Raising kids. Keeping House. Choosing joy, every day.
Are you frustrated by the pursuit of holiness? Does it seem like an impossible task? You’re not alone. Pretend with me that you are seated in a church sanctuary. Now, look around the room at the people nearby. What kind of people do you see?* …
How are you supposed to be holy when you wake up grumpy? We know what holiness is not, and what it looks like, but how do we get there? If I had to describe myself when I wake up in the morning, holy is not …
I’m following the restoration of the beautiful Chataeu de Gudanes, a 94 room 1700’s chateau {read: mansion, hello!} in southern France that has seen better days. An Australian couple bought the place and are restoring it to its former glory. Not only are the pictures …
Reports estimate that that American women spend a staggering $426 billion a year on beauty products. We place a high value on beauty. We want beautiful homes, beautiful weddings, beautiful getaways to exotic places. Beauty is a good thing, in our eyes. But do we want …
I tend to want my own way, but God tends to do things differently. If I had it my way, my kids would be perfect, my money would never run out, our house would self-clean, the people in our life would be perfectly kind, considerate, …
I’m sure you’ve all heard it by now. The word “intentional.” I’ve really grown to hate it. We’re told we need to be intentional in our parenting, in our ministry, and in everything else under the sun. Problem is, intentions are just that. Intentions without …
Years ago, I bought a helpful pamphlet entitled, “Your Reactions Are Showing.” At the time I was dealing with some anger issues that I was trying to “kill/mortify” from my life. My children’s behavior “made” me angry—or so I thought. The truth is, I was …
Rushing through life is not a good game plan. I know because parts of my life have been defined by trying to keep up and they are now just a blur. As a counterbalance, I think our minds rebel against the rush by making us …
What makes you tick? What motivates you? What “thing”, if you have it, puts you on cloud 9? What “moves” and motivates us is what drives and delights us. (And conversely, the thing that sends us into despair when we don’t have it, also shows …
Today I have a refreshing summer recipe for you! If you’ve ever been to the North End in Boston, you’ve most likely tasted Polcari’s lemon ice. When the weather’s hot, Polcari’s hundred-year-old barrel of lemon ice appears on the corner of their family owned store. For around $2 you …