Sample Box
June 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment
More Than a Bible
June 28, 2010 By 28 Comments
My youngest daughter and I were waiting for someone inside a Christian bookstore.
“Seems like everybody’s talking about that ESV Study Bible,” I said, pointing to the display. Hardback editions stood on end next to a stack of nicely bound versions boxed up and marked $75.
“The church bought those for the graduating seniors this year,” my daughter said.
“Really? The hardbound ones?”
“No, those fancy ones,” she said, pointing to the boxes. “The students could get their names engraved on the front if they wanted to.”
“Those? Right there?” I asked, incredulous. “For $75?” [Read more...]
Food on Fridays: Please Eat Greens
June 24, 2010 By 35 Comments
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Here at the Food on Fridays carnival, any post remotely related to food is welcome—though we love to try new dishes, your post doesn’t have to be a recipe. If you just want to promote your local CSA, that’ll do just fine.
People Who Listen
June 24, 2010 By 14 Comments
Wednesday morning, a dear friend of mine came over with her mom so that the kids and I could help her stuff and stamp wedding invitations.
Only two of my four kids were available. My 12-year-old daughter, a task-oriented girl, devoted herself to the work, happily stuffing and licking envelopes. She completed a giant stack in record time.
Meanwhile, my eight-year-old son placed stamps on reply cards, working slowly not only to do the job neatly, but also because he paused a lot to chat. He would look up from the task to make eye contact, leaving a stamp stuck to his thumb that emphasized complicated plot twists in his story during his theatrical gestures.
As we worked together, he talked and talked and talked and talked.
Father's Day on the Farm
June 21, 2010 By 3 Comments
Snapshots from Father’s Day 2010
At my parents’ house this weekend, I spotted a few weather-worn pins clipped to the line and thought of all the lovely clothespin photos I’ve seen at blogs like Ann Voskamp’s.
Moving in close, I saw that this shot would feature a couple of unexpected elements:
Food on Fridays: Sugar Cookie Cups
June 17, 2010 By 20 Comments
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Here at the Food on Fridays carnival, any post remotely related to food is welcome—though we love to try new dishes, your post doesn’t have to be a recipe. If you just want to take a photo of black raspberries (I hear they’re in season around these parts), that’ll do just fine.
Simple Ways We've Gone Green
June 17, 2010 By 9 Comments
Visit this post at NotSoFastBook.com to enter the Green Mama book giveaway—ends Saturday morning, June 19.
Each weekend during soccer season, we tote collapsible chairs to and from our kids’ matches. The chairs fold down and slide into bags, and nearly always one of our bags is ripping at the seams.
This past season, it was one of the red chairs. The chair itself still functioned fine, but this sorry-looking bag needed replacing.
My Father's Gifts
June 15, 2010 By 13 Comments
In the 1940s, someone told my dad, “If you learn to operate a Linotype*, you’ll never be out of work!”
That kind of job security was a dream come true for a child of the Depression. His mom, my Grandma, borrowed money to send Dad to an Ohio Linotype school for training. He came back and got a job with the Indiana University printing plant.
(demonstrating his skills circa 1950)
Green Mama Book Giveaway
June 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment
I met Tracey Bianchi earlier this year at the Festival of Faith & Writing. As we introduced ourselves, she recognized my name as the author of The Contemplative Mom, a book she had been given many years ago when she was a new mom.
Unless the Lord…
June 13, 2010 By 1 Comment
Last Sunday one of our pastors preached from Psalm 127, focusing in particular on the opening verses:
Unless the LORD builds the house,
its builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain.
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