As I begin writing again, I can’t help but recognize the books that have impacted me this year and share my book list with you. It has been a year of growth, introspection, counseling, truth-telling and learning to simply have compassion on myself. I’ve learned that the lessons of just keep going have truly kept …
12 Things We Love About South Africa
“She will be with you just now,” said the sister {nurse} taking Jeremy’s blood in the emergency unit. With a laugh, we knew that meant we wouldn’t see the doctor for a while. Jeremy looked at the sister and said, “An American now or a South African now?” That began a lively discussion on what …
Finding the Courage to Ask for Help
I was sitting at my desk, on a call with a friend, and she asked, “Where have you been?” I wasn’t sure exactly what she meant… South Africa? Working? Homeschooling my girls? She said, “Well, another friend at church was asking about you because we don’t see you online much anymore. We see brief updates …
A Look Back Through 2021
Last year, I took some time to gather the posts that I’d written through the year and put them in one place. It’s amazing how much of a journey, a story is told through listing one writing after another, seeing God at work in the different months and moments of a year. As I sit …
All This Because
It must have been a verse that was used in our overseas training or in a long ago chapel service as we prepared to begin our overseas career. I don’t remember the speaker or the moment I first heard this version of it. I’m not sure who I was sitting with or what I wore …
5 Things to Remember in the Unknown
As we search for things to remember in the unknown, there may not be a more iconic Bible story than Noah’s Ark. This story brings cute, animal-filled arks that decorate nurseries in churches and homes alike. The sweet tiny animals can be found in toy isles, children’s books and coloring pages. We might think the …
A Look Back at Lessons from 2020
If someone had sat me down in January 2020 and told me what the year would hold, I would not have believed them. It would have seemed so incredibly out there that I would have laughed and wondered what bad pizza they ate the night before. A worldwide pandemic? Closed borders? Frantic embassy emails warning …
Tips to Homeschool High School Online
This past few years of pandemic life have brought about so many unknowns for families all over the world. If you’d told me on New Year’s Day of 2020 what the year would hold, I don’t think I would have believed you. If you’d told me that in 2023, it would still be on our …
Tips for Handling Health Issues and Medical Needs Overseas
It was a busy, fun 4th of July picnic at our house with our team and a few other worker friends. I was not thinking about health issues or medical needs. It was a holiday after all! I was doing some last minute prep for Jeremy who was grilling outside when Annalise came in the …
