Splash the Puddles

That's a hickory nut-in case you aren't well educated on all things nuts like we are in this house. It's hard to tell by the picture, but those things are huge. They can easily cause you to lose your footing and land flat on your hiney as you casually stroll across your front yard. They can also fully convince you that an army of rebels is plowing through your roof as they fall from the trees. Not that I know either of those things from experience. Ahem.  That's right, this is a God blog. Let me take that little white lie back. I know BOTH those things from experience. Multiple times.  They are everywhere in our yard right now. Trampoline, driveway, grassy land, wooded area, gutters, ditch, walkway, doorstep, you name it-hickory nuts are there.  They make the loudest noise you've ever heard when they fall and we are constantly noting how much it would hurt if one hit us on our head on it's way down.  Just last week, I was jumping on the trampoline with my boys, ...

Unmerited favor.  Kindness we don't deserve.  Sanctification in it's purest and most genuine form.  I struggle to understand grace .   I think I struggle to understand it, because I so often struggle to extend it.  Complete and total redemption, offered to me at no cost and with no limitations.  It's hard to grasp.  Sometimes, it's even hard for me to accept.  We live in a world where we have to earn our favor, we have to prove our worth, a world where we have to be good enough to be accepted.   Yet, that's so paradoxical to how Jesus models for us to live. I've been a Christian for 25 years now.  I've gone through so many highs and lows in my walk with Christ.  There have been times, when I've walked so closely with Him that I could all but feel His arms wrapped around me, guiding my every step.  There have been other times, when I've wandered so far away from Him, that it seemed it was all I could do...

I sat with my boys in the play place area of our local McDonalds, talking as we were eating, and I noticed that we were the only customers seated in that area who were actively engaged in conversation with one another.   Sure, others were engaged in conversation-some via text, some speaking with someone on the phone, others casually perusing Facebook or other various forms of social media while their children played. Communicating for sure, but not with those who actually accompanied them.  Around a year ago, we made a family rule  (I will even go as far as to call it a commitment) that when we dine together as a family (as in just the four of us) in public places that we will not entertain ourselves with electronics, but rather focus on growing as a family during this time. It wasn't a popular rule at first, by anyone's standards. But it's grown on us. We wanted to teach our boys the importance of such habits as waiting patiently on food and enjoying their surroundings i...

I remember the very early morning email I received "from" a little bean growing in my sister-in-law's belly, asking me to pray for it, like it was yesterday.  (technically the email was written by my baby brother, but from the perspective of the baby itself) I squealed loudly from behind the desk in my classroom and ran out into the hallway despite the fact that my room had students already filing in it.  I almost ran smack into my very newly pregnant sister-in-law, coming in anticipation of my reaction.  What a joyous moment-a hug shared between sisters and friends.  We were having a baby! I remember the text message I received early one morning, that I was already anticipating and God had prepared me for, that something had gone wrong.  I remember the call from my brother asking me if I could come and sit with him as they took his wife, the mother of his first child, my sister and my dear friend back.  Sitting with him...

It's 1:07 a.m. and I am awake. I'm awake because there is a tiny hot and sweaty leg up against mine, making me unable to comfortably settle into my slumber. I dislike being hot (and especially sweaty) while I sleep. Or ever.  I'd scoot him closer to his grown twin, but that space is currently occupied by the smaller version of me, in male form-likely plastered in hot sweatiness to his dad's leg. His dad isn't bothered. In fact, he's snoring. Loudly.  I want to be annoyed-it's 1:10 now. But I can't be. I can't be annoyed because of a profound thought that has taken up residence in my brain and grown roots there that are currently weaving in and out of my thoughts.  Many women would give anything to have a tiny, hot and sweaty leg stuck to theirs, keeping them from sleep. Many women would give up everything to have two small ones crammed between her and her (snoring) love. Even just for one night.  Many women can't.  I am among those who can-those ...

Once in a while, a word from the Lord is so ripe in my heart, that it's almost too delicate to write about.  Usually I write after things have already been worked out in me, after God has stretched and refined, sifted and molded me in particular areas.  But sometimes, like this time, I am pushed to write while the refining is still in process.  I was recently told by someone that they loved how my attitude was always so positive about circumstances, that it refreshed them and encouraged them. In fact, I've been told that many times by many people.  I want to receive the compliments with grace and appreciation, but the problem with that is that I know the truth about my attitude, and sometimes it's just not positive. Unfortunately,  the truth just hurts. Sure, it almost always it eventually works it's way out. My faith just insists it does.  However, if you see my positive attitude displayed on social media or in real l...

A good long while ago, I started asking God to unsatisfy me.  Is that even a word? I don't know, and I'm not pausing to look it up. :) If I'm being honest here, which is what I do when I write (albeit sometimes too  honest...), I am a girl who has been far too easily satisfied by the things of this world. At least momentarily, for the satisfaction never lasts long before I find myself longing for more- It's easy for me to turn to others to fulfill inner needs. I have a strong and God centered marriage, a supportive family, amazing children, and I'm extremely blessed with a few close friends who each play their special role in my life. I don't have to look far to find what I'm looking for, or at least what I think I'm looking for. And yet it stands, that those things in all their merit, are never able to fully complete me.   I believe strongly that God created his children with a desire, a craving, that cannot be satisfied with earthly relationships or th...