With Great Joy

I used to be really faithful about writing birthday letters to my kids.  And then I stopped.  I am trying to get back into the habit mostly...

The digital clock in the van read 10:00 and even though there were six of us in there, it was silent.  When I looked for my kids' eyes i...

I wrote this in my journal today:  That is my prayer. A few weeks ago I asked my little cluster of girlfriends to pray for me regarding...

Hello, dear friends- Here is what's going on today: Outside my window | is our garden, just waiting to be planted.  Tomorrow is th...

A little stick figure named Sam started showing up on the pages of Isaac's math notebook last year.  Sam would often leave little messag...

Did anyone else have parents that pulled out The Ungame for Family Nights?  I'm quite sure The Ungame was my mom's favorite game. ...

Last night Mark and I had this conversation: (me)  Honey, do you realize that I get asked a question every four seconds ? (Mark)  Yes.  ...

A few months ago I first mentioned the ticket system we've been using.  It has been working really well for us, so I'm going to shar...

{More on our current read-aloud, The Hiding Place .} As I sit with this book in my hands, it is a certain thing that I will get all teary ...

I am reading The Hiding Place aloud to the kids.  Below is one of my favorite passages of the book so far. Corrie writes about a particul...

Last week we went to the ocean for vacation.  Following are some pictures, which will just prove once and for all that Mark is the ...

I'm just back from an early-morning walk with my mom and the sky is clear and blue.  And Mark has the day off.  I'm thankful.  I ha...

There is this progression of drawing that I love to watch in my kids.  Their "people" drawings usually begin with a head and then...

Oh, wow.  Rough morning, here.  There was a bit of sunshine today, so I decided that after breakfast, chores, and our history read-aloud, ...

I was up early this morning with the girls while everyone else slept.  They were vying for a position on my lap- both were sleepy and wanted...

One day as I was trying to get the kids ready to go somewhere--- which always seems to be an extremely Long and Trying Process at our house,...

This was the best blog post I read all week. Go read it, and then go see your kids-- really see them. {Thank you, Tonia ~ for the li...

Today is our first day of school.  I'm in a good place right now, but I wasn't just two short days ago, and that's what I'm ...