Here Comes the Bride! (I Hope She’s Ready!)

A bride on her wedding day is synonymous with beauty. As women, the intense preparation produces the one day we feel best about our appearance. That’s why we blow up pictures of ourselves and remember our wedding dress as the best item in our closet that, unfortunately, we will never wear again. We mentally measure our beauty against this day forever. And it is a good thing, because what marriage really does...

My Jonas Brother

I just came from chapel where Dan and I lead worship for the elementary students at our childrens’ school. Sometimes it is the best 30 minutes of my week! Lately, my son Jesse has been helping me lead the singing. He has a lot of musical talent and natural charisma. I love these traits … and they scare me to death. As a parent, how do I steward this gift? I want all the world to see my son’s...

The School Face

I’m all over it this morning! Last week I started teaching. This week I also start learning again. As Dan was getting dressed today he said, “That warrants such and such.” And I said, “Actually, that explains such and such. A warrant …” Then he stopped listening and said, “Yeah, I think you’re ready for class!” That’s right, people, it’s time to put...

The Monk in Me

May inspired this post today. She’s sweet like that! I’ve been working on a syllabus for my Composition Class and decided to use the theme Devotion this semester. I’ve been reading Life Together by Bonhoeffer and also studying up on ancient spiritual practices. This must be a popular topic because the last time I wrote on one of the many things I’ve learned about in this study, thin places,...

Cultivating Inner Beauty

I Peter 3:3-5 The same goes for you wives: Be good wives to your husbands, responsive to their needs. There are husbands who, indifferent as they are to any words about God, will be captivated by your life of holy beauty. What matters is not your outer appearance—the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes—but your inner disposition. Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind...