My kids are not my source of joy.

When so much of motherhood is a fight to love well and keep on serving when you just want to put yourself first, the knowledge that everything that matters in eternity has already been accomplished for me by One who loves me can change everything about my heart attitude.

Grace for future patience

As much as I'd love to just get perfect in time for Baby Boy, that's not happening. Some of the challenges I dread will change me and refine me into a better mother, wife, friend, and most important, a better worshipper of Jesus.

These twos are anything but terrible

  Before you pat me on the head and think, "That's so cute, just wait til the twos really get started," be assured we have our double share of tantrums, screaming matches, poop on the floor, running into streets, random sudden fears, and hair-pulling. They intensified just around two with a force that was definitely terrible, …

When life hands you mud puddles

We've had a record rain streak here and it has thrown a bit of a wrench in our spring routine. Park days, runs in our trusty double jogger, and spontaneous walks to look at the ducks who have taken up residence in our pool have all been infrequent. We spend a lot of time cooking in …

Things I Love: Tired Mom Eyes Edition

This week, all two days of it, has been One Of Those. One poor sick sister kept them both up hours past bedtime Monday, then Catalina skipped her nap yesterday and kept me hopping, then they both managed to spread all three folded & sorted loads of laundry across the entire living room in the two minutes …

Hospitality when your house is less than ‘grammable

We hosted a casual Easter lunch last week for a few friends, which wound down almost at dinner time as any good lunch does. It was an easy menu, and I decorated with a bouquet of lilies, our good tablecloth and dishes, and a few candles. It seemed just right, until the night before, I had …

When the expected becomes a blessing

Catalina has never quite been a willing napper, and she usually has a non-nap day every week or two.  Last week she went on a mini-strike for three days in a row, even convincing Lucy (who will sleep til the cows come home) to strike with her for an afternoon. It wasn't a huge deal, …

How Being A Mom Has Taught Me the Gospel

I had heard before having Lucy and Catalina that parenting reflects ourselves back on us and shows us our weaknesses. I didn't understand until recently, when certain little people began to display a will of their own. In the few very long and very short weeks since that began in full force, I've discovered the …

Motherhood Alive (a little more about my new view.)

I've always wanted to be a mom, and now I'm Mommy to twin girls. During those nine months of expectancy, I awaited a life of sweet blissful moments, those Instagram-worthy vignettes that make mom life seem like one long cuddle. But about the time I started reading all those mom-empowerment mommy blogs (you know the ones I mean!), …

A fresh beginning for a real passion

The great and glorious reality of mothering little souls, of serving all day and often all night, can be a harsh one to our feeble and selfish nature-- but it is shot through with eternal significance, beauty and truth.