I am a daughter most blessed, to have such a wonderful mother. I am a mother most blessed, to have so many wonderful children, both naturally... and through precious relationships... So today I celebrate those in my life who continue to pour blessings upon me; these are the precious people who make my life …
Remember to Sing
Sometimes life goes backwards. You reconnect with a former friend who posts pictures on Facebook of your missionary outreach days in Budapest, Hungary. You look at you children ages four and seven and wonder under which carpet the Sandman swept away those years. If I could tell young moms a tidbit of advice, I’d say …
Remember Me
When I was a young mother, I held my newborn son in my arms and contemplated the desperate prayer of Hannah: "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give …
What’s a pusillanimous aunt to do?
2/2/11 Dear Sister, Today I had a chance to catch up on your blog posts while lying in bed recovering from the flu. The photos of your children in various parts of the world are amazing. Along with everyone else who posted responses, I am awed at their sense of adventure. However, being the more …
Drawing Strength from Home
I remember the summer before I left for the mission field. My plans included a return home for several months so I could prepare to move across the world. I was going to attend a YWAM (Youth With a Mission) Discipleship Training School in the Netherlands. The classes were held at Heidebeek, the international missionary …
My Kindred Heart
How odd to see a version of yourself walking (or jumping) around in male form. This is the way I feel about my son who is currently working for a small start-up company in Cape Town named Virtual Mobile Technologies, founded by two South African brothers, Wilter and Arno du Toit. As if some serendipitous encounter consumed us—on different continents during …
This is family. This is church.
In a lower-income neighborhood by the school where I teach is "The Neighborhood Impact House." A local church* provides a cozy family environment with homework help, arts and crafts, music lessons, sports activities, a community garden, and a kid-friendly bible study. Children and youth flock to this home, and I go more for the gifts of …
#59 Weaving Life Stories
I say I trust God, but then I'm all over my unanswered questions like a kitten on a ball of string. Playful, yes, but often obsessive just the same. I want direction presented straight up, but my Creator seems more interested in weaving life stories. Daily, I sift through memories in an attempt to create meaningful prose. In …
My Little Asian Beauty returns soon…
My daughter will return home soon after working in Seoul, South Korea for over a year. Select this link to read the entire post located on my creativity blog http://refrainfromtheidentical.com/?p=2159 I can barely contain myself at the thought of hugging her once again. I miss her so much.