Yesterday I picked Lucy up from her Critter Barn camp, and the first thing she said—before even buckling her seatbelt—was, “Can we please have a playdate with my new friend?” I smiled and asked what any mom would: “What’s your friend’s name?” She looked at me, shrugged both shoulders high with a sheepish grin, and… Continue reading The Heart Before the Name
Tag: faith
When Kids Visit the Hospital: How Children Can Be a Light in Hard Places
Hospitals can be intimidating places—especially for children. The sterile halls, constant beeping, machines with strange blinking lights, and people in scrubs hurrying from room to room… it’s a lot to take in. But sometimes, when done with care, bringing a child into those spaces can offer a kind of healing adults alone can’t give. My… Continue reading When Kids Visit the Hospital: How Children Can Be a Light in Hard Places
Our Favorite Faith-Based Storybooks (That Aren’t Cheesy)
If you’ve ever rolled your eyes mid-story while reading a children’s devotional or Christian picture book, you’re not alone. We’re a Jesus-loving family who also appreciates good writing, beautiful illustrations, and books that speak to children’s hearts without sounding like a PowerPoint presentation. Over the years, we’ve found some gems—books that actually move us, inspire… Continue reading Our Favorite Faith-Based Storybooks (That Aren’t Cheesy)
🌱 When They Don’t Need You… As Much
This morning, I caught a moment that stopped me in my tracks—Lucy, stepstool in place, reaching into the fridge to grab the milk all on her own. No help needed. No “Momma, can you…?” Just confidence, independence, and quiet capability. It was such a simple thing. But it whispered something deeper: She’s growing. It’s what… Continue reading 🌱 When They Don’t Need You… As Much
🌤️ He Painted the Sky Just for You
“Momma, did you see the beautiful clouds God made for you today?” That’s what Lucy asked me the other day, and I nearly melted into a puddle of love right there. She wasn’t just pointing out a pretty sky—she was offering me a glimpse into her heart, and into the faith that’s quietly taking root… Continue reading 🌤️ He Painted the Sky Just for You
The Gift of Boredom
We live in a culture that treats boredom like a problem to fix—as if a quiet moment or an unoccupied child must immediately be filled with a screen, a schedule, or something flashy. But what if boredom isn’t a burden… but a blessing? At our house, we believe boredom is a skill—one that takes practice,… Continue reading The Gift of Boredom
🌸 The Bittersweet Beauty of the “Lasts”
There’s a sweetness that aches when you realize you’re living through a “last.” It’s never announced. There’s no celebration. No confetti or ceremony to mark the moment. You just notice one day that the thing they used to do—the thing that felt so ordinary—is gone. Like how Lucy used to call her milk “mookie.” We… Continue reading 🌸 The Bittersweet Beauty of the “Lasts”
Teaching Our Kids to Pray Bold Prayers
Before Lucy was even born, there was a little boy with folded hands and a big heart who prayed her into existence. Anderson was just a young child when he began praying for a sister—consistently, faithfully, with a kind of innocence and belief that adults often overthink. His prayers weren’t complex or fancy, but they… Continue reading Teaching Our Kids to Pray Bold Prayers
The Bittersweet Beauty of Watching Her Grow
There’s a sweetness that aches deep in the chest when you realize your child is growing up right in front of you. It’s in the little things. The way her legs stretch longer beneath a favorite dress. The way her voice sounds out words that used to need your help. The way she can read… Continue reading The Bittersweet Beauty of Watching Her Grow
Faith Like a Child: Our Family’s Testimony
Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed… nothing will be impossible for you.” — Matthew 17:20 Looking back, I now recognize that God has blessed my life with so many miracles. But my eyes weren’t truly open to them until the miracle of our daughter came to be.… Continue reading Faith Like a Child: Our Family’s Testimony
Raising Light 