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    Cookies are Done! (You should check out the hula dancer gingerbread ladies that Fred made …)

    We’ve dipped the coconut balls into chocolate; cut out, baked, and iced the gingerbread & sugar cookies; iced and packaged the brownies; and finished the buttermints. So our candyland extravaganza is ready to ship tomorrow: I’m not sure I could’ve gotten through it without Fred’s artistic help on the icing. Can you believe how cute he can make cookies? What a guy. His blue-ribbon-at-the-Illinois-state-fair cookie baking skills were definitely one of the reasons I fell for him: All of this was made way more fun by getting to wear matchy aprons (made by Grandma Chris). And we also had the girls temporarily in their matchy Christmas dresses because our (wonderful!)…

  • Uncategorized

    Thank You, God, for 4-Wheel Drive

    Of course, we’re way more thankful for many (MANY!) other things … But this Thanksgiving, we are truly thankful for a 4-wheel drive vehicle: Thank You, God, for this gracious provision. And thanks to all of my friends who have prayed for our family re: our car situation and all of you who have picked me up (and my kids!) and driven us in your 4-wheel drive vehicles when the snow-covered roads of Billings were too much for my poor little Honda. Now I get to serve you! I’m so very happy to do so. And so grateful—   Happy Thanksgiving, friends! Yours, Tara B.  

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    Amazing Grace 360: Whole Gospel. Whole Life. Whole World.

    Our denomination just announced that we will be holding an international women in the church conference next October: Amazing Grace 360: Whole Gospel. Whole Life. Whole World. The last time they held an international conference, Samaralara and I got to go and it was really something else—4,000 women gathered together to receive great preaching, teaching, and encouragement. We had a wonderful time and I hope you’ll consider marking your calendar (October 7-9, 2011) and joining us in Atlanta! I’m truly thrilled that I can go again this year because they have invited me to teach two pre-conference sessions and one main conference seminar. That’s actually why I’m writing this blog…

  • Redeeming Church Conflicts

    Marathon Writing Day

    I’d appreciate any prayers you might send my way as I am deep into another marathon writing day on Dave Edling’s and my current book project, “Redeeming Church Conflicts: Turning Crisis into Compassion and Care.” I’m deep in the thick forest of around 500,000 words right now (exegesis of Scripture, our substantive content, case study examples, etc.), trying hard to whittle them down to the 75,000 word manuscript required by our publisher. Much to rejoice in! God is so good to his people. Much that makes me cry. Church conflict is excruciatingly painful; truly “not the way it’s supposed to be.” But we’re in a bitterly cold multi-day snowstorm anyway,…

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    Why Should I Wander an Alien from Thee?

    Would you like to spend four minutes in God-centered worship to begin your day? I encourage you to enjoy this Fernando Ortega version of “O Thou in Whose Presence”. I listened to it repeatedly on Thursday and was blessed each time. O THOU IN WHOSE PRESENCE (Joseph Swain, 1791) O Thou, in Whose presence my soul takes delight On Whom in affliction I call My comfort by day, and my song in the night, My hope, my salvation, my all. Where dost thou, dear Shepherd. Resort with thy sheep, To feed them in pastures of love? Say, why in the valley of death should I weep, Or alone in this…

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    Used Couches – Just in Time!

    Fred and I are 40 years old and we’re still living in pretty much 100% furniture that is hand-me-down / heavily used. We don’t mind—in fact, we’re grateful. God has always provided what we needed at just the right time. Grace grace grace! This week, we were able to send on Lois Sande’s couch to someone in need and take possession of one couch and one loveseat. The girls enjoyed the clear space while I vacuumed and then the new look for the living room was something like this: We are enjoying the coziness of two overstuffed seating areas and we hope that our home continues to grow in hospitality…

  • Momma Tara~Parenting

    Dangers for Young People

    Although specifically directed to young men, these “Five Dangers” listed by J.C. Ryle seem to me to apply to both young men and women. I just printed off five copies—one to review with Sophia and post in her schoolroom, and the other to share with the four young people in my Geography class at our homeschooling co-op. (As a quick aside, I have to say that my time in our little Geography class is quickly becoming one of the highlights of my week. Who would have thought that I would so enjoy spending time with teenagers? Especially since I know next to nothing about geography! (A fact I eagerly and…

  • Singleness & Marriage

    Crush Catalyst

    I can’t stop reading old Carolyn McCulley posts! Talk about being great with words. Plus the content is so—enjoyable, challenging, helpful, encouraging, practical, God-centered. (I could go on and on.) Here’s a post I just LOVE: Crush Catalyst   My favorite line? “It’s only an introduction, people!” 🙂