I can still see her beautiful face smiling at us through one of the windows in her front door as she waved to us through the other. She stood there until our car was out of sight.With her eyes still on the road, Mom took the money Grandma gave us to buy a Christmas tree... Continue Reading →

You might recognize this blog title as a line from an oldie, but a goodie, "Mark of a Man of God" by Steve Camp. That song takes me back to 11 years ago during your first year of seminary when you and Kevin Ball would blare it in your rental on University and then humble... Continue Reading →

The Second Grade's Shining StarShe's ready to punctuate sentences, divide and multiply, stop cursing "pre-cursive" handwriting,  leave a few less books unread in the world, and embrace flying creatures of the 5th day. Starting with this one... The Batgirl Preschooler Why's she so serious? Because phonics is no joke to her. Numbers and shapes aren't the bane... Continue Reading →

On Thursday morning, July 28, 2005, I was 3 days past my due date. I was permanently walking in a wading pool also known as my ankles. I could've been confused with a certain large "house" in Ann Arbor. And I was in Dr. Schiebout's office begging her to induce me.She had pity on my... Continue Reading →

As I lie here next to you in our cabin at camp, we are experiencing the calm following the storm of your not being able to go back to the pool after lunch so you can take a nap. I don't have the covers pulled over me and in true Ruby fashion you notice and... Continue Reading →

Ten years ago tomorrow, on a rather overcast and chilly late spring/early summer day, you, a 22-year-old second year seminary student and Call Center employee, emaciated from bachelor life, took me, a 26-year-old grad student and Public Housing Manager to be your lawfully wedded wife.In three short months, we fell in love over reformed theology,... Continue Reading →

We love our local church. We believe local establishments of the universal church are where God is doing His work in the world today. He ordained a visual reality of the invisible, to bear witness to the world of His relationship to His people, who submit to Jesus as their Head, and live out His... Continue Reading →

"A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish son is a grief to his mother." Proverbs 10:1The sobriety of this truth came to bear again upon my heart as I studied through Proverbs while I held you, our newborn son, in my arms just two short years ago. I wasn't new to the... Continue Reading →

It's your wedding day, my patient friend. Many of us rejoice with you in prayers answered, waiting (of this sort, anyway) over, and expectations long hoped for fulfilled. During the past 10 or so years, while some of us were busy with the blessed distraction of worldly things - like how to please our husbands... Continue Reading →

How can two 30lb kids need this much medicine?! And, don't worry, for all you anti-medicine friends. I used my best motherly instincts to determine what was most necessary and when! :)Was reminded of a Piper quote these past few days, "[Mothers] intuit good theology. They don't have time to read [it]." But thankfully, there... Continue Reading →

Last night, we came to the Garden of Gethsemane in our reading for Holy Week. Jesus prays, "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine." (Matthew 26:39)The kids can imagine the physical pain Jesus was soon to... Continue Reading →

For the past several years we've been living in the joy of gospel-centeredness. We've rediscovered through sermons, books, and a growing understanding of Scripture that the gospel really isn't just for the unbeliever but is something for the seasoned Christian too. Gospel-centeredness isn't necessarily a new concept. Jerry Bridges says he started writing about it... Continue Reading →