Choosing Joy

Have you had a "vitality check" lately? It's not just for the physical body.  Vitality is the life-force, the spirit, the spark!

With a new sibling due in a few weeks, there is a lot of talk about babies at our house.  As we begin pulling down stored baby items, my six-year-old son is enjoying playing with the baby toys and trying to squeeze into his old baby clothes.  “Look, Mama!  It still fits!”  He thinks this is hysterical, even though the long sleeves end at his elbows.

Even our hobbies can draw inspiration from the Word of God!

So I admit it.  I made a major parenting blunder tonight.

A fresh tradition inspired by my mom has given my family a new outlook on the dreaded New Year's Resolution.

Yesterday morning, across the United States and the world, billions of people, believers and non-believers alike, paused for a few minutes to exchange Christmas gifts with their loved ones.

Each morning, just after sunrise, I hear his familiar call.

Obligation has a negative connotation for many people, including myself.  And this time of year is when many of us feel the pressure of obligations the most.

Expectation is exciting but a little uncomfortable.  It is hopeful with a dash of unsure.  It looks to the future but is filtered through the past.  I think this juxtaposition is why most people enjoy Christmas so much.

Hastily written emails can really show our true colors.