The Good News: This is Only the Beginning
If you walked through my front door today, you would be greeted by three large green splotches. Two on the wall. One on the ceiling over your head. Actually, if you had walked through my front door two months ago, you would have seen the same green splotches. We were testing paint colors. We even chose one. But in between the choosing and the...
These Farmhouse Bookshelves
Food is my love language. Isn't that one in the book? No? Well, I'm convinced food is my love language. I know my mother loved me because she sometimes surprised me during the after-dinner homework hour by sneaking into my bedroom with chocolate pudding. Yes, Mom, I still remember the chocolate pudding. I show my kids love by feeding them....
God’s Love and an Old Green Sofa
I want my children to know that God’s love is as real as the cupcakes and green tea we shared on Monday afternoon. It’s as real as this house that shelters us from cold and frames our daily view of the sunset. But this is actually a hard thing to believe, and my daughter goes straight for the crack in my story: what about the kids who have no...
These Farmhouse Bookshelves
I like to think of myself as an adventurous reader. A curious reader. A willing-to-give-it-a-go reader. Truthfully, there are quite a few things that almost always trigger a "No, thanks," from me. Almost always, that is. This Saturday, I bring you a few of those books I still don't know why I read. But I'm so glad I did. The...
Why We Keep Going to Church
We married young and hit the road. All we wanted was Texas dust in the rearview mirror. The rumble of the El was our siren song. We weren’t afraid because we carried this around like a turtle shell: Church. // // Baptist, Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Church of Christ … ours was a messy family stew that had finally deposited us both in a...
These Farmhouse Bookshelves: Snow Day
Every winter I am surprised to remember that the return of the light is accompanied by the coldest weather. These days are snowier and chillier, but they are brighter, too. Old, Pennsylvania farmhouses are known for their extra deep window sills. So, these days, instead of sitting in front of the fire, I am reading my book while perched on the...