14 years ago we were talking baby names. After determining we would not find out the gender of our child, we considered several options for a boy and a girl. We landed here: Caleb Scott or Casiday Hope. Hope. It's a big little word. You see, in April 1999, we sat in a doctor's office in Birmingham and were told we'd never have a child of our own. We drove home that Wednesday afternoon and headed to the mid-week services at our little church. We were hurt. And we were mad. And we really ... [Read More]
Five Minute Friday: Stay
Joining the amazing women who stop, drop, and write for five minutes each Friday. We're led by the beautiful and incredible Lisa-Jo who offers a prompt and challenges us to write unedited, from the heart. The word this week is stay. GO. Last night one of my dearest friends watched her husband be wheeled into an operating room for surgery. Not just any surgery ... heart transplant surgery. I've sat beside the bed of my husband ... watching his chest move up and down as the machines forced ... [Read More]
{Dear Teri, Love Teri} Treasure Each Day
Dear Teri, You can never know what day will change your life forever. Today is one of those days. May 7, 2004. You had no idea when you took the girl across the street to have her portraits made while Scott was at the doctor how much your life was going to change. Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic purpura: a bleeding disorder in which the immune system destroys platelets, which are necessary for normal blood clotting. Persons with the disease have too few platelets in the blood. {U.S. National ... [Read More]
When Tragedy Strikes, Hope Remains
It's been almost one year since the tornadoes devastated north and central Alabama. We were still living on the Georgia coast when this, one of the deadliest tornadoes in Alabama history, struck. Over 130 miles of an E-4/E-5 tornado ... stretching across several counties and affecting thousands of people. Many of you have read and heard about the damage and rebuilding in Tuscaloosa, home of the University of Alabama. Samaritan's Purse has been a big part of that rebuilding. But receiving ... [Read More]
Nothing Is Beyond Redemption, Nothing.
The last month has been rough. I might have mentioned that a few times. The laundry hasn't always been done and I have felt like a bad mom. It's been easy to forget simple truths. But there's this song by Selah (I love them!) that keeps rolling through my head. I've shared it here before ... it's titled "Unredeemed." These words: Places where grace is, soon to be so amazing ... It may be unfulfilled, it may be unrestored, but when anything that's shattered is laid before the Lord, just ... [Read More]
For the Days You Want a Do Over
It's been happening a lot lately. I lie down, exhausted, and find myself unable to rest. My mind plays over and again the failures of the day just passed: Didn't fix breakfast for the girl before school Watched "Grey's Anatomy" instead of cleaning the kitchen Rewashed the clothes in the washer because they had sat there four days and smelled bad Got a shower just in time to pick up the girls from school Had no plan for supper Fussed at the girl for her messy room - while mine looked ... [Read More]
