I am tall and slender. (Slender sounds so much nicer than skinny.) I am 5’10” barefoot, and I weigh in at about a buck thirty-five. I was standing, holding hands in a prayer circle with 68 people I had never met. The majority of these people were from group homes around Birmingham. My right hand felt like a child’s hand being held by a man so large that my nose was level with his shoulder. His hand engulfed mine, and... Read more
My Uncle called me yesterday. It made my day. Each of your comments are precious to me and I treasure the dialogue that this platform gives us, but hearing “thanks” from a family member–someone I know personally and admire–is just a bit sweeter. During our conversation, we talked about how the older we get, the more we realize different things that really matter in life. I was holding the phone, talking to a guy who tragically lost his wife, the love... Read more
Ben Thomas has been sick off-and-on for a couple of weeks now. It’s sinus yuck and when Lindsey gets back from the doctor this morning, I imagine they will say it’s an ear infection. He’s also teething. And last week he had his 6-month immunizations. It’s a really crappy time in his little world! And as BT’s Daddy, when he is unhappy, it breaks my heart. Now–he’s a baby, and there are times when he acts like a baby. There... Read more
Letter to a friend: You lose a job. You lose a spouse. You might even lose a child. You lose car keys, your wallet, and your debit card. If you’re lucky, you lose weight. Some folks lose hair. You might even lose your mind. But lose God? No sir. You might lose heart. You may lose the will to fight. But lose God? No. God’s never lost. He is right where He’s always been. Standing at the door, knocking,... Read more
I worked in the public school system for five years. During that time, I learned several important lessons: Lunchroom food sucks (but if you get in good with the lunchroom ladies…they’ll hook you up). Schools are dirty and kids are gross…I wash my hands until they’re cracked and chapped. Use the women’s faculty bathroom…it is always cleaner. Parents don’t want their children to fail. Let’s talk about that last one: I want my little boy to grow up knowing some success... Read more
Baby Ben has been extra snuggly this morning. I love that boy so much. I wake up long before everyone else in my house during the week (around 5:15am), and most mornings I have just a few extra minutes to go and wake him up for a few cuddles. I love him so much it hurts. If I could take him to work with me every single day, I would. He’s my pride and joy. I can come home from... Read more
My Dad owned a mechanic shop in our tiny, rural Alabama town. My Momma kept this kid whose Momma worked at the bank for $1/hr. Everyone was poor, unless they lived on the river. Or worked for Alabama Power. I wasn’t that lucky. We went to garage sales, not because my parents wanted to find treasures like they do on “American Pickers“, but because we were poor. You know how some kids get new school clothes every Fall? So did... Read more
I am a pretty smart cookie. As a matter of fact, I think my brain is one of my best assets. I love to learn and learn quickly…. Except for my sense of direction. A guy I know used to say to me “You couldn’t find your way out of a wet paper sack.” Ha! That’s a funny southern sayin’… and even funnier because it’s about true. I am dependant on my GPS. But sometimes it just won’t take me... Read more
Have you ever found God in an unlikely place? I didn’t plan to be sipping on orange juice, cranberry, and vodka while smoking a Macanudo and reading Brennan Manning’s “All is Grace”. I didn’t plan it this way. Really. I didn’t plan to be doing all of this while enjoying a 50-degree sunset from Lookout Mountain on the eve of New Year’s Eve. I didn’t plan it this way. Really. I didn’t plan to meet Jesus out here. Not this... Read more
Have you ever thought about the chaos of the Christmas story? An unwed, pregnant teenage girl. A long road trip in a stinkin’ hoopty to pay the IRS. Farmers in a field, following something like a UFO to a far away land. Flea bag motel. Giving birth at the vet’s office. Sounds pretty chaotic, right? It was worse. A teenage boy who knows the Bible forwards and backwards. Amazes the scholars, who hate him. He becomes a big and strong young adult... Read more
Grace is Messy
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