He Wants More Than Love

"Is it true?" I asked in a hushed whisper?

He nodded his head yes.

I closed my eyes and tried to wrap my brain around this thought: My husband wants respect more than love.

We were on a long drive, the kids busy in the backseat, he and I, listening into shared ear buds, a book on CD.

He turned the words off and turned to me. "I know you love me, but I don't always know you respect me."

His words were gentle, his eyes warm. His beseeching, a sweet hug. But the words-they were like a knife. They cut deep because they were true.

[Continue reading my revelation over at (in)Courage]

Her Name is Grace Because He is Amazing

This is the day I met my third child for the first time. I held her one week later, attempted to nurse her two weeks after that.

After God did a miracle in my marriage, I started dreaming of having another baby. A third child. We were already blessed with a girl and boy and thought we were done.

But then, we fell in love again. And it just seemed right that a baby come from our new union. . .

To continue reading, please visit (in)Courage

Forgiveness is a Part of My Story

I don't know where to start in the telling of the story churning in my heart.

It's been four years since my marriage fell into pieces. It's been four years since God put it back together. It's different. 

It's better.

Four years ago, my husband confessed his private battle to me. He lay his struggle at my feet in tears and pleaded my forgiveness. 

(In honor of my 15th wedding anniversary (today!) I'm sharing our story in prayer that it will help and encourage couples to fight for their marriage. Our story is not for the faint-of-heart or for those who carry stones in their hands....click here to read the story. I've disabled comments here, but would love to hear from you at (in)courage).

Give Thanks {A Family Project}

Thanksgiving.

Have you heard of it? It's the non-revenue holiday hidden between the big money-makers, Halloween and Christmas.

(And it will be here before you know it!)

Marketing companies and toy manufacturers have made Oct. 31st and Dec. 25th every kid's dream. Those are the days you get stuff.

And I'm not above it. It was my own child that answered the question: "What is your favorite part of Thanksgiving?"

Answer: "Pulling out the Christmas decorations."

But Thanksgiving isn't about stuff. It's not about hype or candy or gifts. It's not even about pie. (Although....)

It is a day worthy of being celebrated. It's a day to be generous. It's a day to be gracious. It's more than a day.

Thankfulness cures my children's complaints. It stops grumbling in it's tracks. Bickering doesn't stand a chance with thankfulness in the room.

During this season, I'm giving thanksgiving a place of honor in my home with a Give Thanks Countdown Calendar. I think this can be a fun family project, the making and the doing.

I'm sharing it over at (in)courage today, so to see my Give Thanks Countdown Calendar (with printable inserts and Thanksliving activities, you'll have to click over there.

(I'm disabling comments here because I want to hear what you have to say over there!)

Here's a peek:

I am so excited about this project! Please take a minute and check it out! We started our countdown this morning!

The Wet Cement

There is a small park tucked in the woods at the end of our street. 

We call it The Dinosaur Park, not only because the rusty, faded slide is shaped like a T-Rex. It's archaic.

At the beginning of summer, we received a letter stating that new park equipment was going to be installed. (My kids were thrilled for obvious reasons, but I was glad for their [current] unbroken bones).

And it arrived the first week of school.

After dinner one night, we tiptoed to the edge of the yellow caution tape and spied the shiny new slide, rock wall, swing sets and play structure. It was impressive. But it wasn't completed. 

"Look!" my daughter pointed to the swings. "There's wet cement!"

Sure enough, the cement securing the structure to the ground was fresh.  

[Now this is probably where the rule followers should stop reading.]

To read the rest of this story that should be entitled The Day I was Nearly Arrested by an Elderly Park Ranger, click here.

What are you waiting for? I know you want to see me in handcuffs, so go!

The Spring

She leaned over the edge and peered into the deep, blue water. I could read the uncertainty and anxiety on her pudgy face.

She looked back at me for reassurance and I pointed to the fountain on the shallow shelf of the pool.

My two year old smiled. And she stepped into the water......

We were at my parent's pool just a few miles from home. My toddler's fear of the deep water kept her close to my side, but she loved the sparkling fountain on the pool's ledge. 

I smiled as I watched her try to stop the water shooting from the spring.

She used her bright green bucket to catch the forceful flow. She giggled and clapped.

The fountain was safe.

I laughed at the look on her face when she sat upon the rush of water.

She asked to go potty.  

I pointed to the grass. (Oh, like you wouldn't do the same).......

to continue reading, please visit (in)courage!

My Fathers are My Heroes

After a recent trip, I needed to spend some serious time communing with my laundry room. It's my least favorite part of vacation.

Well, that and the vacation being over. 

I was chatting on the phone with my mom about the trip when I turned the corner to the laundry room. I stopped in my tracks. My declawed cat had cornered this:

(I'm talking about the snake coiled on my floor, not the hair and goldfish crumbs that my camera captured so beautifully).

I grabbed a nearby broom, urging the cat away and then, I SCREAMED LIKE A GIRL.

Because y'all, there was a SNAKE ON MY FLOOR.

{To read the rest of the story, please visit (in)courage. This is my first post over there among some amazing women and I need to feel the love, y'all. Especially since I'm probably the only one to show my dirty floor, among other things!}

Living (in) Courage

Some times good things happen and you know you’re supposed to be a part of them.

That’s how I feel right now.

I’m thrilled to announce that I’m going to be a involved with a new project called (in)courage! 

It officially launches August 10th at www.incourage.me! 

But who knows, I might show up a day early.

(in)courage is a unique, one-of-a-kind site for women and I’m honored to be a part of the team of more than 20 amazing women! These ladies are some kind of classy. Let's not tell them that once I superglued my baby's lips together, m'kay?

Every day this week, the writer’s will be unveiled one at a time. Many of you are visiting today from The Pleated Poppy. I’m honored to follow such an adorable, creative woman! (And I smell a fantastic giveaway in the future...)

(in)courage will be a unique blend of fabulous product, inspired encouragement and gracious community.

And now, I’m happy to introduce you to a special lady who really gets me. We’re like two peas in a chaos-filled pod! Jennifer of Beauty and Bedlam is just as lovely in person as she is on her blog. She inspires me.

Please visit her here.

And mark your calendars for August 10th!

P.S. This is like an inspirational chain letter, don't break the chain, keep it going and visit Beauty and Bedlam. It may save you a trip to the Emergency Room or not. 

*UPDATE* If the Links for (in)courage are not working, it’s for an exciting reason - the site is about to launch. Please be patient and check back often!