Tag: kindness

I got to do something really cool yesterday. I got to sit down with a friend and see the kids’ chapter book she’s spent the last year putting together. Then I got to help her brainstorm ways to get that book published.

It’s like being part of someone’s childbirth. It’s messy and complicated and there are all ... Read More


Today I’ve decided to become more like Alaina.

Don’t know Alaina? Take my word for it, she’s awesome. I mean, she had a UNICORN at her birthday party, how awesome is that?! The girl has style.

Alaina is seven and a few weeks ago she graduated from first grade. First grade was a pretty big deal ... Read More


I’ve got a project staring me in the face. Do you have any of those? Maybe it’s a closet that needs reorganizing or a deck that needs to be stained or a pile of garbage that needs to be cleared away.

Every time you look at them, they are asking you to pay attention to them.

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You want to feel loved? Go be a pastor at a rural church in South Dakota. It’s like stepping into a family reunion and a group hug at the same time.

I got to preach not only at one, but at TWO churches this weekend. You cannot even begin to imagine how full my love tank is ... Read More


My son, Ben, mowed the lawn for the first time this weekend. He recently turned 12, has excess evening energy and his father was gone. In my mind, that makes him old enough to run power tools.

I was shocked by how well it went. We are too cheap to buy the type of mower that self-propels, ... Read More


Each one of us has a story

Why would I even bother to tell mine? That’s the million dollar question. Honestly, if it were just about me or even my husband, I wouldn’t. But it’s not about us. It’s about you. And your girlfriends. And your sisters. And maybe even your mother. I want to share my experience, the whole experience, with ... Read More

Life becomes so sweet when we stop making it about ourselves. I know this, but sometimes I need a refresher course.

My sixth-grade son, Ben, and I were working at our church’s annual pie auction to earn some money for his mission trip coming up this summer.

I signed us up for “Pie Walker” or something ... Read More


Someone I love in Ohio got into a car accident over the weekend. My first thought was to run to him. He’s okay, but I wanted to be there. To hug his neck and pray with him and reassure him that this accident at age 16 might keep him out of baseball for the season, but it won’t define the ... Read More


It’s the scariest thing I’ve ever done. And it’s happening in 45 American minutes.

I am meeting with a woman who is going to unscrew the top of my head and peek inside. (I mean that figuratively, not literally, thank you Jesus.)

I am going to a psychological evaluation.

It’s part of the process to become a pastor. Did I mention I’m starting ... Read More


You should have seen my face when the nurse told me I had to go home with a catheter. I was less than cheerful. Yet, I obeyed, because what choice did I really have?

Last week’s hysterectomy was a smashing success, minus the bag of my own urine I have had to carry around for the last five days.

God always seems ... Read More