Halloween was this weekend, and I loved seeing all of the trick-or-treaters in their costumes. There were outfits that were clearly the child's choice, and others that ... were clearly something put on them as an expectation of fitting into a couple/family/friend group idea (sorry not sorry, Chris <...

In My Fair Lady, one of my favorite musicals from when I was a little kid, there is a song called I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face. Admittedly it's my least favorite song in the show, but the word accustomed is on my mind this morning. 

There is a tree in our backyard that puts on the most stunning ...

I was burning a jar candle in my office today, and when the time came to walk away from my desk I didn't blow it out; I simply put the lid on top. The flames dimmed lower and lower, until they disappeared. The fire was out.

This got me thinking about how both fear and faith can be the same way. When ...

You can only taxi so fast in a Boeing 737 (around 35 mph max, and that's in the clearest conditions). If you're only looking to get around town, you're hands-down better off in a Honda, VW Bus, or even the junkiest point A-point B car.

However, if you're willing to taxi to the runway and commit to ta...

I feel like the past few months have been an ongoing spiritual tutoring session, during the "birthing" phase of creating my online resort. One thing I've noticed is that inspiration (thankfully) doesn't just dump on you like a big tsunami. It pours in slowly, as capacity to handle it expands and as ...

When I was in 4th grade, I joined Girl Scouts. I didn't know much about the mission or what joining would entail... I just reeeeeally wanted to sell the cookies.

My involvement lasted about as long as the "cookie season," and that was enough for me. In that short time, however, I did learn that there...

Loss hurts.

We don’t have to gloss over it just to make it look like it doesn’t.

When we lose a meaningful connection—when life as we know it ends—our world changes.

We have to adjust.

This takes time and space.

Give it what it needs.

Let it be heavy.

Lean on the rock of Jesus Christ. Cry on His sho...

It's been quite the week of spam and awfulness on my phone. 

New, very sneaky tactics are trying to use tragedy and emotion to prompt link clicks. Some of these messages seem so legitimate, and then a beat to think and step back allows wisdom to whisper, "False."

At closer glance, I can see that payin...

We attended "back to school" night for our high schoolers last week, and something we heard in the girls' choir class stood out to me. 

"You'll see your students' grades kind of go like this," their teacher said, making an up-and-down motion with her hand. "This is by design."

Sensing the rising intri...

When a gift is given, there is a 3-part (minimum) exchange that takes place. 

(1) The giver offers it, but the act of offering does nothing if it isn't (2) received, then (3) used. 

...and ideally (4) the receiver expresses gratitude.

In other words, someone can give you something -- even the most exqu...

Have you ever watched a bird take flight? 

There's a jump and a few wing flaps, and it's airborne. Larger birds like swans and geese take more of a run than a jump because of their size, but even then it doesn't take much.

Their natural design -- strong muscles in the chest and feathers that catch the...

The toddler who is learning to walk doesn't ask for help.
The loving parent simply reaches down and offers a finger to hold. 
Tiny feet, chubby thighs, wobbly knees all work together as they learn to fight gravity -- 
all while the loving parent smiles, delighting in their progress
because they know th...