Category Archives: Friends
Take Care of Your ‘Neighbs With Some Simple Compassion
Today, one of our local news reporters delivered his thoughts on this record-breaking weather while stationed up to his thighs in snow on a fake deck. Nice touch, I thought. One leg was in a “normal” section of the snow … Continue reading
Posted in Art/Beautiful Things, Book Review, Compassion, Contest, Faith, Family, Following Jesus, FREE BOOK, Friends, Gifts, Giveaway!, God, gratitude, Home, Kids, Literature/Books, Matters of the Heart, Prayer, Seasons of Life, Things I Love!, writing/work
Tagged Blog Giveaway, Book Giveaway, Book review, Contests, Faith, Family, FREE BOOK, Giving/Sharing/Generosity, God, Seasons of Life, Spiritual Development, spiritual formation, Zondervan Publishers
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What Women Tell Me: Finding Freedom From The Secrets We Keep, by Anita Lustrea
“As a girl and young woman, I memorized hundreds of Scripture verses in vacation Bible school and in Sunday school. I grew up memorizing the hymn book. I didn’t, however, grow up understanding much about God’s grace and freedom.” [pg. … Continue reading
Posted in Chores/Duties/Jobs, Discipline Issues, Discoveries, Faith, Family, Following Jesus, Food, Friends, God, gratitude, Growing Pains, Heartbreak, Holidays, Home, Kids, Kitchen/Culinary Woes, Literature/Books, Marriage, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Music, Nature/Outdoors, Neighbors, Play, Prayer, Seasons of Life, Social Justice, Summer, Travel, Uncategorized, writing/work
Tagged Anita Lustrea, Bible, Christianity, Divine grace, God, Moody Bible Institute, Moody Radio, Religion and Spirituality, secrets, Sunday school, theology, United States
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New Year’s Eve Traditions
Contrary to the throngs of Time-Square-pounding, diamond-clad, smoky-eyed, horn-blowing ladies waving their champagne flutes to the thumping beat of the Black Eyed Peas, I was at home this New Year’s Eve wearing hoops and yoga pants, sporting mascara-free lashes and … Continue reading
Posted in Faith, Family, Food, Friends, Gifts, gratitude, Holidays, Home, Kitchen/Culinary Woes, Marriage, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Neighbors, Recipe/Kitchen Success!, Seasons of Life, Thngs I Love!, Uncategorized
Tagged Black Eyed Peas, China Dinnerware, Crystal Glasses, Dick Clark, Family Traditions, Grape juice, Michigan, new year, New Year's Eve, Ryan Seacrest, Time-Square
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“What’s Included” In Mexico
Next month my husband and I are leaving the mess in the kitchen, turning on our heels, locking the doors, and escaping into the wild blue yonder together. Along with some of our best friends and our new friend, the … Continue reading
Posted in Friends, Nature/Outdoors, Play, Random Fun, Rants, Vacation
Tagged Cancún, Carnival Cruise Lines, Cozumel, Florida, Mexico, Punta Sur, Riviera Maya, vacation
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Bittersweet, by Shauna Niequist
What a delight to have been offered the opportunity to review Shauna Niequist’s latest book, Bittersweet, released last month by Zondervan. Stitched together with threads of the poetic and honest writing we devoured in Cold Tangerines, Shauna’s voice again rings … Continue reading
The Lure of Summer
My blogging aspirations for the summer have, quite obviously, fallen flat, dying the pathetic death that comes with goals left unattended. The weight of summer presses in on my heart and I am drawn, again and again, away from this … Continue reading
Posted in Discoveries, Family, Food, Friends, God, gratitude, Home, Marriage, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Nature/Outdoors, Neighbors, Play, Random Fun, Silly Lists, Summer
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Bleeding Cherries
Tonight we went cherry picking–something I love doing when the days of June dwindle into the heat of July. Standing in the evening shade cast by a low, squatty canopy, I looked up to the patch of blue breaking through … Continue reading
Posted in Friends
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Pure Pleasure, by Gary Thomas
Check back tomorrow to see how you can win a copy of this book, courtesy of Zondervan Publishers! Little did I know when I tore into the envelope that I was the lucky recipient of something I never knew I … Continue reading
Posted in Discipline Issues, Discoveries, Faith, Fitness, Following Jesus, Friends, Gifts, God, gratitude, Growing Pains, Home, Kids, Literature/Books, Marriage, Matters of the Heart, Thngs I Love!, Uncategorized
Tagged "Pure Pleasure", Gary Thomas, The Blog Tour Spot, theology, Zondervan Publishers
3 Comments
All Hail Hallmark!
When the “rewards” coupon comes in the mail, I’m the sucker who can’t wait to race out the door to Betty’s–Hallmark, that is. I love walking into the dreamy ambiance full of pretty bags and holiday decorations, and hearing the … Continue reading
Posted in Discoveries, Family, Finances, Friends, Gifts, gratitude, Home, Kids, Matters of the Heart, Random Fun, Thngs I Love!, Uncategorized
Tagged "itty bitty greetings", cards, encouragement, Hallmark, lunch box, school, spiritual formation
6 Comments
Living with Prepositions
It seems this blog has become my own private confessional. Be warned: you are all priests and I expect absolution at the end of this post. I regret to inform you, as I’ve regretted admitting to myself, that I’m living … Continue reading
Posted in Chores/Duties/Jobs, Decor/Organizing, Discipline Issues, Faith, Family, Fitness, Following Jesus, Friends, God, Growing Pains, Home, Literature/Books, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Rants, Seasons of Life
Tagged "Make It work!", 5K, absolution, bulletin board, cleaning toilets, confessional, goals, high thread count sheets, Nate Berkus, People Magazine, prayer, prepositions, priests, reading, Richard Simmons, Running, verbs
4 Comments
BNE: Best Neighbors Ever
I first crossed over the asphalt divide six years ago with a plate of monster cookies and a welcome note, hoping that the new people across the street would be, at the very least, pleasant. What I never even considered … Continue reading
Posted in Faith, Family, Finances, Following Jesus, Friends, Gifts, God, gratitude, Heartbreak, Home, Illness, Kids, Matters of the Heart, Neighbors, Social Justice
Tagged A Hundred for a Home, Blessings, Costa Rica, monster cookies, Neighbors, Sanfilippo Syndrome/MPS111, Taylor University
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From “Pure Pleasure”
This coming February I will be taking part in a blog tour for Gary Thomas’ latest book, the phenomenal Pure Pleasure. When I was invited to do the review, the title intrigued me [subtitled: Why Do Christians Feel So Bad About … Continue reading
Posted in Discoveries, Faith, Family, Finances, Fitness, Following Jesus, Food, Friends, Gifts, God, gratitude, Home, Literature/Books, Marriage, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Music, Nature/Outdoors, Neighbors, Play, Seasons of Life
Tagged "Pure Pleasure", Book, Christmas, FREE BOOK, Gary Thomas, James 1:17, piety, pleasure, sex, Zondervan Publishers
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Struggle Bus
One of the many lovely things about Christmas and the New Year is the way families and friends come together around the table for a meal. The dimly lit dining room aglow with reflections of the Christmas tree and Percy … Continue reading
Posted in Discoveries, Faith, Following Jesus, Friends, God, gratitude, Growing Pains, Heartbreak, Holidays, Home, Illness, Kids, Matters of the Heart, Seasons of Life, Uncategorized
Tagged 2 Cor. 12:7-10, challenge, conditional love, Jesus, Mark 14:36, Paul, struggle, thorn in the flesh
2 Comments
Simple Compassion
Yesterday my oldest child came through the door flushed and rambling about the latest bit of excitement in his 7 year-old life. As he slowed down and afforded me the chance to listen, I surmised that his school was sponsoring … Continue reading
Posted in Faith, Family, Following Jesus, Friends, God, Home, Literature/Books, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Neighbors, Social Justice, Uncategorized
Tagged "Jump Rope For Heart", "Simple Compassion", comfort zone, community, devotions, disease/illness, Keri Wyatt Kent, Micah 6:8, nei, neighborhood, Shane Claiborne, world, Zondervan Publishers
5 Comments
After-Hours Shopping = JOY
Friends, I have to say: If you’ve never ventured to the mall during the week of Christmas to enjoy Macy’s “open ’till 10” schedule, or Kohl’s “open ’till midnight” promise, take advantage of it! Sunday night I managed to peel … Continue reading
Posted in Chores/Duties/Jobs, Discoveries, Food, Friends, Gifts, gratitude, Holidays, Home, Kids, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Music, Random Fun
Tagged busy, Christmas Shopping, groceries, Kohl's, Macy's, Meijer, peace, phone, Rivertown Mall
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Soul Care & Simplicity
Today [November 18] I listened to another perfectly-timed radio broadcast on Midday Connection [Moody Radio]. The guest speaker was Mindy Caliguire, an author and speaker from Chicago who was discussing soul care & simplicity. This got my attention. As a … Continue reading
Posted in Chores/Duties/Jobs, CRAZY kids, Decor/Organizing, Discoveries, Faith, Family, Following Jesus, Friends, God, Growing Pains, Home, Kids, Literature/Books, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Seasons of Life
Tagged "Soul Care", author, Chicago, disorder, I Corinthians 14:33, Isaiah 30:15, Midday Connection, Mindy Caliguire, Moody Radio, peace, Shalom, simplicity, social networking, solitude, speaker, volunteering
2 Comments
Insomnia & Ineptitude
I haven’t been able to sleep for the past several nights, and it’s awful. I lie in bed staring into the blackness hiding my ceiling, thinking about everything from my grocery list to meal planning to checks that haven’t cleared. … Continue reading
Posted in Faith, Friends, God
Tagged Aaron, Christians, Exodus 4, ineptitude, insomnia, Jesus, magic, mentor, Moses, rescue, spiritual formation, spiritual journey, stutter
2 Comments
You’ve Got a Friend
Our youngest doesn’t see being 3 as a handicap, but truth be told, at his young age he has already experienced age discrimination. I know. The Law Offices of Sam Bernstein are about to be put on speed dial, trust … Continue reading
Posted in Family, Friends, Heartbreak, Home, Kids, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Neighbors, Play, Random Fun, Seasons of Life
Tagged age discrimination, American Girl, Carole King, dirt bike, handicap, preschool, quad, Sam Bernstein, Tony Hawk, TurboTears, vocabulary
5 Comments
Daisy Chain
Last spring I was privileged to hear Mary DeMuth speak at a Christian Writer’s Conference. In a room full of other brothers and sisters, alike in our love for the Lord yet quite possibly different in our perceptions of faith, … Continue reading
Posted in Faith, Family, Friends, Heartbreak, Home, Kids, Literature/Books, Nature/Outdoors, Play
Tagged A Slow Burn, Christian Bookstore, Daisy Chain, Defiance, Francine Rivers, guilt, Harper Lee, Hope, Love, Mary DeMuth, redemption, remorse, sequel, suspense, Texas, Texas Trilogy, trilogy, Zondervan Publishers
5 Comments
Come On Over!
Friends! I’m excited to announce that I’ve been asked to do some blogging for West Michigan’s own kids’ TV show, Come On Over! Supported by the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum, this show has already won numerous Michigan Emmy Awards and … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Family, Friends, Home, Kids, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Nature/Outdoors, Neighbors, Play, Seasons of Life, Summer, Uncategorized
Tagged Come On Over, critics, Emmy Awards, Fun!, Grand Rapids Children's Museum, imagination, Neighbors, team, West Michigan
3 Comments
Moments With Love
Ever since I was little I’ve had a nudging–gentle, but there–prompting me to act of behalf of those with small voices. Or no voices. I remember vividly lying in bed one night when I was probably 11, drawing a picture … Continue reading
Posted in Faith, Family, Friends, Heartbreak, Home, Kids, Marriage, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Seasons of Life
Tagged adoption, capitalism, Children, Faith, Family, Giving/Sharing/Generosity, God, Hope, Jesus, Kids, Longing, Love, mission trips, mission work, Motherhood, Seasons of Life, Spiritual Development, Uganda
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Arctic Dog Mushing On Labor Day
Leave it up to the neighborhood kids, my own included, to create a game that is so wonderfully ridiculous I can’t help but document it for you. Yesterday’s game had me laughing so hard the residual giggles followed me indoors … Continue reading
Posted in Family, Friends, Home, Kids, Nature/Outdoors, Neighbors, Play, Random Fun, Seasons of Life, Summer, Uncategorized, Vehicles
Tagged Beef Chunks, Children, Family, Friends, Friendship, Fun!, Indian Summer, Jerky, Kids, Labor Day, Mushing, Neighbors, Nome, Salmon, Sled-dog racing, snow
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Teaching Kids About Friends
When I was in grade school I was teased mercilessly. I remember, shortly after having moved to a new school in the 5th grade, crying in bed at night and having to confess to my mom that I just didn’t … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Faith, Family, Friends, Home, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Play, Seasons of Life, Uncategorized
Tagged betrayal, bullies, Changes, Children, Disappointment, Faith, Family, Friends, Friendship, God, Jesus, Kids, Seasons of Life, Spiritual Development
3 Comments
“Things I Don’t Understand” Thursdays: Kitchen Tornadoes
It seems like I spend most of my time in the kitchen. You can’t relate…can you? Breakfast prep and cooking. Breakfast clean-up…but wait…the dishwasher needs unloading first. What? A mid-morning snack? Let me just get that for you…and your five … Continue reading
Posted in Decor/Organizing, Family, Food, Friends, Home, Kids, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Neighbors
Tagged Children, crafts, Family, flip-flops, hot chocolate, husbands, kitchen, mess, Messy House, Motherhood, Murphy's Oil Soap, Neighbors, Oprah, President, President of Bolivia, snacks, tidy, washing vegetables, wrestling
2 Comments
[Homemade] Tents Make Good Neighbors
There was a moment today–one of those stop-you-in-your-tracks illuminations–that made me so grateful for the gifts in my life. Not only do I have clean water, access to food and electricity, a smog-free blue sky above me, and the love … Continue reading
Posted in Family, Friends, Home, Kids, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Neighbors, Play, Random Fun
Tagged British Accent, Children, Corona, dolls, forts, Friends, Friendship, Fun!, girls, Giving/Sharing/Generosity, horses, Neighbors, tents, velour blankets
2 Comments
Hello, My Name is Jane, and I Have I.C.D.
My brain works in strange ways. I am increasingly distracted by my surroundings and by the everyday jobs that pull me in 17 different directions before I finish even one of them. It’s frustrating, but I know that many moms … Continue reading
Stupid, Childish Pity-Party
Today I’m throwing myself a pity party. I’m being a baby, and I know it. I hate that about myself: these feelings of entitlement, of ‘being deserving’ even when I have done nothing ‘deserving’ at all,… of wanting what I … Continue reading
Posted in Decor/Organizing, Discipline Issues, Faith, Family, Finances, Friends, Home, Uncategorized
Tagged Bible, confession, designer sandals, Disappointment, Giving/Sharing/Generosity, gratitude, iPhone, materialism, Messy House, Paul, Phillipians, Spiritual Development, struggle, Tentmaker
5 Comments
Flab Control, Part 2
Well, there we were, cute outfits and all. I mean, if you’re going spending time working on flab control (speaking only for myself, girls), you might as well try to look cute. The jury’s still out on whether the number-over-the-womb … Continue reading
Posted in Fitness, Friends, Neighbors, Random Fun
Tagged Friendship, Reed's Lake 5K, Running
2 Comments
Storm
YOW-ZA!! Last night we had a mongo storm that culminated in the loss of power in our neighborhood for roughly four hours. Having just finished our basement and nestled our son down in his new bedroom, our immediate fear was … Continue reading
Posted in Friends
Tagged Friends, Friendship, Giving/Sharing/Generosity, Neighbors, Storms
1 Comment
Waiting for Mountains, Yearning for Sand
Every now and again I get into kind of a funk. I usually write it off as fatigue or hormones, but really I think it has something to do with geography. We’re planning a trip out west this summer and … Continue reading
Something to Brag About, Part 2
If you missed my post yesterday, I announced a two-day brag session to highlight the up-and-coming talent of two of my photographer friends. Yesterday I shared 5 of Lori’s photos [thanks, Lor], and today is Kamarah’s turn to sit with … Continue reading
Something to Brag About, Part 1
This is the first of two posts that I’m doing to draw attention to the amazing skill of my two apprentice-photographer friends. Both feel the same ridiculous need to downplay their talent, insisting that the pictures they take are nothing … Continue reading
A Seed Planted
One of my dear friends, dear in a way that few are or can ever be, lives three time zones away in a small city just west of the Rockies. Talking to her is easy, as it should be … Continue reading
Posted in Faith, Family, Friends, Kids, Motherhood/Mommy Duties
Tagged Baptism, Children, Faith, Family, Friendship, Jesus, Kids, Motherhood, Spiritual Development
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Admissions of a Suburban Philosopher 