If I could carve a word into my armI think that it would be the word “UNCLEAN.”I feel an outcast everywhere I goand bring a curse on everyone I love.So if you see me shifting to the sha-dows of the room, away from everyone,it’s probably because I am afraidyou’ll realize what I already know. It... Continue Reading →
Seventy Times Seven: How Abuse Changes Forgiveness
“In white culture, forgiveness is synonymous with letting go. In my culture, I believe we carry pain until we can reconcile with it through ceremony. Pain is not framed like a problem with a solution. I don’t even know that white people see transcendence the way we do. I’m not sure that their dichotomies apply... Continue Reading →
Book Review: “If My Moon Was Your Sun” by Andreas Steinhöfel
The first children's book I received from Plough Publishing was Charlie the Tramp by Russell and Lillian Hoban. They sent it to me bundled up in a red bandana, as though the book itself had been a traveler and needed a place to stay. It was an adorable read about a little beaver named Charlie... Continue Reading →
Before God and These Witnesses
The days leading up to it were crazy. At one point I said to Tim, "This whole thing is reminding me why I wanted to elope." January 13th came and my stomach was in knots. My husband told me it was just my sympathy nerves, but I think there was also a fear that something... Continue Reading →
I Am Resolved
When the new year looms in December people begin to reevaluate how they spent the past year. We look over the good and bad and decide what needs to change. I think what turned me off to New Years Resolutions was hearing too many people say something like, "Okay, so I really need to stop... Continue Reading →
Five Years Later
Everyone has "are you kidding me?" moments with their parents. One of mine is when my mother told me that she and my father were actively trying to stop me from marrying my husband. Defiance wasn't an option in my childhood home. The severity of consequences for even the smallest infraction left me with a... Continue Reading →
I Promise…
I promise to be there for you when you need me. I promise to sacrifice my comforts for your safety. I promise to protect you. I promise to cover you with prayers and love. I promise to do whatever I can to assure you that the love I have for you is real. That may... Continue Reading →
It’s the Third Trimester, Little Baby!
And hip hip HURRAY for that! On the whole, I'm still not in love with this pregnancy thing. I have fatigue issues, mood swings, and a weird stress induced on and off again appetite. Though oddly enough, I have this wacky feeling I had all of those issues BEFORE I got pregnant. *tilts head and... Continue Reading →
Perfect Timing
While my pregnancy was a planned pregnancy, it was still a shock to me. I just figured it wouldn't happen when it did, and while it's still overwhelming at times, it's become just another one of those times in my life where I can see how perfect God's plans are when we submit to his... Continue Reading →
Unconditional
Some people get cranky when they’re tired. Some when they’re stressed. Some when they’re hungry or sick or when they’ve been cooped up inside from a snowstorm. Me? I get cranky for all of the above reasons, but this particular night was the second day in a row that I was cranky from studying for... Continue Reading →