I am a list maker. It can’t be helped. I keep track of life through pages and pages of notebooks and to-do lists and half- used journals. Upon our recent move, I was faced with three, yes three full boxes of  leather bound tomes to lug to our new apartment. The movers might have given me a few eye rolls, but these babies are my treasures! Here’s why: I will never scrapbook. I get itchy just thinking about how to print my bazillion photos from the last 12 years. How on earth could I ever catch up and write stories and create borders to match at this point? I can’t. I’ve tried.

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As a sentimental softie, I am often struck by gifts that carry great personal meaning. I long to leave a legacy of faith, steadfastness and love for my children both in word and deed. The first time I traveled with my husband away from our children, I left personal letters in our file with the will and trust papers.  I couldn’t bear to consider what they would feel if tragedy struck us both without a written record of my deep, deep love for them.

A few years ago, I heard a mother share about giving each of her children a Bible when they reached adulthood. This is a special and meaningful gift.  But she also mentioned that she wrote in the Bibles, took notes, and highlighted special verses.  This got my attention!

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I play tennis.

Post-kids, I play a couple times a year. But there was a season in life when I played ALL. THE. TIME

I was possibly a bit obsessive.

My family stayed in a condo every year for the 4th of July. They’d head to the water. I’d hit the courts. By myself.

There wasn’t a backboard to hit against, so I’d pick up a ball and hit a cross court forehand. I’d pick up another ball and hit a forehand down the line. On and on. Different shots. One at a time.

Then I’d go and pick them all up. For three or four hours, I’d do this. All weekend long.

Like I said, obsessive. [Read more...]

“Stop Doubting and Believe” John 20:27

Recently I have been reading  a delightful old book to my son, Jack,  called “Sir Knight of the Splendid Way.” It is one of our favorites that I have found myself wanting to re-read to him so he would remember it. I always come away from reading it inspired to know God better and to trust Him more. It’s an allegory that describes the Christian walk. Our hero is Sir Constant, a knight of the Kings Service who is on a journey to The City of the Great King, which is Heaven. He encounters many dangers and toils along his journey.

In this particular chapter, our knight is weary from his recent battles. He is tired and worn out. It is then that a visitor comes to him, The Grey Questioner. Sir Constant did not realize that he was in any imminent danger, but little did he know that here was a deadly foe, an enemy that wanted to destroy him.

The Grey Questioner began to ask him questions that caused him to doubt whether or not he will ever reach the City of the Great King, he made him wonder if he was really able to complete his quest. He  raised questions that made the knight doubt what he knew to be true about The Great King, which is Jesus. [Read more...]