Sometimes, out of nowhere, I'm jolted by it. Jolted by the reality of this moment, of the here and now. As my crazy kids wrestle and turn cartwheels in our messy den, as I help Esther put the mounds of Barbie shoes and clothes and half naked dolls yet again into the...
A friend sent this video my way yesterday, and I can’t quit thinking about it. The four minute clip ended up being about twelve minutes for me, as one viewing wasn’t enough. It’s not every day that I get to watch spontaneous corporate worship in a shopping mall food...
They strolled right past us, unaware, canvas and paints in hands, headed further down the park's winding trail. I wondered if they were painting for fun, or for a school project... if the teen boy and girl were just friends, or dating, or brother and sister... hard to...
I didn't make it to BSF this morning. I've been tentatively looking forward to it all summer, studying Isaiah and being back in an inductive Bible study after a several-year-long hiatus from any type of in-depth Bible study. I've never been a part of BSF (Bible Study...
We made it home last night from a fantastic week and a half in New Mexico. The eleven hour drive was fairly uneventful until somewhere around Quannah a gurgling sound came from the back of the car, accompanied by, "Mommy! I'm going to throw up!" And fortunately, the...
He followed my flowing wedding gown through the winding pebbled paths of the Dallas Arboretum that hot June afternoon, lugging a cooler brimming with sparkling sodas and virgin margaritas. The women chatted and giggled like a gaggle of birds throughout my bridal...
Our parents gave us a humongous gift last week. Something so big, I can't help but write a little something about it. This is one of those "priceless" gifts... something we'll never be able to put a price tag on, with benefits we'll forever take for granted. In...
“Hey, whatcha doing? “Just looking at all this school info, comparing everything again, thinking about next fall.” “Oh TJ, we need to go back. It'll be great for our family and our kids to be back at school again." It took about two seconds for Corbin's words to seal...
There's nothing like being with your friends who knew you when... - knew you when you never could make that 8 am class on time - knew you in your first home away from home - sharing in the reality that no parents lived in this apartment - knew you when you struggled...
I think our firstborn was about two hours old before we latched on to the old African proverb, "It takes a village to raise a child." Yes, indeed. We're pretty grateful for ours. It's no secret that my boys have a stellar dad. But all their lives, family and friends...
Little did I know that the 4th of February would forever change my world. It’s become to me like a national holiday, right up there with Thanksgiving and Christmas and Independence Day - it’s a day when I want to slow down and celebrate and remember the significance...
Our Christmas tree was a little Charlie-Brownish this year. And if I'm honest, it was last year, too. Decorated almost entirely by the younger members of our family, the ornaments clung in tight little groupings on low-hanging branches, ribbons swirled through limbs...
“Hey, how long ago did you get this ticket?” Corbin asked, flipping through some papers on my desk. “Oh yeah, I meant to ask you about that. What do I need to do with it?” “Well, did you read it? Looks like you need to go to the courthouse. But it says within eleven...
Sunlight filtered through our open car windows while a brisk breeze swooped crimson and golden leaves in merry-go-round circles on the asphalt. The day's brilliant conditions ushered in excitement for the emergence of Fall. But all was not quite so sunny in our car as...
(from Hudson) I wrote this story today: One late afternoon a mother duck's eggs hatched and a kitten got mixed in with the baby ducks. When it was time for the baby ducks to eat their first piece of corn the kitten ate with then. After that, it was time for them to...
You're funny and fearless (except for loud noises) and fussy and fast friends with strangers. You're quirky and busy and exuberant and giggly. You're graceful and athletic and a dancer and a sprinter... and today, you are three years old. This little babe who...
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness... Thank goodness! Every so often - like last night - I go to bed with a heavy heart, carrying the weight of the world into my...
When Branson started walking at twelve months of age, I felt instinctive confidence he would get it. I didn't follow him around with a soft pillow, waiting to cushion his fall. I just assumed his little bottom was fluffy enough (!) to soften the blow. Corbin and I...
“Mommy! Now we’re not going to be able to listen to licorice sticks anymore!” Basden eyed the overflowing basket of library books and CDs in our laundry room, ready for today’s return from their three-week hiatus in our home. She lightly tossed the Karen Harper CD...
Turns out I'm not that much nicer when I can't talk. Just because I'm not speaking doesn't mean I don't lose it from time to time - it's just that right now I can't spew out my frustration with words. Yesterday I got really mad at Bran. I'd love to camouflage his...
Evidently, I'm nicer without a voice. At least according to Hudson. In his kindest, most sincere way, he told me yesterday, "Mommy, you're nicer when you can't talk." It's been nearly 48 hours since I've spoken or sang or yelled or whispered. After Friday's vocal cord...
The Texas redbuds are blooming. We've got three of these trees in our backyard, and they happily summon spring as the wispy branches pop with bright purple blooms. The first year in our home, we had no idea what to expect of our backyard. We moved in during the...
Well, I thought his hair looked great. And not just because I'm his mom, but because he's got this brilliant face with clear green eyes. And while those eyes are adorable peeking out from beneath a long wave of bangs, this short cut makes his features even brighter....
“Mama, I know this is a hard Christmas for you since Tricia died.” Jamie cleared her throat and agreed with Branson that yes, it had been a difficult Christmas. “But Mama, we know she’s in Heaven with Jesus.” As tears formed in Jamie’s eyes, Bran again reassured her,...
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young - a place near your altar... Blessed are those who dwell in your house... Blessed are those whose strength is in...
"He died young, but lived old." That's how pastor Tommy Nelson described Kyle Ogle during Monday's funeral. Kyle's life ended at a much-too-young 38, but in the process he touched many with his full and deep and overflowing magnetism. Before the cancer and with the...
Friends - Jeff and Nan and all three boys are still in San Diego and Mike is continuing to slowly heal. Precious insight from an e-mail Nan wrote a couple of days ago - I was asking God to bring himself to us. It's no longer the question, "Can the God of the universe...
- Never underestimate a pink-plastic-high-heel-wearing two-year-old with an enormous planter of dirt - Rhinestone necklaces and high heels and taking a break to teach ballet are critical elements for a family bike ride - No such thing as enough photos of my girls with...
A quick update on Mike Lawrence through an e-mail from Jeff & Nan - Today (Saturday) is day seven at the hospital in San Diego. Mike is doing well under the circumstances and in good spirits most of the time. He's out of ICU, and he's been much more active over...
Hudson, would you like to pray for Mike? "Mom, sometimes things are too sad for me to pray for out loud. This is one of those times." Our friends Jeff and Nan Lawrence and their family are suffering a tragedy this week. Their nearly six-year-old son, Mike, tripped and...
We celebrated Esther Jamie's second birthday recently, and I just can't let the benchmark birthday pass without lavishing love on her little life. A letter to our baby... Little One - You have acquired a handful of nicknames in your two years: Spunky Monkey, Little...
I went to bed last night with a heavy heart. Going through a pile of mail as we returned home, I scanned an article in last Sunday's paper entitled, "If you want to go to heaven..." Evangelicals are neither as numerous nor as uniform in their beliefs as once thought,...
A few mornings ago I noticed Branson writing some sort of note. We were headed out the door, and he dawdled with his pen and paper while I ushered the other kids to the car. I was quite curious as to what he was working on, but decided not to ask any questions. I...
Branson sat down to e-mail Mama and Papa (Corbin\'s parents in NM) this evening. I looked back to my sent folder and found his unchecked correspondence, with this last line:how has your summer been? well I bet you know that we are going KANAKUK:| OK I HOPE THE LORD IS...
My little boy is growing up. I suppose it’s something I’m going to have to accept. Somehow Hudson has dashed into boyhood right before our eyes. His kindergarten year is coming to an end, and Hudson will move into the ever-ascending numerical...
"Mom! Where's my hat?" "What? Your hat? You don't have your hat?" Standing in our doorway, I glanced at Branson climbing into the backseat of my mom's car. My thoughts spiraled and tumbled with the possible hiding place of the black Pirate's ball cap. The one with the...
Some weeks my Wednesday Wonder post simply won't get written, and this is unfortunately one of those weeks! I posted this on the Fort Worth Writer's Group blog this morning, as we're focusing on Lent. Thanks for stopping by. I was reminded this week of a scene from...
People are funny. A couple of months ago a friend told me she might be moving into my neighborhood. When I expressed delight, she responded, "Yeah, we love the neighborhood, but we would never send our kids to your public school." Ouch. Last week I was in a coffee...
I read The Gardener to my kids recently, an inspiring children’s story about a young girl’s courage and optimism in the face of adversity. Lydia Grace Finch is forced to leave her family’s farm and move to the city with her unsmiling Uncle Jim who owns a bakery. Her...
Grandma was raised in Glory, Minnesota, and on this date eight years ago she was raised up for eternity in GLORY. Undoubtedly named after the Biblical Queen of Persia, Grandma inherited quite a legacy. And she left a legacy of her own in four children, ten...
My seven-year-old is precious. PRECIOUS. The only thing is, he's seven for just a few more hours. Monday he turns eight. Like most parents, I'm incredulous as to how it's possible that my baby is growing up to be a young man right before my eyes. He was just born! Yet...
We celebrated Dad’s 60th birthday a few weeks ago. A couple of months ago we realized that Dad’s 60th birthday coincided with everyone filing into town for Christmas this year. All three of my brothers and their families traveled from Tulsa and Atlanta, so the whole...
I’m thinking a lot about our home lately. Maybe it’s the assurance of Spring soon emerging now that the holidays are over, or perhaps it’s due to the great sofa sitting in my garage begging to be recovered. Our master bath desperately needs some love and updating, and...
A couple of photos to share our recent celebrations. We moved from Hud's camo to all things girly for Basden Joy's "Sparkle with Joy" party. In addition to Basden's party, we enjoyed our 2nd annual "birthday tea party" with her sweet cousin Nettie May, who turned 4...
I took the kids to the zoo today. Gorgeous weather, with everyone out of school for Thanksgiving. And even though half of Fort Worth had the same idea, it was a great outing for our little family. I enjoyed having the kids to myself - I was able to purely focus on my...
With each child's addition to our family, my perfectionist tendencies are decreasing. You should see Hudson's Kindergarten party invitations we sent out in August. If you compared his to the ones we did for Bran two years ago, it's a hoot. Great intentions, but not...
We are not typically a "bathe our kids every night" family. Shocker, I know. But given the effort involved, combined with our full evenings, we just never got into routines of bathing our kids every single night. Things change when your boy turns 7 and runs hard at...
Our friends Darla and Kyle wrote this on their CaringBridge site a couple of weeks ago. We were at Baylor with Darla and Kyle, and they are incredibly attractive - they draw others to want to be near them. I didn't know Kyle well at Baylor, he was a senior my freshman...
As I write this, my dear friend and college roommate, Kirsten, is packing her bags for India. She's leaving her pastor/film director/writer husband with their two young kiddos for two weeks as she leads a group of 10 people on this Justice 4 India trip. Their focus...
"How in the world do you do four?" is the typical response when people ask how many kids we have. My answer? Simple. "Marry up." Take today - a fairly typical day in the Wilson home... This morning Corbin let me sleep, happily (yes happily, that's not an exaggeration)...