• Uncategorized

    Backup! Backup! Backup!

    Here’s a little tip that has nothing to do with biblical peacemaking but I hope blesses you nonetheless: If you use computers for any projects, BACKUP! BACKUP! BACKUP! I shared this advice with a new friend this week and found out yesterday that she had a big ol’ computer crash on Thursday and would have lost ALL of her work for the week if she hadn’t … HOORAY! … listened to my advice and backed-up like a crazy gal as she worked. Here is how I backup/save my work on big projects: 1. I save EVERY SINGLE TIME I type. Every. Even if it’s just a word or two. I…

  • Relationships & Peacemaking

    Couldn’t we just give them a BREAK?!

    The next time someone fails to meet our expectations and desires … Isn’t quite as friendly and warm as we’d like … Doesn’t say the right thing or do the right thing or even look the right way to us … I wonder: Couldn’t we just give them a BREAK?! You know–cut them some slack. Give them the benefit of the doubt. (I.e., maybe she’s not a JERK. Maybe she’s scared. Tired. Maybe she just received another horribly harsh call from her mother-in-law. Maybe she’s TRYING to relate well, but she can’t quite keep up with the conversation and then she feels stupid and thinks the better thing to do…

  • Perfectionism & Shame

    Counter-Cultural Beauty (HT SoloFemininity!)

    Many thanks, again, to Carolyn McCulley! This dear and wise sister continues to hit it out of the park on her blog, SoloFemininity.com. Quoting Michael Lawrence on counter-cultural beauty, she posted this: “Finally, immerse yourself in a counter-cultural understanding of beauty. I stand by what I said at the beginning: Beauty is culturally determined and we cannot escape our culture. If you are surrounded by people and media that say beauty is merely a matter of body shape and color, then you will find it almost impossible to be attracted to anything else. But if you are in regular conversation with people who think otherwise, if you are listening to…

  • Uncategorized

    Does it sound like I’m the worst person in the world?

    So do you think that I am the worst person in the whole world when I tell you that I am hyper-crazy-Tara-vigilant about staying off of people’s home-based business mailing lists? I never (never!) go to parties for cooking supplies, makeup, jewelry, lotions, stationery, candles … whatever. And I almost always gently request that people remove me from their mailing marketing lists (especially email lists). There. Now. I’ve said it. I’ve admitted it. Don’t you just think I’m a terrible, horrible person? I mean–these are all businesses by women. Women who are prayerfully and wisely contributing to their family budgets. Women I respect and enjoy and admire and love! But…

  • Relationships & Peacemaking

    Peacemaking in Your Church?

    OK, team. I have a request … Would you pretty please take 30 seconds and respond to three questions for me? I would REALLY REALLY REALLY appreciate it. (You can leave a comment–TOTALLY ANONYMOUSLY IS JUST FINE!!–or send me an email or whatever you are most comfortable with.) Here are the questions: 1. Does your church (and ANY church you know) practice biblical peacemaking? 2. If YES, do you have any idea HOW the church got interested in peacemaking? (I.e., Did someone have a conflict? Was there a Bible study or Sunday School class on peacemaking? Did the leaders get excited about peacemaking and then “implement it”?) 3. Do you…

  • Sin & Repentance

    My tendency to judge …

    I absolutely cringed this weekend when I realized what a strong tendency I have to (silently of course! don’t want to look bad … ) judge certain women. (I do. I really do. Oh! This is such a graceless sin. I am really struck and disgusted by my heart.) I know that I am adopting a loveless attitude toward them because inwardly I hear this little voice: “What kind of a CHRISTIAN would …“ And then there is a list of “offenses” that really, are just opportunities for love, kindness, forbearance, friendship, patience … growth in grace. I hear this grace in the words of people around me who don’t…

  • Uncategorized

    Does it count as homeschooling …

    Does it count as homeschooling if you count out loud when you do your 500-zillion abs in the morning? 🙂 Happy Thursday all! Remember–if you’re struggling … this too shall pass. Every day of your life will not feel like this AND all suffering will be OVER one day. If you’re happy … every good and perfect gift comes from above. Rejoice! Rejoice. If you’re like me … struggling / happy / struggling / happy, don’t forget to REST.  Trust that your relationship with God is not based on you, but on His merciful, saving kindness. And ULTIMATELY … we’re OK. We ARE and we WILL BE … forever ……

  • Relationships & Peacemaking

    Great advice … (thanks, Em!)

    I received two emails this weekend from a dear friend and her advice was so timely and loving and gracious that I thought I’d share it with you too … (She wrote a lot more than this, but as I am in the midst of a zillion loads of laundry & cleaning & praying as I try to figure out Soph’s education stuff morning, these are the two thoughts that I keep coming back to over and over again.) My friend Emily reminded me that: – “Christ died for the specific sins being done against me.” (He did. He really did. Who am I to exact payment or revenge beyond…

  • Uncategorized

    Happy Father’s Day!

    Happy Father’s Day to my two male blog readers (that I know about)–my beloved hubby, Fred, and my dear friend on the east coast, A.W. I appreciate you both very much! 🙂 AND … I thought you might enjoy a few photos of Sophia at her drumming and art classes this past week. (Fred came for drumming on the last day–Soph was thrilled.) Love to all! — Tara B.