“There’s no heartbeat, ” the doctor explained. We had received this devastating news two weeks prior, but we hoped and prayed the machine was faulty or the baby’s heartbeat was too early to detect. So, we returned for another ultrasound, begging God for a miracle.  But we didn’t get one.  Grief is funny. One minute you think you’re fine and the next minute it sneaks up on you. One minute you’re laughing with friends at a restaurant and the next minute you’re in the bathroom stall drying your tears with cheap toilet paper.  A family member asked me the other night if I was ..read more

The Cornish pasty is a meat pie. Now as a kid, the idea of combining the words pie and meat together seemed like a mean trick. But fast forward thirty years, and Cornish Pasties are a Hurlbut Thanksgiving tradition. Pasties are known and loved throughout Great Britain. It's believed the pasty originated with Cornish tin miners who, unable to return to the surface at lunchtime, could still enjoy a hearty meal. With their hands often dirty from a morning's work, the pasty could be held easily by a "handle" at one end of the thick pastry crust, avoiding contaminating the pie. When laborers im ..read more

Some days are going to be so hard that you’re gonna want to quit.  You’ll want a new husband.  New kids.  A new job. Basically, a different life.  But you can’t stop running.  When I was training for a marathon, there were times every step I took resulted in a sharp pain that would radiate from the sole of my foot all the way up my leg.  Every. Step. Hurt.  Everything in me wanted to quit. My mind would argue, “Why am I doing this? It’s a waste of time. It’s not worth the pain.” But guess what?  Your family IS worth the pain. Your marriage IS wor ..read more

M ost Sundays, my husband stands alone at church.  A pastor.  A husband.  A father of five. Yet most Sundays, he stands alone.  The circumstances of our lives prevent us from bringing our two kids on the severe end of the spectrum to church.  Sometimes, I stay home. Other times, my teen son holds down the fort. But most Sundays, my husband stands alone. Maybe you’re standing alone too.  Maybe you’re the crazy one who gets up early on Sundays and heads to church. You pray at meals or during bed-time routines while the others roll their eyes.  Or maybe ..read more

I ran into Tim Horton’s the other day while my daughter Mara rocked out to music in the car. I pulled into a handicap parking spot in order to keep her bobbing head in my line of vision from the checkout counter.  Two women in the line ahead of me noticed Mara flailing about in the passenger seat.  “What is wrong with that girl?” the first asked with a look of disgust on her face.  The other woman laughed and said, “Wow! I have no clue what is happening.” I should have spoken up. I should have defended my daughter and gave those women a lesson on autism awareness. But I di ..read more

M y husband and I got into a heated argument while at a family reunion. He stormed off and I sent a nasty text vowing not to speak to him the rest of the day.  Ten minutes later, I needed Tylenol, which meant venturing down the winding roads of the Pocono Mountains in search of a pharmacy. I was unfamiliar with the area and didn’t want to go alone, but the last thing I was going to do was ask my husband to drive. As I headed out the door, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned to find my father with his hand out.  “Give me the keys. I’ll drive.” “Dad, I’m 41 and I know how to use ..read more

I never expected my life to be this hard. It reminds me of when we started house hunting as newlyweds. I was bursting with excitement at the possibilities. I strolled up the walkway of a cute home—envisioning my future—only to realize the utter disaster that awaited me inside. The previous owner was a hoarder and the entire house needed to be gutted. Looks can be deceiving. The exciting life we anticipate often feels like a giant letdown. I can’t count the number of times I’ve cried myself to sleep thinking, “l want a different life, Jesus.” But Jesus doesn’t want to buy you a new house ..read more

Hey Jesus, I have no clue what to do. I pray and pray but hear nothing. One minute I’m certain of a decision only to experience whiplash a second later and second guess myself. I want to do what you want, Jesus—I think.  And to make matters worse, there are so many different opinions swirling in my head; Family, friends, strangers online. I feel seasick as I ride the waves of indecision.  Jesus, calm my mind.  Speak to my heart.  Silence my doubt.  Show me the way.    My Child, It’s not your job to calm the storm in your mind—it’s mine. Remember when ..read more

Ingredients: Two 10-ounce bags semisweet chocolate chips One 24-ounce package white almond bark, chopped 1 tablespoon peppermint extract 1 cup crushed peppermints (about 32 peppermint candies) Directions : In a medium stainless steel bowl or the top of a double boiler, add the semisweet chocolate chips. Nest the bowl over a pot of barely simmering water (the bowl should not touch the water) and stir the chocolate until melted (taking care not to get any water in the bowl). Set the bowl aside off the heat. Pour the semisweet chocolate on a parchment paper-lined quarter sheet pan. Refrig ..read more

Family traditions are the invisible threads stretching from heaven to earth, weaving our hearts with those who have gone before us. It’s grandma’s Italian meatballs, which are the same meatballs my dad makes on Sundays, and the same meatballs I attempt once a year. The smell dances throughout the kitchen reminding me I’m part of something bigger than myself.  The Christmas season is no exception. Rather than binding us to our passed loved ones, Christmas traditions fasten us to our faith—reminding us we’re a part of a redemption story much bigger than ourselves. F rom the matching paja ..read more