This is shaping up to be an interesting and difficult week, a week of personal and spiritual growth.  With my brother in the hospital, my nephew living with us, the rest of my family, and interesting news from the doctor about #3….I have all of this great stuff to offer up and no one to offer it up for.   That’s why I’m coming to you.  Who needs it?  This is some heavy duty stuff and could really be powerful prayer... Read more

My brother is still in the hospital with a staph infection in his hand, so tonight his 4 year old son is sleeping at our house.  He’s the only child of a single father, and I briefly feared that our controlled chaos would overwhelm him.  Silly me.  He fell in with the crowd, one of the few times that peer pressure is a good thing, and followed our routines as if he were just one of our own. I forget... Read more

My brother, a single dad of a 5 year old, called me first thing this morning from the hospital asking for prayers. He broke one of the small bones in his hand this week and it has become infected. The doctors are calling it a “hand threatening infection.” He is going into surgery now to drain the infection.  Please pray for my brother. Read more

Either this is spiritual warfare, or God is just messing with me. Here’s how today has gone for me:1. I pulled out some old math workbooks for #3.  He’s finished his book for this year, but his shrink says he’s way remedial.  I don’t want to believe her, so we try to do last year’s work.  He can’t do it.  I realize that I’ve been over-helping and all the work we’ve done this year has accomplished nothing more than me... Read more

I cleaned my boys’ room yesterday.  Three garbage bags of trash, a big box of winter clothes, a giant box of costumes and two bins of legos hauled out just to find the floor.  I expected tears and complaints at the loss of their toys and favorite playthings.  I got, instead, relief.  They were so happy to find a room which was suddenly manageable for them.  The mess which had made me crazy and their father a lunatic, was truly... Read more

“I have a business meeting for lunch almost every day this week and won’t get to come home and see you and the kids at lunchtime.”  So began the tale of woe of my beloved husband this past Sunday night.  I felt so guilty.  We get to spend our days with each other, watching our stories and eating bon bons (it’s really stolen Easter candy, but bon-bons sounds better), while he has to work through lunch and doesn’t get to... Read more

I listened, this weekend, to a sermon on the resurrection of the body at the end of time.  When I was younger, this was a joyous thought.  I moved easily and gracefully through life, striding easily, walking tall.  It is now something I wish we could do without.  I’d rather just get to heaven and stay non-corporeal.  I’d rather be light and floaty and just gliding about among the clouds and what-nots. The truth is that I hate my body. ... Read more

I’ve taken over coaching #4’s soccer team.  Their coach had something come up and I’m the only parent willing to take it over.  When push comes to shove….well, look at the title of the blog.  I played soccer for years and was a pretty good player.  We lost the first game with me as coach 14-2.  Today was my first practice as the boss.  I had a game plan.  I was prepared.  Heck, I’ve even lost 8 pounds and have... Read more

I had the incredible privilege this Lenten season to pray for Hafsa at The Peace of Christ.  It was she who got the benefit of allergy testing, sleepless nights and two rounds of stomach viruses and a boy in the hospital.  She kind of lucked out in the “offer it up” lottery, and it was my pleasure to get to do it for her.  Stop over at her place and peruse her old blog posts.  She is sweet and funny... Read more

I just want to kiss his cheeks.  What a sweetie. Read more