Happy August! It has been a long, long time since I’ve stopped and written on our Family blog. I’ve been so busy running around with kids, youth and adults who are members, friends and neighbors of Holmeswood, our beloved church. Thank you for letting me be a part of your summer; see the photos below…

School is winding down here in Kansas City. The long year of wind and snow and nowhere to go is slowly nearing its end, with sunshine and Spring showers abounding. All of the students and teachers and staff stuck with it, and it’ll feel so good to enjoy the summer adventures knowing that you did…

May I help you clean up from dinner? (seated in the dining room) vs.  I’ll help clean up; where should I start? (standing in the kitchen) Are you Available or Approachable? Is it either/or? I’ve been thinking about these two words lately… available… a fast food restaurant open 24 hours a day, always open! a person…

I want a coffee kind of faith.. One that is brewed slowly and continuously, percolating with each sunrise and sunset, Accessible around the world for many, producing different nuances of flavors, One that comforts the soul and warms the body.   I want a coffee kind of faith… A belief system that is accessible to…

I wish I did not have to write this. It’s much more fun to talk about sunshine and summer camp and really happy things in life. I’m wearing pineapple earrings and a pineapple sweater because they are cheery and fun, and grief can be really dark. The truth is, sometimes people (& animals) die. Many…

One summer, I went to Nicaragua with a bunch of teenagers. We only had 10 days, so we did our best to prepare for our journey. We knew we were being led by a tiny town’s group of moms (like a PTA) to add an addition onto the one school in town. We knew we’d…