Thursday we learned about my mom’s treatment options. Saturday I attended a funeral for a former colleague. Then another gun violence story in my news feed. Then another friend’s friend’s diagnosis. Then France. One time at the ocean I wanted to get beyond the breaking waves to where the water rolls, deep and even. The waves swelled andContinueContinue reading “Facing the Waves”
Category Archives: advent
Praise God from whom all shopping bags flow…?
I stood in line for an hour and a half without a cart carrying a basket full of stuff and two boxes full of more stuff for $160 worth of merchandise today. There was much sighing. I kept telling myself, this might be the only day you have free child care and can actually goContinueContinue reading “Praise God from whom all shopping bags flow…?”
Advent Day 24: Empty Tree Syndrome
I fought the impulse to keep buying things for our kids this year. They have so many toys and so many family members who love them and want to buy them gifts, too, but at the same time, we don’t want to seem like the Grinchiest parents on the block.Last night as I wrapped theContinueContinue reading “Advent Day 24: Empty Tree Syndrome”
Advent Day 22 and 23: Seasonal Weed and Feed
Even though there are plenty of ways we abuse the Christmas holiday with Black Friday and doorbuster sales and buy one get one and layaway and credit card debt, I can’t imagine ever abandoning the tradition of giving gifts at Christmas.Last Christmas, I had something akin to superhuman energy and assembled a dozen or soContinueContinue reading “Advent Day 22 and 23: Seasonal Weed and Feed”
Advent Day 21: We Are Outraged!
It is the darkest day of the year. Folks in the northern hemisphere will see just nine hours and thirty-two minutes of daylight today, and if you are here in Ohio, that light is blocked by a thick layer of clouds and rain. Time is short to spread the light, to let the light shineContinueContinue reading “Advent Day 21: We Are Outraged!”
Advent Day 20
Elvis and Lydia’s last day of school for 2013 is today. My plan this morning was to get the Christmas shopping done with Henry in tow. It did not go so well, unless you define success by leaving Target with a screaming and flailing child begging for a Matchbox car. Then, yes, successful.I did notContinueContinue reading “Advent Day 20”
Advent Day 19: How Long, O Lord of the Universe?
Written some 700 years before the birth of Jesus, the Book of Micah records this prophetic statement for today’s advent verses: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancientContinueContinue reading “Advent Day 19: How Long, O Lord of the Universe?”
Advent Day 18: Treasure These Things
Building off of yesterday’s post on sharing the good news, today’s verses are encouraging to me because of the “but” that begins the passage:”But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were justContinueContinue reading “Advent Day 18: Treasure These Things”
Advent Day 17: Sharing the ‘Good News’
If you’ve been alive for at least 18 years, it’s likely that you’ve heard once or twice or more the Good News of the Gospel about Jesus, Son of God, come to take away your sins. You’ve probably heard or been led through or been offered the sinner’s prayer to ask Jesus into your heart soContinueContinue reading “Advent Day 17: Sharing the ‘Good News’”
Advent Day 16: From Above and Below
One night this summer while Brandon and I were at the beach with his side of the family, we sneaked out the patio doors of our bedroom and sat in the tall wooden beach chairs to watch the ocean and the sky as yet another meteor shower began. The ocean pushed rhythmically against the shoreline,ContinueContinue reading “Advent Day 16: From Above and Below”
Sarah Marie Wells 