~ By Sara Wolbrecht For the season of Lent our church is holding central an image from the Celtic Christian tradition: John the Beloved. A most cherished image in the Celtic Christian world is the memory of John the Beloved leaning against Jesus at the Last Supper (John 13: 21, 23). It is said of … Continue reading
~by Kelly Pittman It has been a heck of a week so far…and it’s only Monday. Yeah. One of those weeks. I shouldn’t be surprised. My husband is traveling. You’ve no doubt heard of Murphy’s Law? Well this is Pittman’s Law of Parenting: when one parent leaves, everything hits the fan. Perhaps you have a … Continue reading
~by Corey Fields I can hear them in the next room. Are they wrestling? Maybe they’re jumping on the furniture again. Maybe they’re just trying to get my attention. I wouldn’t doubt it. It’s an all too familiar scene. I’m tucked away, staring at my computer again. Too much to do. Have to finish this … Continue reading
~ by Joanna Harader We are one week into Lent and I’ve already messed it up. My first misstep occurred a few days before Ash Wednesday when my 12-year-old daughter suggested that she might give up dessert for Lent. Many thoughts ran through my head in that moment: “Wow, that’s amazing!” And, “Where did she … Continue reading
~by Jill Clingan I’ll be honest. I haven’t written in awhile. Actually, that’s not entirely true. I have been writing nearly every morning—a cup of coffee beside me, a pen in my hand, a journal in my lap. My grandma died a little over a month ago, and since that day I have hand-written 42 … Continue reading
~by Christine Gough “OKAY” has taken a bad rap for awhile. We often joke that “OKAY” is the most common answer to life’s constant questions. “How was your day?” OKAY. “How are you feeling?” OKAY. “How does the weather look?” OKAY. “Did you like the book?” It was OKAY. But then something happened the other … Continue reading
~ by Arianne Braithwaite Lehn Lord Jesus, I now stop what I’m doing, what I’m thinking, what I’m scrambling to plan, and hustling to finish so that I can be here. Be here in the safety and warmth of your love. This love that holds me fast and keeps me grounded. What I want to … Continue reading
~by Jennifer DiFrancesco UGH, there aren’t too many things that make me go “UGH” but the one that has me doing the long guttural cry are school projects. We’ve had the range of projects from developing a math game, National History Day Projects, Science Fair Projects, Black History Month and good old book reports. Don’t … Continue reading
~ by Christine Gough How often have these words slipped out between gritted teeth? “What are you THINKING?!?” Or maybe, “What ARE you thinking??” Better yet, “What are YOU thinking?!” But this year, the phrase has taken a turn. “What are you thinking?” has become an invitation, not a threat veiled as a question. … Continue reading
Photo Credit: © 2010 Matthew Simantov, Flickr | CC-BY. ~by Corey Fields When this site, Practicing Families, was first formed, my son was a preschooler and my daughter was still in her terrible twos. Then I blinked. It’s nearly 4 years, a cross-country move, and two hamsters later. They walk to school with their neighbor friends … Continue reading
Practicing Families 