A couple weeks ago, we were at my in-laws house and the family tree was pulled out. My nine-year-old daughter was fascinated by all of these people who came before us on this scroll of many names. My mother-in-law’s father had roots back in the Netherlands and we enjoyed conversations about what their lives would have been like and speculated about what propelled them to … Continue reading Our Spiritual Tree
Everything was on schedule—a roast chicken dinner was about to be served, the next day’s cottage pie dinner was being prepared, and the last load of weekend laundry was happily spinning away in the washing machine. We were about to sit down at the kitchen table when I heard an unrecognizable beeping noise coming from the utility room. My load of laundry had stopped mid-cycle … Continue reading A Laundry Lesson
Slowly and unenthusiastically, I walked up the path to the log cabin at the back of our yard. I opened the door and was instantly reminded that it had been so long since going into our gym room, with spiders leaving their webs in all the corners. Before lacing up my dusty sneakers, I even checked inside of my shoes just to look out for … Continue reading Taking Care of the Body God Has Given Me
This was written last school year as a reflection on a difficult playground situation. I have chosen to share it as encouragement, because sometimes, despite our best efforts, relationships can be tricky and confrontations made awkward. Even amongst Christians, there can be numerous challenges to working out differences with others. We must surrender our thoughts, words, actions, and whole beings to God, asking Him to … Continue reading Fueling Up For The Unexpected Battles Of The Everyday
Recently, I was washing up the dishes in the routine way I’m used to doing so often, night after night. I was thinking of the children and all that their needs require. As they grow older, I’m not sure they really do get any easier, because some of the challenges grow bigger, requiring more emotional energy and stamina as a mother! Despite my achy legs … Continue reading Children Are Our Masterpieces
Have you ever felt like you’ve been praying and praying for something to happen, a dream for the future, only to one day, feel like God’s closed the door? My husband and I have been praying, waiting, and seeking God’s heart for His wisdom, direction, and blessing on some very unique future plans, which have seemingly taken years in the making and preparation. After more … Continue reading A Closed Door, Or Is It?
As I look around my house today, it is fairly tidy for a family with small children, although in every room there are hints of the little people who have truly made this place their own. I am shocked how Cheerios and cornflakes can manage to be found just about everywhere and minutes after I have cleaned the windows, little grubby hand prints have formed … Continue reading The House That Charlie Built
Yes, I know what you’re thinking, American Thanksgiving in August? Don’t I mean November? My answer this year is yes to both! We celebrate every fourth Thursday in November, like all Americans I know in America and abroad, but this year we had an incredibly special reason to celebrate a second Thanksgiving: my parents came to visit us! After three long years since experiencing our … Continue reading Thanksgiving In August
I wrote this article just weeks before the first March 2020 coronavirus lockdown. Little did I know then how important it would be to stay flexible towards interruptions over the last year! The last three weeks have seen health interruptions in our family. Our son Luke contracted conjunctivitis (pink eye) which made him a bit miserable but still able to function. The week after, he … Continue reading Flexibility Towards Interruptions
Joy A. Mead 