In honor of Super Bowl, and the greatest commercial of all time, I give you a sixty second reflection for today. Can we think as big as this kid? Can we get on our all-powerful outfit and go conquer the world and never ever ever give up? It’s so stinkin’ cool when we get shocked by a miracle in our…
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We’ve never doubted for a moment that our family was meant to make this move. Four years ago when we leaped out of our highly chaotic lives in Chicago to move to West Michigan to accept a wonderful position at a fine company, we knew in our hearts and minds it was excellent. It was time to change. In that…
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It seems like a tough season. Maybe because it’s January. Many people in my life are struggling with relationships in one way or another and [spoiler alert] women often talk about relationships. No matter how we carve it up, and try to control it, all of life is about relationships. (yes, with other people) It’s like the secret to physical…
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As I drifted off to sleep last night, my mind was spinning with the truth that we are charging ahead in a new year filled with new pathways and excitement …and we must choose. Every day, as always, we have to make choices about how to spend every minute when so many needs call for our attention. As we launch and…
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After a long break with three separate marathon gatherings of fabulous family, holiday traveling and welcoming guests here, we’re hobbling toward the [welcome] regimen of school and structured work. So what did we learn during this precious season? That we are a family of connectedness. For better or worse, Mac or PC, screens are a reality of us. Everyone has…
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Of all the things we choose to believe today, From the press and the politicians and bloggers and pinners, and the clock on the wall. Good and bad. Gossip and Truth. Each day of living horizontally amidst the demands of the world …as far as our simple eyes and mind can see. Today we all have long lists of important…
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In this war Our enemy likes to keeps us off kilter. Spinning our heads. Tossing in grenades of worry. Obstacles meant to keep us from moving forward with purpose. Yet the greatest warrior king of all time beckons us to trust. Shedding fear and doubt. Shouting strength and giving glory to God. The one who is our armor For all…
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The kids call her Beeka. My mother-in-law is an angel. As a child, she rode her horse “Pet” to the one-room schoolhouse in Wyoming. Both ways. They didn’t have indoor plumbing until, oh, high school. Then as a devoted newlywed in the 1950’s she rode confidently behind her pilot husband in their two-seater Piper Cub with a baby on her…
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Psychologist Barry Schwartz in his now-classic TED talk on the paradox of choices identified a slightly twisted form of Opportunity Cost as one of the downsides to the endless choices we have (indeed, we demand) in our culture today. “The imagined alternatives induce you to regret the decision you made and the regret subtracts from the satisfaction of your choice…
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We all have issues with bones. These bones are unique parts of us that are from our childhood or other [character-building] events, or simply because we were born with them. They’re dense as an oak. And they are part of our framework whether we want them or not. Like my big feet, in some ways I’m stuck with them. My…
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The newly appointed CEO of Lockheed Martin was able to accept her new position extra-quick because the former CEO apparently couldn’t keep his affairs in order. Literally. (Note: I’m sure that Mrs. Hewson is a better choice for CEO anyway, and Lockheed’s handling seems to be highly professional.) Colonel Petraeus has succeeded in dropping the level of conversation about his…
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I’m nearly finished reading perhaps the greatest life-instruction book written yet; as if C.S. Lewis, Walt Disney and Spielberg had collaborated on how to live well (on this planet, not in a cartoon). Love Does by Bob Goff is can’t-put-it-down invigorating and don’t-want-it-to-end delightful. In fact, it’s not really a book at all. This is a view into a…
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One of the significant slivers of conditioning that I’ve had to wrestle as a shattered-and-redeemed woman, is many years of training that sin has tiers. Sort of like a small, medium and double-triple-XL spectrum of sin measurement. Unfortunately when I learned the beautiful gift of confession, it was apparently attached to a commensurate punishment, which of course, meant my 12-year-old…
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Be in the world Not of the world. But for heaven’s sake, be in the world. Let’s see. Politicians debate the role of their religion and their faith as it relates to their roles as governmental leaders. Bloggers pontificate (eloquently of course) about the hypocrisy of Christians celebrating Halloween and Santa. Most folks are okay with Thanksgiving being a kind-hearted…
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I grew up with Mary Poppins. Perhaps you think you did too, if you’re of a certain age. But I really mean I grew up with Mary Poppins. My magnificent mother, an English Lady of fine breeding, was in many ways the embodiment of all things Julie Andrews (to us). We had great cultural privilege as children born of an…
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Does a week’s blogging absence demand an explanation? (I hope so;) I’ve been recovering. Early last week I stood before hundreds of women and told my scandalous story of ‘mad woman redeemed.’ A friend asked, “is this by choice?” My sister said, “No, technically it’s not normal for people to want to confess their ugly past.” I wouldn’t say it…
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I know it’s an old idea. But my joyful expulsion of co-dependent behavior allows me to fly freely in the face of the perception of public ridicule. Besides, if not now, when? It’s my turn to play the Six Word Memoir game. People on Twitter do one of these every minute, which I consider less interesting than trying to creatively…
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I have enjoyed the ministry of Emily Freeman’s Dear Me. I’m late for her submission, but here goes. As I finally sit down to non-chalantly toy with the concept, I’m more in the mood for a list than a letter. It might be because it’s Friday night and we’re watching an odd animated movie by a cozy fire. Or it…
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This week’s lesson in Jack’s Kids-N-Action church group is about arguing. Wednesday, the magnificent youth leader rallied hundreds of kids to holler in unison, “Y’ALL STOP ARGUING!” each time he shouted “what are we gonna do?!” The crammed Castle Room at our church rattled with the chorus of shortpeople yelling, presumably, at their selves. It was adorable and loud. In…
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If its real, it endures. Like Faith that actually changes our life for good. Discipline that’s difficult and fruitful. Fear that must be conquered over and over. A God who invades lives to reveal His love My desire for chocolate sundaes. A relationship of deep trust. If the thing is real, it doesn’t wither or fade with time, but remains…