What do you need grace for today? This week, I find myself in need of rest. We are wrapping up the school year, and gearing up for two months of summer fun with our family in Michigan (this is when it pays off to have a husband who’s a college professor!) The packing/cleaning/shopping to-do lists […]
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We shuffled forward, inch by inch, until we were at the front of the line. A short man in a black suit jacket called us to his register. While the boys played under and around the counter, the man issued us our hotel keys. I took in my surroundings, marveling at the ornate lobby in […]
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This month marks the fifth year I’ve been the lead MOPS coordinator at our local church! If you’re not familiar with MOPS, it’s an international organization for Mothers of Preschoolers (and younger). We meet together for friendship, support, and to hear a guest speaker. I’m excited to lead our group into the next year of […]
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Over sixteen years ago, one of my husband’s buddies gave us a wedding gift. It was a cream colored quilted blanket with a fringe, the kind you drape over your couch and grab to keep your toes warm on a winter night. I was impressed by the gift, but he laughed and said his mom […]
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On Monday, the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris caught fire, causing massive damage and destroying its’ iconic spire. Onlookers were horrified and heartbroken as firefighters attempted to stop the blaze. Watching footage of the destructive flames, I thought of all the hard work that went into building that beautiful church. The stone, the wood, the […]
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I believe that sharing our stories is a powerful thing. It’s why I write. It’s why I keep journals and memory books for my kids. And it’s why I was so excited to learn about the Hope & Reason course from Elise Hurd!* Elise is a mom of six who spent ten years developing this […]
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One day not too long ago, when we picked up our boys from Sunday School after church, one of the teachers pulled me and my husband aside. She waited until the kids ran out of earshot. “That Henry,” she said, referring to our youngest who is just five, “He’s a smart one! I couldn’t believe […]
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“How was your weekend?” someone asks. It’s a fair question and a common one. And answering it presents an opportunity to curate your life: to showcase the parts you want people to see in order to keep people at a distance, or to invite them into more authentic relationship. On Saturday, we went to a […]
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We had a positive parenting expert speak to our MOPS group last month. She opened with a visualization exercise. I don’t like these types of exercises mainly because I don’t like being told what to do or keeping my eyes closed. But since I’m the lead coordinator for our group, I wanted to set a […]
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I’m officially past the stage where I can blame my children for my own lack of sleep. Nope. It’s all my fault, a fact that becomes painfully clear every morning when my alarm rings. Here are nine ways that you too can stay up past your bedtime and hate yourself in the morning: 1. Read […]
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Sarah K. Butterfield 