During my senior year at Baylor, I found myself at a crossroads of what to pursue after college graduation: searching for a job in marketing and writing, or pursuing a Masters (and potentially a Doctorate) in English literature. I loved to write, and I could happily...
Our friends Steve and Lisa asked us last Spring if we’d consider attending a Focus on the Family Couples Retreat in Colorado Springs. Knowing that it would 1) take place in the fall, during both boys’ football seasons, and 2) be fairly expensive for just a...
- Catching Corbin playing pool games with his girls. - And on another day. My dad used to do this with us. - That he does a good job of this. And that I never have to. I didn\'t believe it on the front end, that the boys (including Corbin, of course) could / would...
- Celebrating 17 yearsAug 11, 1995- A screenshot of Hud\'s post on Instagram ~ sweet boy (feel free to roll eyes at this one... but I\'m not missing a chance to memorialize this!)- A full pool after a football meeting - makes my heart happy - Football season- Dropping...
I was practically giddy on the drive to Durango last month.I’d been telling Branson all summer that he had no idea what an incredible week lay ahead of him at KIVU.Mom, Corbin and I drove the gorgeous route from Angel Fire to Durango, and the four hours each way kept...
- Essie turns 7. Love this spunky girl. Celebrating with Daboo and CappyFavorite flowers from Daddy- Watching Bran and Corbin read my post about Yukon. They both needed Kleenex. - Swimming in the rain with the Schaefers- SWEET Daboo taking the boys fishing at the...
A sweet friend gave me a copy of Cross Roads last winter for my birthday. She and I shared an affection for The Shack, and she put Paul Young's new book in my hand hot off the press. It took me several months to read it, primarily because I didn't want to rush through...
- Lots to be grateful for from July. The first and foremost, is that we still have another month of summer!- My patriotic son.Marc and Bran. I found these pics on my phone a day later. - 4th of July at the Shopes - such a fun tradition. I admire Rachel as the hostess...
As I mentioned in Part 1 of this post, Yukon has grown old with our little family. Yukon began our training for parenthood Both have a few more gray hairs Yukon turned 14 this past spring, and in the past couple of years maintained a lot of necessary spunk to put up...
We named him Yukon. It wasn’t until a couple of weeks later, receiving his Husky certification in the mail, that we realized we’d given him his grandfather’s name. Skipping a generation, the name was surely meant for our little Yukon. He’s been with us for fourteen...
- Hitting a point of \"boredom\" this summer ~ means I haven\'t over-scheduled kids- Taking one day at a time. Summer is passing quickly, and it makes my heart ache a little. I so long for this relaxed schedule with margin- Silly boys- Hud\'s team not winning District...
- This summer especially, I\'m aware of our kids getting older, as they are entertaining themselves with creative outlets (which I do have to push, but not very hard): a treasure box of extra materials like empty oatmeal canisters, cardboard paper towel rolls, etc -...
I had just sat down in the living room last Saturday afternoon, feet up on the ottoman, laptop in hand. I glanced out to where Corbin rested on the pool float, reading the newspaper in the sun, and thought, “Here summer begins.” After an amazing, full week of CCBC...
Dear Hudson, Sitting in the folding auditorium chairs at Tanglewood last Friday morning, I got a little choked up watching the 5th grade parents file into the room. We gathered for the awards ceremony, one of the “lasts” of your elementary school events. And now...
- Basden competing in UIL storytellin - Corbin always making the celebration special - Little Laura Ingalls Wilder This dress - a treasure - made for Daboo by my Grandma Esther - May projects ~ never-ending ~ this one on responsibilities at home- Basden\'s \"Squake\"...
I even surprised myself. At the end of a very fun, very relaxing Memorial Day weekend at the lake, with all of the cars loaded and ready to head home, I burst into the full kitchen in a fit of anger and spewed out a couple of demands. Virtually incapable of...
- Dangly earrings and a locket from a Charming Charlie\'s shopping trip with Mama- What she chose to put in the locket - Watching Hudson as a Baylor Bear this springYou know something\'s wrong if he\'s not cheering / chattering - Basden\'s first run at softball - Go...
Dear Mama and Papa, Cappy and Daboo, in response to yesterday’s attacks... We are grieving after yesterday’s bombings at the Boston Marathon. Grieving on so many levels. For the victims and their families, for the city of Boston in general, and for our country...
- Adults across our city breathing new life and energy into the Fort Worth Young Life Committee- Elvia, Elvia, Elvia!! And my clean house!- Jessica\'s 40th birthday - and getting to celebrate right there with her Surprise!- Esther\'s note on my nightstand, waiting my...
I was with a good friend recently, who in describing her weekly cooking routine, said that her Sunday suppers were typically more gourmet, because that's the day she has free afternoon hours to spend in the kitchen. In that moment, I was reminded that I clearly missed...
- God-timed conversations on Monday mornings- Jesus Calling. No matter how popular that little devotional book gets, it remains right-on and incredibly encouraging. Thankful for Sarah Young\'s listening in writing those devos.- Davis family. What they are to so many,...
- Crystal\'s birthday! 7+ years as a James, and our three precious little James cousins growing up in Bozeman- “Thank you that I can give myself up to be led by You... that I can go forth praising and at rest, letting You manage me and my day... that I can joyfully...
I can still picture the look of surprise on her face when I told her I didn’t know Isaiah 40. Pulling out her worn Bible and thumbing through the pages, Grandma shook her head and said, “Why Tonya, you really don’t know those verses? Oh, you must go and memorize them....
- Luke’s 33rd birthday TODAY. Love, love my little brother. So proud of the man he has become, of his amazing wife and three boys. God made Luke brilliant, but still very teachable. Missing him (them!) especially today across the miles (Tulsa is a lucky town to have...
I snagged Still Lolo last month from Costco's book table and stuffed it in my own Christmas stocking. Lauren's story caught my attention a little over a year ago when our local radio stations spread news of her horrific accident of being struck by an airplane...
I like this guy. I don't remember how I came across Jonathon McKee's site, probably from an article he'd posted somewhere else, but I have kept up with his writings now for awhile. What hooked me on McKee's blog is that this former youth pastor researches teen...
- Not long enough with the Keisters at their home in Amarillo! - How much more we all enjoy road trips now that the kids are a bit older- 3 full days of skiing. No accidents, a whole lotta fun, and super pretty (sunny!) weather on the 3rd day. Family pic. With Mommy...
Snowy white powder under our skis, none of us could keep up with Esther today on the slopes. Seriously. Now, that's not counting the boys, as they were on their own snowboarding. But Basden, Nettie May and I could barely keep up with little Essie, who plowed straight...
- Basden as Narrator in A Christmas Carol ~ Mrs. Burlin’s precious influence, and a very special Christmas ornament. Basden looked to me like an angel at center stage. And she loved every minute of it.- Southcliff’s Singing Christmas Tree ~ celebrating 25 years,...
We were driving through Starbucks, Corbin and I, cheered that winter morn by hot cups of coffee in hand and a thick hazlenut aroma filling our car. We spent the morning together at an appointment, our children safely tucked in their schools, while across the country...
- Family movie watching the \"Christmas Carol\" with a giant trash bag full of popcorn (thank you, Thursday Boys!)- Basden knowing so many lines to the movie by heart- Daboo\'s 40th birthday gift to me ~ winterizing our front flower bed - Esther\'s 40th birthday...
An article I wrote for the Laity Lodge Family Camp's December newsletter. A huge thanks to Jessica for editing ~ you put a pretty frame around my words! I glanced across the den at our measly little Christmas tree, the sparse, glittery branches suspending a handful...
My sisters-in-law get a prize. A really big one. They each endured plane trips and road trips to Texas with all their little kiddos for a fun-filled week at the lake. Because our family has exponentially grown in the last five or six years, we've never all been...
- What\'s been playing pretty constantly in my mind (and on my ipod) the past few weeks - April Geesbreght\'s \"My Hope is in you Lord - ALL the day long\"I meet with You and my soul sings outAs your word throws doubt far awayI sing to You and my heart cries\"Holy!...
I acknowledge that with my assortment of inadequacies, I fulfill my high calling as a witness for Christ not by trying to be what I\'m not but by realizing who I am in Christ, then depending on You to let my true inner self shine forth. - A Treasury of PraiseHeavenly...
Pass me not, O gentle SaviorHear my humble cryWhile on others Thou art smiling,Do not pass me by.Let me at a throne of mercyFind a sweet reliefKneeling there in deep contritionHelp my unbeliefSavior, Savior,hear my humble cryWhile on others Thou art callingDo not pass...
He tends his flock like a shepherd, He gathers his lambs in his armsand carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. Is 40:11Father, I cannot tell you the comfort it brings me that you gather my children in your arms, carrying them close to...
- Katie in our home ~ such a gem!- Watching tv piled up on all the couch cushions- Again, the ways I find her. - And sometimes I find this one kinda crazy, too. - An attempt to kiss and make up... - Isn\'t this every child\'s favorite swim activity? Thankful for a...
Oh my gosh. This is so super yummy, I cannot tell you. Auntie Cameron greeted us with this warm-from-the-oven granola this summer, and it is to die for. I made a triple batch Saturday morning, and it barely lasted 48 hours. I have a feeling as the novelty wears off...
- Oh my goodness, she\'s getting big. 1st grade - Basden\'s first day of third grade over. She was more nervous than Bran (and it showed) - Hud as a 5th grader. Big man on campus- Bran\'s first day of middle school, and his first \"real school football\" practice...
I can tell I'm a little out of sorts. Second-guessing decisions, feeling pressure when I'm asked to give more of my energies or time to something, and at times on the edge with my family. The words that exit my mouth involuntarily show evidence of my insecurities,...
"Well, I've never seen those boys pray like that before a game." Huh? I was rounding the outfield fence, headed back to my folding chair under the trees, when a fellow team parent uttered those words through a sideways grin. I glanced over towards our dugout...
- Summertime ~ so thankful for a pool!!- Bran\'s good attitude about bathing the dogs - Watching Hudson play District ball, my heart swells because I\'m so touched by his focus and intensity - Hud\'s teammates and their families this summer ~ loved, loved the...
A few years ago, on Dad's 60th birthday, I made a meager attempt to capture what he means to me And now with Father's Day today, I'm thinking again of how to honor him, thank him, frame his influence on my life. Problem is, my little computer screen - nor my heart -...
- Finally!! - 1st day of summer - no alarm clocks and a bean bag tournament- 2nd day of summer in our neighbor\'s yard - still no morning alarm clocks- Moses Stone Gonzalez. He of course has no idea (yet) the gift of the family he was brought into. Thankful for the...
- Artapalooza - inspired fun... bringing it homeMore duct tape walletsHome-made bubble wands of straws and yarn Even Branson wants in on the fun! - Essie\'s Peacemaker play. Sweet of Lori to make the time to come and watch, and there\'s some humorous irony with Cappy...
- Good (in season) strawberries- Weekly visits in the surgeon\'s waiting room - always someone with much worse injuries than me. Perspective.- Hot tomato basil soup- Running into Laura periodically at Einstein\'s - what a gem - Branson as Eric Liddell. AND- the last...
My birthday letter to Chris, who just celebrated his 40th birthday last Sunday. He is a gem, his friendship foundational to us, and just someone we love being with. Proud to be family, Chris. "Ok, Essie, just take out the 2nd baseman if he gets in your way." Dear...
- A few hours with the Brogdons - always too short, but managed to fit in a walk with Jess, Wii tournaments, ping pong, swimming, a big Mother\'s day breakfast, and even a baseball game! - Hud\'s field day - even with crazy allergies. I admire his competitive spirit,...
- That he lets her win- Wondering how I\'m going to speak truth into the heart of my child, and God does it without me- Preferring books over TV - Water- My girls\' love for me, and how they show it- Brantley Korbin!!! Precious boy! Luke & Julie\'s newest in...