September 2010
2 posts
Attention Readers: Blog Change
I am making the switch from Tumblr to a WordPress blog, which will enable comments on the blog site. Thus, the new URL for my blog is soulsplash.wordpress.com. My apologies to my RSS Feed subscribers who may or may not have received a repeat of all my past entries in the process of changing over. Thanks for your patience as I get all the kinks worked out, and as always….thanks for reading....
Clear Your Head
I went with a friend to see the movie, Eat Pray Love. There was one particular message that has resonated within me since leaving the theater. It goes something like this… “You must empty your mind of those things possessing it in order to make room for God to enter.”
I have been mentally sorting through all the pointless thoughts that fill our minds…worry, fear, guilt, anger, confusion,...
August 2010
4 posts
Eating For Strength
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not so great at moderation. In my efforts to lose my “baby weight,” I committed to a strict diet and exercise program, and I was extremely disciplined in it. On the other hand, when I chose to let myself “relax,” I was also great at making up for lost time by eating everything I had previously deprived myself of. Not a good...
The Season In-Between
I suppose I have become accustomed to change. A life in ministry has meant frequent moves for my family, making transition more of a familiar friend than an unwelcomed houseguest. Learning to live in the “in-between” goes against our nature to seek comfort and cocoon ourselves within it, undisturbed, for as long as possible. We instinctively cling to what we know and shy away from new territory....
Life Afloat
In my life, I have gone through periods where I feel distant from God, as though I have drifted away against my will. During one such struggle, I imagined myself lying on a raft, afloat in an enormous lake. I thought about how little effort it takes to slowly drift from your starting point. One tiny nudge, and gradually the distance between you and your intended location will grow greater and...
Scapegoat
Lately, I have been wading through a period of uncertainty and discouragement. Of course, I’ve been trying to pray through it. In doing so, I have found myself frustrated with God, feeling abandoned, and wondering why He isn’t pouring out His blessing the way I think He should. In reality, though, my disappointment is in people, not in God. Somehow, He becomes a scapegoat for my...
July 2010
8 posts
For Your Own Good
My four month old was due for immunizations, so today I reluctantly took him to get his shots. He obviously had no idea where we were going, which only made me feel more guilty. Giggling at the nurse, he was enjoying the extra attention with no clue what was coming his way. I hate seeing my children in pain, but I know that vaccinations are for his own good.
I wonder if God looks at us in that...
Rest
I know that my 2 year old needs his nap time, although he doesn’t share this belief. He needs to rest from all the activity he’s been doing, renew his mind and get his attitude right. He needs a break, time to allow his body to catch up with the busy life of a toddler. If it were his choice, he would never take a nap. He has far better, and more important, things to do than waste time...
Love Multiplied, Not Divided
When our first child was born, our world revolved around him. From the time we found out I was pregnant, my husband and I were talking to him and planning for his arrival. From birth, we were amazed at how much we loved that baby, and how his presence filled a place in our lives that we hadn’t even realized was empty. We poured all our love into that child, and our attention was focused on...
“A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall...”
– Greek Proverb
Tetris →
I am loving me some old school Tetris, baby!
Everyone's A Critic
To finish up our week on vacation, my family visited a church in Cincinnati where some friends attend. The guest speaker was excellent and made many noteworthy points. One of these points has had my brain churning for a week now, so I thought I’d pass it along to my readers.
The speaker told a story of himself sitting in the mall, sipping a Coke while waiting on his wife to shop, and...
Taking Control
Last week my family took our highly anticipated trip to Lake Michigan. It was a much-needed getaway, and a good opportunity to disconnect ourselves from the rest of the world. You may have noticed my lack of posts, as I committed to being “unplugged” while on vacation.
I also made a conscious effort to remove worry, anxiety, negative thoughts, and daily stressors from my brain and...
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an...”
– 1 Timothy 4:12
June 2010
13 posts
Quick Fix
Tonight my two year old was complaining of a headache. I told him to lie down on the couch and gave him a cup of water, instructing him to drink the whole thing. After his third complaint, I knew he must really be in pain. I asked him if he wanted to take some medicine to help his head stop hurting. He responded, “No, thanks. I just want you to make it better.” Sound...
Picture Day
Yesterday we took the boys to get their pictures taken. Despite excessive drool from little man and attitude from the redhead, we finally made it through the photo shoot. Then came the difficult task of choosing the pictures to purchase. As we browsed through the shots, we came across two pictures of our oldest son. One was an excellent picture of him smiling nicely…the second was a picture...
Leftovers, Anyone?
In our house, a good meal is normally enjoyed once, as my family isn’t big on eating leftovers. I think everyone would agree that food is best and most appreciated when it is first prepared, hot and fresh, the way it was meant to be. Rarely is a meal just as appetizing once it has been sitting cold in the fridge and then nuked in the microwave. We also have a tendency to eat the best parts...
Laughing Yoga →
Apparently laughter really is the best medicine. This cracks me up.
Are You Being Followed?
We’ve all read Psalm 23. Many of us have it memorized. While reading through this chapter again recently, though, something caught my attention that I had never considered before. Below is the chapter in its entirety. Pay close attention to verse 6.
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet...
Lindner Center of Hope →
I am a firm believer in the effectiveness of treatment for people suffering from mental illness. Although it may seem that I am biased in this opinion (given that I am a former employee of this organization), I would highly recommend the Lindner Center of Hope in Mason, OH. The staff and environment are second to none. Amazing things are happening there, and people’s lives are being changed....
Pleasant Surprise, Pete
Pete Yorn is one of my favorite artists of all time. We own every album he has put out, and I’ve been able to see him live in concert twice so far. Yorn is a singer/songwriter/guitarist with a nostalgic style that transcends time with simple rock and acoustic jams perfect for chilling out. I was pleasantly surprised to read that he is putting out a new record.
Word on the street is that...
My "Wooden" Anniversary
Five years ago today I married the love of my life, having no idea what that would mean for the path I would soon travel. It’s been challenging, but full of blessing. God has given me a godly man to live life with, a wonderful husband, an amazing father to our children, and a soul mate to passionately share in God’s calling. I couldn’t be more thankful for that.
Customarily,...
Keep Moving Forward
My son borrowed the movie, Meet the Robinsons, from the library a while back, and as some of you know, I became hooked! The cartoon is a story about a young inventor awaiting adoption who invents a memory machine to see why his mother was forced to give him up. A kid from the future (his son) travels back in time to save him and his invention from a future villain (his avenging orphanage roommate)...
My Outlet
Hello, cyberspace! I’ve been feeling the itch to blog for some time now, and finally decided to make a concentrated effort to do so. I have questioned in my mind if anyone will care to read my posts. But, you never know until you try.
When my second child was born, I left a job I loved to be a homemaker and full-time mom. Maybe this newfound desire to share my thoughts with the world stems...
Horizon Christian Church →
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that...”
– Robert Frost