If marriage is a gift from God, then why isn’t it easier? Have you ever asked this question? From little-girl dreams of white walking down the aisle to grown-woman desires to build a life together, most women have pretty high expectations when it comes to marriage. After all, we’ve been trained to expect a “happily ever after” ending to the search for a perfect mate, have we not? Truth be told, unmet expectations are one of the first and most difficult hurdles for young married couples to overcome. Even mature married couples can struggle with unmet expectations as they journey through new sea ..read more

Have you ever felt caught, without escape? No way to possibly win? The power of your choice is something I have learned over years and yet in moments, all at once. One more memorable lesson came on a hot summer day years ago… The day soured suddenly, like spoiled milk. First came the bee sting; then disobedient children added to the chaos. In the midst of all that, I realized all was not well with my husband, either. Disappointment, frustration, harsh words, and fear all balled up into one, a gaping wound ripped open in the midst of a beautiful day. All thoughts of fun or enjoyment vanished in ..read more

It was on my mind first thing in the morning, last thing before bed, and seemingly every other moment in between. I just couldn’t seem to escape the negative thoughts that had plagued me all week long. The negative attitude I wrestled with came out not only in my thoughts, but in my speech, as well. Every chance I had, I grumbled about the undeserved injustice to my husband and to the Lord. I felt trapped by my own sin. Take your thoughts captive. The Spirit nudged me time and again, yet I couldn’t quite figure out how to do what Scripture so clearly teaches and make myself obedient to Christ ..read more

When we first moved to our small community, one of the things I appreciated most about our new home was the big, beautiful backyard surrounded by a brown picket fence. The security of a fence gave this mama of four much peace of mind! At the time, our little ones could climb over the fence if they really wanted to, but we made it clear that the child who chose to breach that barrier without permission would face serious consequences. So, the physical barrier of our fence served as a constant reminder to stay inside where it is “safe.” But as much as I loved our fence, it could only protect my ..read more

I stammered for words when my youngest son piped up behind me, “Mommy, why aren’t they helping?” If I had heard him approach, I might have been tempted to shield him from the video of protesters and police colliding. How do I explain the brokenness in our world to an eleven-year-old boy who has very little real-life experience with racism? How do I do justice to such a complex issue with only a few words? What is the Christian response to racism? In past weeks we have witnessed the best of humanity alongside the worst of humanity in a poignant display of both brokenness and healing. We read ab ..read more

The ladder crashed to the ground outside, and instantly I jumped up from the couch. Before I reached the front door, I heard my husband’s cries, “Help! Help!” I raced to the area of the roof he was working on and found him flat on his back, unmoving. Blood poured from his chin and his forehead, already pooling in his ear and behind his head. I called emergency services while our oldest son grabbed towels to staunch the flow. As first responders arrived on scene, neighbors came from all directions to help, as well. Thankfully, my husband’s injuries didn’t appear to be life-threatening but still ..read more

If marriage is a gift from God, then why isn’t it easier? Have you ever asked this question? From little-girl dreams of white walking down the aisle to grown-woman desires to build a life together, most women have pretty high expectations when it comes to marriage. After all, we’ve been trained to expect a “happily ever after” ending to the search for a perfect mate, have we not? Truth be told, unmet expectations are one of the first and most difficult hurdles for young married couples to overcome. Even mature married couples can struggle with unmet expectations as they journey through new sea ..read more