Going on a cruise for Spring Break sounded like such a good idea. Just think of all the places you can go and all the things you can see!...

It was April 2, 2016 when Ezra, our Congolese-born son, first stepped foot on American soil. Ezra, my husband Brent, and I were beyond...

When my daughter was around 4-years old, I got her a pair of light-up shoes. They were brown leather Mary-Janes with Velcro straps and...

When I was growing up, my mom’s answer to a good 50% of our questions was: “Look it up!” Of course, this was long before we could ask our...

I get such satisfaction from a full tank of gas. At the gas pump, I see the numbers whizzing higher, each click tells me that I’ve added...

Yesterday, I found a much anticipated delivery in my mailbox. I received two over-priced bed pillows. (Disclaimer: It should be noted...

Today was one of those Tennessee February days when everyone is talking about the weather. “What a beautiful day!” “Can you believe this...

I didn’t grow up in a family that cared much for athletics. We didn’t identify with any particular team or sport. If held at gunpoint, I...

When I was in college I went on a couple of mission trips to Romania to teach English using the Bible. Like any overseas trip, it was...

When my husband and I found out we were having twins, we were a bit like Noah filling his ark—most everything came in 2’s. Two cribs, two...

When my sisters and I would come from school in the afternoons, we liked to do what a lot of kids in the 1980’s did: we watched reruns on...

When I was around 6-years old, I would imagine that I had curly blond ringlets and blue eyes (think Cindy Brady). My imagination was so...

I am privileged to spend five hours of most every Tuesday and Thursday with a group of 4- and 5-year olds. I teach preschool at our...

Once there was a little boy who had never seen snow. Sure, he had read about it in books and watched it on TV. He had even seen home...

I spend a significant amount of most of my days in the family minivan. Four kids—none of whom are old enough to drive themselves—require...

I’m just not very creative. This is the phrase I often hear from friends. They see some amazing drawing or watch a skit at church and...

19 years. Four kids. 2 minivans. 1 apartment and 3 houses. 6,935 nights to say “I love you” to my husband before falling asleep. We met...

Sometimes it takes the holidays to learn something you already know. Maybe it’s your dislike of Brussels sprouts that annually reveals...

Putting up Christmas decorations is an annual battle of my two selves. There is the sentimental side that lives for Christmas movies and...

When I was growing up, I was blessed to spend a lot of time with my paternal grandmother. Twice she and my grandpa moved to the city my...

Watching movies with Ezra, our five-year old son, is not exactly relaxing, that is, unless you like to give a running commentary...

Today, my son had his second haircut since coming to America. In case you’re keeping score, that’s 7 months living with us and 2 trips to...

It’s been enlightening to experience so many Western Culture firsts with a brand new American. We are celebrating the 7-month anniversary...

It used to be that every soap opera and sitcom TV show could only remain on the air if they followed a prescribed formula. For instance,...