On Palm Sunday in 1975, a 19-year-old mother walks down the aisle of small church in Eastern Ohio. She stops at the altar and bows her head. In the moments that follow, she whispers a prayer to Jesus, confessing her sins and believing in her heart that He is Lord and died to save her. […]
Imagine standing at the other end of this year. A glance back into 2016 and what would you hope to see? I’ve pondered on this often as I step into this new year. One yearning that stands out for me is to spend many “I’m going to treasure this forever” moments with my family. You […]
Each November, my son’s elementary school hosts a special Grandparents Day program. I love how his school takes time each year to honor grandparents. Last Friday, my son and his fourth grade class performed a beautiful and touching tribute to military veterans. During their performance, pictures of grandparents who served in the military were displayed […]
Tonight, children across this country will bring home jack-o-lantern buckets brimming with candy and pillowcases about to burst at the seams. Little hands will dig through trick-or-treating treasures, tearing wrappers open and indulging in this once-a-year candy overload. Many of us parents stare at the cache of candy with mixed emotions. Nostalgia overwhelms as we […]
My little guy LOVES Star Wars and gets a kick out of playing Angry Birds Star Wars. So it made perfect sense this autumn season for us to decorate mini pumpkins as characters from Angry Birds Star Wars. With some basic supplies in hand, we spent a few hours over the weekend converting seven mini pumpkins into beloved characters: […]
“I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in.” ~George Washington Carver~ As a tradition, my family embarks on a day-long drive up in the Colorado mountains each autumn to enjoy the changing leaves. One of our favorite drives […]
A few days ago, I finally downloaded photos I took this summer. Nestled between hundreds of pictures, I found a treasure—this candid moment captured between my seven-year-old son and his forever young great grandma.
My seven-year-old son and I are embarking on an adventure this summer—an educational expedition that will take us around the world over the next 11 weeks. As armchair travelers, we’ll be learning all sorts of things about each region we visit, including its geography, people and cultures, history, cuisine, contributions to art and literature, and […]
With hiking season just around the corner, I thought I’d share one of my favorite places to hike in Colorado. Four years ago, my family discovered a gem tucked away in the mountains near Breckenridge, Colorado ~ Spruce Creek Trail. My son was three at the time, and with the help of a Kelty child […]
In 2009, I had the great privilege of interviewing my mom for a writing assignment. What an enriching experience that interview was! (If you have the opportunity, I urge you take take some time to interview your mom. You’ll likely be surprised by what you discover about her.) I gained many nuggets of wisdom from […]