Character · Christianity · leadership · Middle Age · Mothering · pastor's wife · pastoring · Perserverence · Uncategorized · Women

Failure Isn’t Fatal and the Times You Fall on Your Butt

It seemed like a good idea at the time. Maybe it was all those Dog Whisperer episodes.  Maybe the hours of natural horsemanship moving horses with a carrot stick made me overconfident. Either way–it was a bad idea. A few months ago, my family adopted the sweetest border collie.  She is 62 pounds of pure… Continue reading Failure Isn’t Fatal and the Times You Fall on Your Butt

Boundaries · Character · Christianity · Disappointment · Friendship · Marriage · Perserverence · Relationships · Uncategorized · Women

Avoiding the Bitter Pill When Bad Relationships Stay Bad

“Why don’t they ever change?” I wish I had a dollar every time I’ve heard these words.  Maybe I’d be living on a beautiful island in the Caribbean. I’ve spent a great deal of of my ministry life helping people work through a variety of difficult relationship issues. My adoptive friends and I have also personally battled… Continue reading Avoiding the Bitter Pill When Bad Relationships Stay Bad

Character · Christianity · Discipleship · Middle Age · Ministry · Perserverence · Women

When You Dread Change and New Year’s Eve

I really don’t care for New Year’s Eve. There is no easy way to say that without sounding like a real downer. If New Year’s Eve could be celebrated around 7 p.m. maybe I would find it enjoyable.  I don’t remember the last time I willingly saw midnight.  Unless it involves a sick child, a hospital visit,… Continue reading When You Dread Change and New Year’s Eve

Character · Christianity · Middle Age · middle-age · Mothering · Parenting · Perserverence · Women

Mama Bear Patrol and Cheering on the Next Generation

 I’m not sure how it happens but you know it always does.  Your child says they want to do something and somehow you end up working hard to make it happen. My oldest daughter recently decided she wanted to run a 5k.  I had decided that due to some physical issues and a general lack… Continue reading Mama Bear Patrol and Cheering on the Next Generation

Adoption · Adoption · Character · Christianity · Family Life · Middle Age · middle-age · Ministry · Mothering · Parenting · parenting · Perserverence · Special Needs Children · Special Needs Moms · Uncategorized · Women

My Unresolved Anger with Time

Dear Time, Maybe it’s middle-age. Maybe it’s the chaotic pace of life, or maybe it’s just me, but I find myself angry with you. You loom over me, always reminding me I’ll never finish all that needs to be done.  I’d like to play fair, but how can I when you care nothing for me? No matter… Continue reading My Unresolved Anger with Time

Adoption · Adoption · Attachment Disorder · Character · Christianity · Discipleship · Family Life · Ministry · Mothering · Parenting · parenting · pastor's wife · pastoring · Perserverence · Special Needs Children · Special Needs Moms · Uncategorized

Loving Those Porcupine People

It’s easy to love people who love me. I feel so good inside when I’m with those people.  Elated and strong; I’m on top of the world when I find someone who returns my love with more love. And then there is everyone else. The not-so-nice, not-so-friendly, not-so-happy, porcupine people who are just very difficult… Continue reading Loving Those Porcupine People

Adoption · Biblical beauty · Character · Christianity · Discipleship · Family Life · Friendship · Middle Age · Ministry · Mothering · Parenting · pastor's wife · Perserverence · Special Needs Children · Women

Big Girls Don’t Cry?

   Last weekend I attended a women’s conference for women in ministry.  We took a personality style test that revealed how others perceive you.  After twenty-eight questions, I came away with the title of “The Victor” which as I already know fits this type-A, reformed control freak and perfectionist to a tee. The problem started when… Continue reading Big Girls Don’t Cry?

Character · Christianity · Discipleship · Middle Age · Ministry · Parenting · pastor's wife · Perserverence · Women

When You Feel Paralyzed by Perfect

  This week I failed at something I thought was pretty important. You probably wouldn’t consider it much of a failure, nor would anyone else who was around me at the time.  Unfortunately, I’ve spent the past few days replaying it over and over in my mind. Maybe you do that to.  Probably not a good idea… Continue reading When You Feel Paralyzed by Perfect

Character · Christianity · Christmas · Mothering · Parenting · parenting · Perserverence · Uncategorized

When You Are Waiting for a Christmas Miracle

  This year I did something new with my youngest child for the Christmas season. She struggles the most with the getting the “gimmies” at Christmas.  I needed something to get the focus off of her, and on to others.  Somebody recommended filling a stocking with the needs of people throughout the season and praying for… Continue reading When You Are Waiting for a Christmas Miracle

Character · Christianity · Elderly · Middle Age · middle-age · Mothering · Perserverence · Uncategorized · Women

Refusing to Give Regret the Right to Rule

“It’s a terrible thing to grow old.”  He said it with tears in his eyes and a trembling voice. I was in a mad rush to leave the country for a week.  There was a plane to catch, kids to place, luggage to grab.  In the midst of the busyness of my morning, I suddenly noticed this… Continue reading Refusing to Give Regret the Right to Rule