Praises of a Wife and Mommy

 Whew… the emotions have been running high this past week. Some of it is probably because my daughter just had her birthday—and not just any birthday—but the big one . She’s officially an adult. I’ve loved every single stage of raising her, and even though she’s “grown up,” I know she’ll still need me. I think what stirred me even deeper was reflecting back on my own 18th birthday. Just a month before I turned 18, my mom was diagnosed with leukemia. I’ll never forget visiting her at a hotel while she was receiving treatments. She was tired, drained from chemo, and it was heartbreaking to see as her daughter. That birthday ended up being my last with her, as she passed away that October. So, as I celebrate my daughter’s 18th, I can’t help but treasure every moment… while also fighting those sneaky little fears that try to creep in. Thoughts like, “What if I leave her young, too?” The enemy likes to whisper lies in moments of weakness, especially while I’m recovering from this inj...

 The first weekend of September, my mother-in-law and her boyfriend came for a visit. I was excited to see family, but I’ll be honest—there was also some nervousness. Would I be too tired? Too sore? Would my healing hold us back from doing things together? They arrived Friday evening, which just so happened to be Eddie’s birthday. With everyone’s schedules, we kept it simple—pizza and then out for ice cream at the shop where my daughter works. Once again, my amazing son was my personal chauffeur, pushing me in a wheelchair all the way to the ice cream place. We laughed so much along the way—sometimes joy rolls right beside us, even on wheels. The next day was my daughter’s cross-country home meet (I already shared that in my “Learning to Navigate Daily Life ” post), and then later we went out for dinner. That night was harder. The restaurant was noisy and full of energy, but after a few days of quiet and stillness, the loudness felt overwhelming. No one really knew I struggled th...

  “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” — 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV) Shortly after my surgery came the first day of school . As a high school teacher, this is usually one of my favorite days of the year—the energy, the excitement, and this year especially, the joy of having both of my kids, Selah and Titus , in the same school with me. I had pictured driving to school together, walking into the building with them, and grabbing those special first-day photos. But instead, I had to watch them head off without me. My own “first day” with students won’t come until later in September, once I’ve healed more. And while I know in my heart that it’s only a few short weeks, emotions hit hard . Disappointment, sadness, and even some grief tried to take over. But I’m learning in this season to surrender each thought and emotion to the Lord. He reminds me that while my plans have shifted, His purposes have not. My heart may ache, but His peace is greater. There will...