In addition to listening to books with Madilynn, I also enjoy listening to books on my way to and from my vendor events. I typically pick a self-development-type book or something completely frivolous and entertaining (my music playlist is equally eclectic). Occasionally, I pick a novel or narrative. Most...

When I was a little girl, I read the Little House series. Madilynn and I listened to the entire series this semester on our way to and from ballet (and a few other trips or quiet times sitting in the house). The books I read belonged to my mom...

Every time I read through the Bible, I linger over Nehemiah. In part because of a lesson learned at the Euro-American retreat that changed how I saw this passage, but also because the remnant of Israel faced great opposition with little (worldly) hope of overcoming. By the world’s standards,...

When we returned Stateside, I took my blogging in a new direction. I connected with other bloggers and found link-ups. I even had a few articles published (or re-published) on other websites. One of the bloggers I connected with is Kelly at This Ain’t the Lyceum, who hosts Seven...

In June of 2020, I did a video and blog post about what I believe. Here is a short excerpt for that post:  I believe that while we don’t all have the same talents or opportunities, we all have free will and the ability to choose another path. If...

This week, and truthfully the last couple of months, we’ve experienced several things going wrong. In the great big scheme of things none of these issues were that bad, but when a lot of thing go not quite right in the same general timeframe, it can lead to a...

Sometimes there’s a lot going on, but nothing’s really “happening.” These everyday moments hold the extraordinary. Our entire summer has been “busy” yet not remarkable. We fill our days with “normal” activities, yet these moments make incredible memories.  We even filled our hearts during the events of 2020 with...

In 1979, my parents moved to Virginia where my dad would begin his preaching career. This congregation was a new church plant, which came with both challenges and opportunities. When they arrived, they met a man named Tom Jones. At the age of 60, Tom became a Christian by following...

Homeschooling gives us the freedom to set our own schedule. This is especially beneficial when our world is rocked by loss, whether expected or not. This freedom also allows us to take trips during less crowded times and serve others at a moment’s notice.  When people ask how long...

Growing up, I quickly learned that I was different from many of my peers. My parents were married to each other. My siblings weren’t half or stepsiblings. All four of my grandparents were alive. I even had a great-grandmother still living. My great-grandmother died during my sophomore year in...