I was 18 and preparing for my high school graduation when a friend of our family invited me up the street to her house so she could give me a gift. Actually, a friend of our family is too general …
A MOPS Story: the Invitation
Jesus – he was with me all along. A relenting love that was pursuing me my whole life; I just needed to look up and see that it was him. My story starts about 10 years ago. A young woman …
A Mom’s Story: Why Do I MOPS?
I MOPS because I was a mom with a toddler, a marriage looking at its tomb, and a freshly emptied womb. I was 12 weeks pregnant when I lost my second baby and gained a depression that started on my bathroom …
School Choice: Questions to Ask Yourself
Over the summer we were at a family gathering halfway across the country. It was a lot of catching up and conversation about education came up. A cousin asked if ours was a good school and I hesitated. Yes, our …
Fighting for Your Marriage When Life Beats You Up
In the parenting journey, just as in life, nothing is guaranteed. The unexpected happens to all of us, but there are some things that not only come as a surprise, they turn life on its head. And in those moments, …
Motherhood Is Meaningful
Sometimes I get discouraged. Being a mother with no other current employment seems like not enough; less than. I am surrounded by other mothers who appear to be accomplishing abundantly more. It’s in my face to gather time to take …
The Anticipation of Waiting
There are a few events in my life that I can vividly remember the wait: My wedding day and the birth of my two sons. I remember the feeling of complete and utter lack of control I had on the …
When Simple Becomes Stunning
A chilly breeze found its way through the cracks of the window, as my toddler son cuddled in close. Christmas was in the air, but everything was strangely out of place. The rest of the family began to stir, which …
Quiet Sacred Moment
The baby had just been born, the sounds of the animals huddled in the stable are the backdrop to the quiet cooing of the child. Mary and Joseph in wonder. They feel both terrified and in awe. They live, for …
Shifting Sands
Have you ever stood on the beach and walked out thinking the sand was firm only to find it was butter soft, so your feet just melted into it? Shifty sand is a difficult place to stand, and it reminds …