeschooling is a total joy. Other days are pure hair-pulling frustration. Tears. Giggles. Broken pencils. 100s. Red marks. Some days I feel like supermom. Most of the time, though, I feel like I'm groping my way through a fog, praying I'm not scarring my children for life. (By the way, have you ever wondered why there aren't many home schooling atheists? My theory for this anomaly is because after a few weeks of home schooling, most of us are crying out to God for deliverance.) After closing in on our second full year of taking the plunge, we…