There are so many stories of Christmas. … And then there’s the one where the overly sincere parents try to bludgeon gratitude into their children.
Dana Bowman
Addiction & the Church
As an alcoholic in recovery, I occasionally have to deal with painful reminders of my past. It’s part of the deal. You go into recovery, and it’s really hard, and sometimes you have to pay your dues.
Entertaining Angels
My church has an adoption policy for the local college kids in our […]
It’s Not You, Church. It’s Me.
There are times when I am just a teensy bit jealous of my twenty-year-old […]
Cat on a Drawbridge
With zeal, I write: Resolution #1: My body is a temple. I will no longer steal my children’s marshmallow Santas. […]
One Weekend in October, All Is Perfect
We live in Lindsborg, Kansas, a small town that celebrates its Swedish heritage hard. This year was a Hyllningsfest year, celebrated biannually in early October when the entire town dons Swedish costumes and there’s music all over the place. It […]
The Best-Laid Summer Plans
I had such glorious plans for summer. How could they have gone so astray?
There’s No Crying in VBS
It’s summertime and we parents know the drill. We stock up on pool passes and sunscreen, hunt down all our library cards, and hope in vain that this summer our children will be tall enough to maneuver the lawmower. […]
A Labrador, Hamster, and Elephant Live in a House Together…
I am fabulous at many things. I am an exceptional speller, and I am quite skilled at making chocolate cream pie. I can solve a Wheel of Fortune mystery before the people on television. Generally speaking, I am pretty wonderful. […]
Retreat!
Some people go to retreats because it sounded like a good idea when they signed up three months ago […]
Mercy in the Madness
Don’t bother too much about your feelings. —C.S. Lewis My husband was sprawled on his stomach before the television while talking on his cell phone and fiddling with some cords and buttons on our brand-new Wii. It’s an interesting view, […]
Learning Curve
Hank was a 14-year-old boy who sat in the front row of the English class I taught […]