Lift My Noise??
A few years ago I hired a young graphic designer for help with updating and possibly renaming this blog. “What do you like to write about?” she asked. “Oh, really just personal narratives, stories about daily life and marriage and parenting, more than anything this is...
WIlson6 becoming Wilson7
Welcome to the family, Shelby. With the massive task of attempting to frame such a meaningful engagement weekend, I'm simply sharing Corbin's letter to Hud's new fiance'. This seems to capture it. And the letter's ending, my favorite part of gifting the perfume ~ all...
30 Pieces of Silver
“Ah, here comes Judas again. What a fool. Why is he back? We have no more business with him. Or time for his folly.” “Wait, wait!” cried Judas, breathless as he entered the room brimming with elders and chief priests. “Jesus! He’s innocent. He’s done nothing wrong.”...
Bob Knox ~ He Knew my Name
When Esther moved to Southwest Christian School as an 8th grader, she announced at dinner that first week, "Y'all, it's the strangest thing. Today we had a sub, and HE KNEW MY NAME." I laughed at her incredulous statement, "Yes Essie, that's Mr. Knox, he's not a...
He Spills the Gospel
"Who's the kid that just got baptized? I've never seen him before, but there's a massive group of friends waiting to hug and congratulate him!" "You don't know him?" Graham asked, "He was in Hudson's room at ski trip. That's the weekend he decided to follow Jesus."...
Hopping from One Thing to the Next
"Good morning from Denver, fam" - me "Y’all really are taking advantage of this whole empty nester thing" - Basden Um, yes. It's been a special couple of weeks. A few months ago, our friends Todd and Jessica asked if I wanted to join them on a week-long trip to...
Sharing the Love, Sourdough Style
This photo was my morning text from Basden. She is having a ball with her baking. Papa, Corbin’s dad, got her hooked, as he’s been baking sourdough loaves and crackers and English muffins for several years now. Basden took some of Papa's starter from his Angel Fire...
Christ My Only Hope ~ The Life Story of Yamuragiye Cyprien
I have this sweet set of three birds, clay painted turquoise, one of those purchases I didn't even have to think about when I spotted them years ago in a little shop. Birds. Turquoise. Perfectly imperfect in the hand-crafted design and paint. This morning I went...
Happy 18th to our little Firecracker
Essie ~ You’ve always been a firecracker. In celebration of EIGHTEEN, a few of my favorite memories: When you were about three years old, our sweet friend Lori was volunteering with the young children’s Sunday School at Christ Chapel. Lori wasn’t technically serving...
How to Stay Married, The Most Insane Love Story Ever Told ~ Book Review
Well, buckle up. This is not a book I would suggest for every person I know. But if you're interested a real, honest, guttural, and absolutely redemptive memoir, this story is for you. The writing is among the best I've ever read. And I absolutely could not put it...
Podcast up ~ Nowhere Close to Famous with Josh and Brooke
If you have some time walking or driving, or doing laundry like my friend Kathryn, take a listen to this Episode 1, Season 4 of Nowhere Close to Famous. The evening spent recording with Josh Storie and Brooke Seale was a real treat for me. They are genuinely funny -...
Transitions, anyone??
No one, and I mean no one, can get on an eighteen-year-old's nerves like their Momma. I can think of a couple of others that come close, but I am the Grand Champion of inadvertently pushing my young adult daughter's buttons. And I'm seeing it all around me. When this...
Just a little Head CT
A few weeks ago, Esther and I spent a gorgeous spring Saturday morning celebrating a first birthday party with family friends. The baby was in the middle of smashing the birthday cake when Corbin called. I let it go to voicemail, as Esther was trying to get the...
So that we may comfort others
Basketball season is in full force, and our high school teams are fun to watch. Recently during a rivalry girls’ game, a hush rolled over rowdy spectators as one of the opposing players made a basket - in our basket. Two points for us, a surprised pause from the...
What Will We Capture
Last spring I experienced a favorite parenting moment. Such a privilege to give Esther her dream camera and lens. For no reason. Not her birthday, not Christmas, and she didn’t earn the money (or even half of the money)... I just got to buy and give this gift to her...
It’s a Wonderful Life, Mr. Dennard
“Does my life make a difference?” That’s the question. Whether we admit it, whether we even realize it, that’s really the most fundamental, most important question we ask ourselves. It’s the reason we watch It’s a Wonderful Life every Christmas. Or if we don’t, we...
Radical Hospitality
Hospitality can be defined as “Love to strangers.” It’s the practice of welcoming, feeding, and sheltering travelers - those who come to your door - with no thought of personal gain. The following is one woman’s story of the surprising joy she experienced from simply...
When Prayer Delights
My dad describes a surprising encounter with the Lord, years ago, when he was attempting nighttime prayers. He was lying in bed, going through a mental checklist of all the people and things he needed to pray for, and time and again his prayers were distracted by...
Basden’s Wise Heart ~ love, Cappy
Dear Basden ~ in keeping with Cappy's encouragement to Hud, here are his words penned to you as an eight-year-old. And we couldn't agree more. Happy TWENTIETH birthday, Little Joy! Basden- You have a wise heart. It shows in the way you really want to help Aunt Crystal...
To Hud ~ A Grandfather’s encouragement
Hudson James, just a couple days shy of your 22nd birthday... a little encouragement from Cappy's email to your ten-year-old self. Twelve years later, I'm encouraged by his words here, along with the joy of reminiscing over this exchange. The power of words on a page,...