The good folks at Overcome the Lie asked me to write a post for them, and I was immediately excited because I knew it’d push me to take some time for self-reflection. I started ruminating in a leisurely way, with a cup of coffee and my journal. And then just after the holidays things in
The color for the month of November at David’s school is brown. This shirt isn’t exactly brown, but it’s the best we could do. David loves preschool. Loves. I can’t emphasize that enough. He would go to preschool every day for 18 hours if he could. When he’s running away from me in the morning
We’ve had a long week over here on Grace St. All weeks are long, but this one was extra long. It all started with a runny nose, which turned into a fever, which turned into four skipped naps and multiple night wakings, which turned in to frayed nerves, short patience, and lots of moments when
Before I had kids I was unsure about a lot of things. I didn’t understand breastfeeding or schedules and had no idea how to bathe a newborn, but there was one thing I knew I would be great at: discipline. I had plenty of practice watching other people do it all wrong. I knew exactly
We celebrated July 4th with two of Tom’s best friends. He grew up with these guys, and they’re all married with kids now. Nothing much has changed except they don’t play nearly as much GoldenEye on Nintendo 64 as they did back in middle school. Between the three couples there are seven kids under the
Writing the last part of a birth story is tricky, because everyone already knows the ending. Spoiler alert, here’s how it ends: It’s also hard because, when this was happening I was in a certain amount of…distress? Is that the word? No. Pain? Suffering? No, none of those words are strong enough. I was in
Tom got home from his wild night on the town at 10:42 p.m. I know the exact time because, before he went to bed, he leaned down and woke me up with a kiss on the cheek. I lifted my head from my pillow and said, “Why did you do that? You just woke me
Nine months ago, Tom started getting up with David. He let me sleep an extra half hour or so while they did guy stuff like talk in grunts and leave their underwear on the bathroom floor. Every now and then Tom would have an early meeting or a doctor’s appointment and I didn’t get that
Mary Virginia Krieger Born right on time, at 10:53 am on June 7, 2013, her due date. 7 lbs., 8 oz., 19 inches. She was born with a full head of black hair, which is why, when they handed her to me, I looked at the doctor and said, “Um. I think I gave birth to
I walked in the Monument Ave. 10k last weekend, and during the race I thought, “Why am I doing this?” It’s a thought that crosses my mind in nearly every race. The question isn’t, “Why am I running?” The question is, “Why did I pay an entry fee, wake up early, and fight traffic to
For the past several months I’ve been spending my Saturday mornings doing long runs, so the week after my race, I bundled up on Saturday morning and went to the park with some kids (many of whom were part of our Track Club). The trip to the park is called X-games, and it’s an informal ministry
For me, running has always been more about community than winning races or setting PRs. Maybe that’s because I’ve never been super fast, and if that’s the case then my speed limitations are a mercy from God, because running has brought me some great friendships. Even when I was in high school and racing all
Memorial Day weekend already seems so long ago. It was just a week ago, 1/41 of David’s life. I specify the exact amount because David is suddenly very specific about the way he spends his time, and a point he’s been trying to make for most of his 41 (now 42) weeks was finally drilled
Check this out. My friend Elizabeth is having a huge yard sale. And see where it says adoption Yard Sale? That’s because all of the proceeds go toward helping Elizabeth’s family adopt a little boy from China named Charlie. (Her blog is choc-full of their decision to adopt, but you can read the beginning of this particular
We are so excited for Easter. So excited, in fact, that we didn’t mind the loss of dignity that occurred as a result of this photo shoot.
I’m a day late. Ash Wednesday was yesterday. BUT if you’re interested in daily Lenten readings, check out: http://lentreading.wordpress.com/ “Lent is a time to ask God to confront our own mortality and sinfulness; to ask Him to show us our need for grace; to grow in repentance; and, to reflect on the amazing truth of
After David was baptized, people in church kept telling me congratulations. I didn’t realize that was what people tell parents after their children are baptized, but it makes sense. We don’t believe the water saved David, but that it represents Christ’s cleansing power, union with Christ and David’s inclusion in God’s covenant community. When Matt
David was baptized this weekend. I grew up in a church that didn’t baptize little ones, so if you’re like me and are unfamiliar with the practice of baptizing infants, I found this explanation. In addition to claiming God’s covenant on behalf of David, it was also an opportunity for Tom and me to stand
tumblr_lyohdqfu8k1r2ys05 Since we’re on the subject of goal-setting and New Year’s resolutions, this sermon on 2 Samuel 6-25 made consider success and failure in a whole new light. “Failure is exposure, and exposure can lead to repentance and repentance can lead to Jesus, the ultimate arrival… “Our success and our sinfulness may lead us to think
to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be calledWonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:32
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;
This weekend David and I went to a baby shower for my friend Mayra. She’s due to have a baby boy at the end of December. This is the guest of honor opening gifts. It’s the only photo I could get of her because she was busy serving food, cleaning up plates, and getting chairs
I follow a blog called Paradox Uganda, and it’s different than any other blog I’ve read. It’s written by Dr. Jennifer Myhre, she and her family have lived in Africa (mostly Uganda, most recently Kenya) as missionaries through World Harvest Mission for almost two decades. Like most missionaries, Dr. Myhre has abundant tales of trials,