I read last week that there are 65.3 million refugees in the world. 65.3 million. It blew my mind a little bit, and not in a good way. California has a population of 39 million. There are more global refugees right now than there are people in California. (And as someone who drives in the insane traffic of southern California, let … More Staggering Statistics, Compassion, and You
With all the Fourth of July festivities, I’ve been thinking about Philippians lately. (Say what?) Give me a sec – I’ll explain. Orange County, California, where we live, DOES the Fourth of July like none other. It’s Red-White-and-Blue-Fest 2016 out there. Fireworks. Picnics. Parades. Themed clothing. You name it. I love the Fourth of July. … More A Citizen of Where? * 10 Minute Devotional
There are a lot of posts out there on the Interwebs for moms. There’s a lot of junk out there, too. It takes time to sift through them and find some goodies. Once a month I’m going to post a “Mommy Link Roundup” – a handful of articles I’ve read that I’ve found helpful, interesting, … More Mommy Link Roundup
It can be easy to fall into a prayer rut. We may pray the same type of prayers – for those struggling with health concerns, for example. We may always pray the same way or at the same time of day. Or maybe your rut is that you don’t pray at all, really. It feels overwhelming … More 10 Ways to Pray
Our firstborn has been learning that sometimes when things break they can’t be fixed. He’ll bring a toy to Daryl or me with a quivering lip and ask us to fix it. Most of the time we can—between duct tape and super glue and a screwdriver, most toys will go back together. But sometimes they won’t. … More If God is For Us * 10 Minute Devotional
Postpartum women face quite a few challenges. It’s a time of great joy but also deep exhaustion, hormonal recalibration, physical changes, and all of the upheaval that comes with adding a new human into the family mix. People mean well. They really do. But the things they say sometimes… Gonna try for another one? Oh my gosh, … More 10 Things Not to Say to a Postpartum Mom
My husband had knee surgery a couple weeks ago. In the days leading up to it he went for a prep appointment with his surgeon. Daryl’s been through this surgery – repair to a meniscus (that cartilage pad inside your knee) – before. Ten years ago, when we were still boyfriend-and-girlfriend, his roommates and I helped him recover by … More On Being “Older”
It’s been a rough few weeks in America, hasn’t it? News headlines have read like something out of The Hunger Games. There was the Stanford rape case. Suicide bombings in the Middle East. Zika virus threatening the Olympics. A resurgence of hemorrhagic fever in western Africa. The vitriol of this election cycle. And, of course, the atrocity … More Think About Such Things * 10 Minute Devotional
Go swimming, eat Popsicles, set up a sprinkler in the yard… blah, blah, blah. Anyone with half a brain can come up with those ways to beat the summer heat. But when temperatures rise like crazy and stay there for months, you need a few more tools in your arsenal. Drink something warm Yeah, I know it sounds … More 10 Creative Ways to Beat the Summer Heat
Nothing tests your understanding of God like a preschooler. Our firstborn is asking some pretty tough questions. I’ll be the first one to admit that I don’t have all the answers, especially to the tough questions a preschooler asks. Perhaps nowhere are his questions tougher than when we read him Bible stories before bed. The Bible … More Gruesome Bible Stories and Your Preschooler
Courtney Ellis 