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When my daughter was born two months premature, the NICU nurses kept both of us afloat. They sat and talked to me for twelve or thirteen hours a day and they cared for Emma above and beyond their obligations, creating little signs for her isolette, loving on her like she was theirs, reminding her that…

Every Halloween my kids go through the neighborhood and collect a giant stash of candy, and every year we ask them to choose a couple favorites and turn the rest over to us.  Typically we donate the extra to our church, but this year we also have an especially huge amount because of a low…

I live smack dab between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, MD, so we have been prepping for Hurricane Sandy since late last week. The grill was tied to the deck rail so we didn’t have it shimmying across the deck like it did in Hurricane Irene, the cushions from the patio furniture stored safely, the kids’…

My daughter was born with a full head of hair despite being born 8 weeks early.  People told us it would all fall out and her real hair would grow in later, but people being people, they were wrong. I always assumed I would have a boy first so was surprised when I found myself…

I was going to write a post about the loved ones I have lost to cancer. I thought maybe I’d write about my own terrifying fear of melanoma. But the truth is that cancer has touched every single person reading this post. You don’t need my story. You have your own. Every day cancer kills…

Last fall I wrote about ideas for what to do with gently used toys that your family no longer needs or wants. In the past I’ve been frustrated to find that many organizations only accept donations of unopened toys when I know that there are many years of use left in the toys we have…

All bloggers know that comments count, but for the month of August, comments can count to save lives.  Each day of August a new blogger is writing a post in the blog relay to support Shot@Life, and for each comment made on a Blogust blog post throughout the month, an anonymous donor will donate $20…

Last week we partied on Twitter with JCPenney and The Moms to kick off a month of free haircuts at JCPenney Salons.  Today is the day!  Take your kids into JCPenney Salon today for a free child’s haircut and JCPenney will donate $1 to the Boys and Girls Club as well as 4H.  What’s better…

When most people think of Compassion International, they primarily associate the organization with the child sponsorship program.  However, Compassion works to provide relief from poverty in Jesus’ name around the world in a variety of ways.  One such program, the Child Survival Program, helps save the lives of babies and mothers in poverty utilizing local churches…

Everyday 1,000 babies are born with HIV. Every. Day. By 2015 that number could be nearly zero, and I want us (yes Us, you and me) to be part of that change. For the next ten days from June 1st to June 10th, (RED) is running the (RED)RUSH to Zero (#REDRUSH) campaign, and we can all do…

While in Tanzania with Compassion International, I met my newest sponsored child, Meke.  I would love for you to see just a glimpse of my time with Meke, including the time I had to show her pictures of my life here in the United States, the things that are the same – rolling hills of…

I spent last week sharing just some of the incredible stories of the people I met during my time in Tanzania with Compassion International, but I wanted to also share the beauty of the country… There are no trees like this in my backyard… Flamingos, visible from miles away like pink flower petals floating on…

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the amazing mothers and grandmothers I met last week… Thank you to Keely Marie, who took many of these photos and many of the other amazing photos featured in last week’s Compassion International trip images.

Every night of this trip, all of the Compassion bloggers have come together to share stories, snacks, laughter, tears, check facts and spellings (Kiswahili – oh my!) and do what we love most – write.  I have been so blessed to share this week with five amazing bloggers whose styles and perspectives differ greatly from…

During my time in Tanzania with Compassion International, I will would like to share some of my favorite posts from the past. ~Originally posted 11/15/10~ I’m going to apologize in advance.  You’re probably expecting the type of witty, touching, or simply resourceful post you’ve come to expect from my wife.  Not today.  Today you’re stuck with…

Today is World Water Day – Change Begins with a Drop Today, people from all over the world are celebrating World Water Day, an observance begun by the United Nations in 1993 to advocate for the sustainable management of our most precious natural resource – fresh water sources. I am the type of person who…

There has always been a connection for me between the heart and Compassion International.  When I first wrote about Compassion three years ago, I titled the post “A Story of a Woman and Her Heart.”  In making the decision to join the Compassion Bloggers this May in Tanzania, I had to let go of what…

I like to joke that my kids are spoiled, but not spoiled rotten.  The fact is that in some ways they live a life of excess.  Just last year they went to Walt Disney World three times – twice for work-related trips with me, and once for a fun weekend getaway.  I’ve never said no…

“To love another person is to see the face of God.”    – Les Miserables I’ll admit that starting out today’s Living Font post with a quote from a musical instead of scripture is a little strange.  And yet after today’s sermon, these are the words that were ringing in my head.  I remember being…

This month I’ve been finding ways to give of my time, talents, and money every day from supporting friends to teaching Sunday School at my church.  With the holidays right around the corner, now is the perfect time to give the gently used toys your children no longer want or play with to children in…