I began this little project almost a year ago. It had been a tough school day. The kids were frustrated with math. They didn't see the point of latin declensions. There were tears. And I was frustrated at my own limitations in helping them, in convincing them, in guiding them. I wanted them to have…
The Puritans Didn’t Just Eat Turkey
It was a few years ago that we were properly introduced to the Puritans. Before that, I just thought they ate turkey and wore capotains and were a grumpy, adventurous sort. Thank you, American public schools, for granting us the yearly joy of choosing between wearing paper feathers or paper collars and getting to sit…
Therefore it Became a Proverb
This afternoon marks exactly three weeks. It was Saturday, Mother's Day in Mexico and three days before my 34th birthday. They tell me that we went for a ride down the beach on the quad, a typical Saturday evening. Apparently I was taking a video of the sunset, the crashing waves, the pink sand. And…
Crocs and Kids
Somehow my last post was already two months ago. Writing about grief always kind of sucks all my public writing juices for awhile. I say public because I am writing quietly here on the side when I get a chance. One project is basically completed, I am just praying about what to do with it.…
Eternal Light
Eternal Light! Eternal Light!How pure the soul must be,when, placed within Your searching sight,it shrinks not, but with calm delightcan face such majesty.The spirits who surround Your thronemay bear that burning bliss;but that is surely theirs alone,since they have never, never knowna fallen world like this.O how shall I, whose dwelling hereis dark, whose mind…
Consolations
I recently posted in my Instagram stories a quote negating the fallacious and cliché statement we have all heard from well-wishers when experiencing trials: God will never give you more than you can handle. It sounds good. It sounds comforting. It soothes the ego. Grants a little leverage against the mighty God of Heaven whose…
Overdue.
I'm on my third cup of tea already. First chai. Then Earl Grey. Now Ceylon Alwazateen. It's just one of those days. Delightfully dreary and slow, painfully sad and full of introspection. The neighbor girl is here, pulling out every toy possible and whipping up a general hurricane. I don't even care. Her mom abandoned…
Hymn List
Hello to everybody in 2024! How humbling that God is giving us another year to honor and glorify Him, to devote ourselves: body, soul and spirit to His good pleasure. As I did last year, I'm sharing the list of hymns we sang as a family throughout 2023. There are fewer hymns than weeks in the…
Sorry, I Can’t Sing That One
When you’re missionaries or church planters or whatever you want to call people in that sort of ministry, you sometimes (often….) have some fairly small meetings. It’s your family and a few others and so from a tender age, you instruct your children to make sure they belt out the hymns. Actual singing ability is…
Bye Lockdown
We walked together, warding off dogs and mosquitos, stacks of calendars in hand. “Here, Mommy, I’ll do this house....buenaaasss!!......mommy, she just went in and ignored me.” She looked at me dejectedly and with disappointment put the calendar back on her stack. I called again, this time the mother came to the door. “What is it?”…
penelope alves 