It’s family tradition around here to read Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus before opening gifts at Christmastime. We do it as a family and also with our extended family.
A couple of years ago, our now 9-year-old nephew Joshua read the passage aloud and did great. This year was my Andy’s turn. We had [...]

My boy Andy is getting to be an old man. He turned 7 yesterday!
As our firstborn, he’s mature for his age. He takes responsibility in stride and rarely complains about his role as the example setter.
As I tucked him into bed on Wednesday night, I kissed him and then hugged his long, lanky body. Then I [...]

Our town puts out a huge display of Christmas lights in the local park every year. You drive through it and look at an enormous quantity of lights.
Some of them are actually Christmas themed. Some are not.
Like an elephant, spraying water from its tusk. Or an Indian, shooting an arrow from a bow. Huh?!
They’re eclectic, [...]

I am not a morning person. I blame my Mom. I’m just not.
Yet, most mornings, I rush to get out of bed and up the stairs. Why? you ask.

My little Ferris Hope!
She’s 20 months old now and is a bundle of gorgeous curls and unlimited snuggles. She’s smart, too.
So smart, in fact, she knows my [...]

Thought I’d let you all see how my boys are growing, specifically the oldest and the youngest.
Here’s Gray, taken a month ago while vacationing at my Uncle’s lake house. He was just 3-and-a-half months old here.

My other bookend Andy. He’ll be seven in about a month — I can’t believe it! He’s growing up in [...]

My son Andy is all boy.
Even at birth, he never got mixed up as being a baby girl. He’s always looked like a boy, and acted like a boy. We like it that way.
Today, he went to a new dentist with Nate. Until now, we’d been driving two hours to my hometown to see my [...]

The other day at dinner, my boys were asking Nate about becoming a police officer. The conversation progressed into a discussion about hierarchy in local government. Here’s how it went:
Brady (now 5-and-a-half): “Daddy, do you have to get sprayed with pepper spray to become and officer?”
Nate: “Yes, here you do.”
Andy (6-and-a-half): “Why? Because the Judge [...]

My kids are particular about color. They want to know the exact shade of things. I’m not sure if it’s because their Mama is somewhat of an artist, or if it’s just them.
Awhile back, Andy and Brady were discussing something that was navy blue. Brady wanted a different color, though.
Not just red. He wanted a [...]

You know how much we love baseball around here. I’ve blogged about it countless times before. (After all, it has its own category on my blog!) I love the lessons it teaches my children… about winning and losing and being good sports and taking the good with the bad and patience, etc., etc., etc.
Last night, [...]

We’re in the middle of VBS here. My kids are loving every minute of it. I love every minute of hearing their sweet little voices sing cute songs and recite verses!
Maybe you know this song:
“Praise Him, Praise Him, all ye little children! God is love, God is love…”
I recently caught Evan walking around the house, [...]