One Thousand (or more) Gifts
Small May Be Big Enough
Bigger is always better. We’ve all heard it. Many of us have tried living it. I’m not sure we’re ever taught that belief, but most of us learn it at a young age. We grab for the largest present. Appreciate the tallest tree. Go after the fattest paycheck. I am no different. I always wanted…
The Key to Walking in Truth
“Learn how to walk in truth by walking with truth.” —Beth Moore, The Patriarchs: Encountering the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob Learning to do something well requires patience and perseverance. More than that, a mentor is often needed to set an example—to show us what excellence looks like. Before higher institutions of learning dotted our country, on-the-job…
Worth Fighting For
A dashing man and a lady in white. The start of a fairy tale: one with a crisis (brief), a daring adventure, and a dramatic rescue by said dashing man. One that ends with the prince and princess riding off into the sunset happily ever after, staring dreamily into each others’ eyes. This was my…
Noticing a Life Worth Celebrating
Morning dew glistened on golden leaves. But, my eyes focused on nuggets of cereal determined to camp on my floor. Sun-bathed tree tops begged to be noticed. Instead work, writing, and household tasks held my attention hostage. Golden heads of tall grasses waved in the gentle breeze while wrens stilled their flitting just long enough…
In Which We Serve the Least
I didn’t choose to be the mother of a child with special needs. I was blessed with the opportunity. It amazes me when others willingly take on the responsibility of caring for the more “needy.” Recently I stumbled upon something I said to my children years ago (who encouraged me to jot it down): “Some of…
The Gift of Counting [more than 1,000 gifts]
Drum roll, please! I am excited to announce I am officially over one thousand in my list of One Thousand (or more) Gifts. I’m telling you this, not to pat my back, but to sing the praises of keeping such a list. I began purposely jotting down things I am thankful for on August 23,…
Strategies to Avoid Spewing Venom
I’m sure it’s been a problem since the dawn of creation and will likely continue to be until the new heavens and new earth. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t address it. {PD} The problem I am referring to is put downs, criticisms, complaints, and grumbling about another person. This type of interaction seems to…
Five Ideas for Simpler Living
“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”—Confucius A few years back, my husband and I built a small getaway (think, barn with a finished second level) on some land only a few miles from our house. To some, it may seem silly to build a place so near our home. However, we…
There Are Times I Forget Who I Am
Rachel was a mess. And I fumed at the injustice of the situation. Would this undesirable part of parenting ever end? Fourteen years of cleaning her up—no end in sight. Dare I say, I soaked in self-pity for a few minutes. How Quickly I Forget Yet as I was cleaning up my girl in a…
A Forever Family: Heirs to the King
Family has always been meaningful to me. Living on a working farm, we spent long days together, putting up hay, mucking out stalls, feeding livestock. We created endless memories to share with our children of working and playing with each other—of doing life together. For the past few weeks, my husband, our children, and myself…
Hello, I'm Julie, an imperfect wife and mother of four. Life in this broken world is not always easy. Yet, joy can be found in each day through the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I find it's easy for our day's blessings to get lost in its happenings. But God's "mercies never end" (Lamentations 3:22) and His "grace is sufficient" (2 Corinthians 12:9).
May the posts and pages on this site offer you a measure of peace and encouragement.
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