Designing a life of peace, joy and laughter.
Jamie and I celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary this week. In July, my parents marked 50 years of marriage, and they found a way to host a small party with siblings, despite COVID-19 restrictions. We played a video of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and friends reflecting on my parents’ marriage. Two of my aunts … Continue reading “Each for the Other.”
Grief is weighing down my heart yet again this week. Our company is reducing jobs, and the heaviness of losing friend after friend at work drains the bit of energy that I still had. All these people who have added so much value to our work and our lives now need to start over. Monday … Continue reading “Get up and eat.”
“It smells like Christmas!” A few weeks ago, we were hiking in the Tetons on vacation, and all of us noticed and commented on the scent of the pine forest wherever we hiked. It smells fresh and makes you want to keep taking deep breaths. And my sons kept saying how much it smelled like … Continue reading The Smell of Hope
One of my sons has been having “scary thoughts.” After the boys are in bed, Jamie and I turn on the TV and find something funny to watch. We hear the heavy footsteps on the stairs before he sheepishly comes in and tells us he can’t sleep. It’s not a stalling technique. He has an … Continue reading Medicine for Fear
This is harder than I thought. Yesterday I hosted a group of clients in person for about 5 hours on our corporate campus. I came home before 5:00, and fell deeply, soundly asleep for an hour. I had a terrible headache, stiff neck, and dry throat. Even this morning, after a full nights’ sleep, I still have bags under my eyes.
Yesterday morning there was one quiet hour before everybody else got up.There is something about sitting in complete silence with just coffee and God that I need in the morning. I woke up with fatigue, and anxiety about the day, and after an hour, I left my corner of the couch with enough caffeine and a new lens to look at everything through.
Yesterday, after hours of work video meetings, I ended up on stool at my kitchen counter with my phone and an open bag of Doritos. I saw on Instagram that somebody recommended a podcast about a 10-step skincare routine. I started listening to the podcast (still eating the Doritos), because I had been staring at … Continue reading “Simple and easy are not the same. In fact, they are opposites.” – Mo Willems
This is my Grandma Schipma, Marcie. I love this photo of her looking at my son Isaiah, because I feel like that is how she looked at all of us. Like she treasured us. She makes me think of love and generosity and hospitality and home. Generosity. When we rode our bikes to her house, … Continue reading May His favor be upon you
I went for another run today, even though all my runs in the last four weeks have been crappy. When I take off on my normal little route, I find myself getting tired quickly, slowing down at every incline, stopping and walking several times during a run that used to be easy. I continue to … Continue reading Holy Saturday
Two weeks ago, Jamie and I tried to celebrate a 20th anniversary. 20 years since our first date! We walked down Wealthy street, all the local restaurants were closed, the chairs up on the tables. The sun was out, people were walking, socially distanced, healthy. These restaurants wanted badly to be open and adding value, … Continue reading “Now, we are doing this.”
New Every Morning 