How often do you ask yourself, “What’s wrong with me?” It’s a question I’ve asked myself way too many times: when I forget something important, when I’m late for a meeting, lose my ...
I checked my email soon after I woke up. Made breakfast, ate, looked at my phone, and checked it again. Fifteen minutes later, I decided to read my Bible and my devotional. When I was finished...
Christmas was only days away but we still didn’t have a tree. Living on a college-student’s budget with our first baby due in a few months, my then 23-year-old husband and I were barely sc...
“What’s wrong with me?” It’s a question I’ve asked far too many times. When I forget to do something important, when I’m late for a meeting, when I yell at my kids, lose my keys, can...
I don’t know your story. Maybe it’s one of pain, twists and unexpected turns. Maybe it’s all roses and sparkles. Most likely it’s a combination of the two – joy and pain all mingled tog...
She’d asked me a while back, would I come and help her bake bread for the very first time. Of course, I told her, I can do that. That was months ago. Finally this past week, I gathered my b...
Maybe it’s the little girl in me or my Southern roots, but I love a good gathering. Any time of year for whatever reason. The planning with anticipation, the palpable buzz in the air, and the s...
There are days when the to-do lists, overflowing inboxes, and demands of the world weigh heavy on weary shoulders. It’s in those moments when the expectations seem overwhelming that my heart wh...
The tall grass gently bows and sways with the breeze, giving the appearance of someone walking up to the bench to visit. This old bench sits in the middle of a meadow surrounded by the tender gre...
This is an invitation to you – to the world-changers, visionaries, creators, dreamers, writers, life-embracers, encouragement-seekers. To the mamas, the sisters, the introverts and extroverts. ...
We saved you a seat. Right here, beside us. We invite you to step out of the blog comments today and join us on this bench. We know that it can be scary, taking that brave first step into communi...
If you missed the Part One, you can read it here. “Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep co...
{Photo by Crystal Stine} “Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—whe...
We shared a week together at Bible camp, me a college counselor and she a high school camper. We prayed, drank hot chocolate, stayed up talking into the night, held our hands high in worship, sa...
Dear friends who build benches – You are the brave ones, the ones who see a need and slide over to make room for your sister. You bring cupcakes and coffee and invite others in with a warm smil...
*Thank you to everyone who wrote on community and linked up! We so loved hearing your words. A winner was randomly selected and has been contacted!* She told me to return the gift. It was too muc...