I came across this blog title last year and made a note to copy it. It's one of my traditions at the end of a year to read my journal from that year. It's always an insightful activity...to remember what I struggled with...to reflect on what God has taught me... After going through my journal from 2015, a few themes stood out. Here are the Top 10 Lessons from 2015: 1. I am weak. I haven't blogged a ton this past year. Of course, it has something to do with having four kids and being Read More
2015 Year in Review
2015 was a full year for the Garmans. Looking back on it, our family has been able to do more and experience more than any year I can remember! Our cup has truly overflowed... Haley (11 yrs. old) is enjoying being homeschooled this year and continues to improve her violin playing (and some beginner's piano). She even finished off the year giving beginner's violin lessons to some younger girls in her homeschool community. Haley has her sights set on someday traveling the world with Read More
Just a Post About Anger
Aisle Two was not the place to be this morning. Today at WalMart, I heard a Dad completely lose his temper with his toddler. In the next aisle over, another shopper and I made eye contact, both thinking the same thing. "Holy cow..." After feeling sorry for the kid and some remorse for the father who was clearly at his end, I couldn't help but think, "But for the grace of God, there go I..." Growing up, the last thing anyone would have described me as was angry. I was a gregarious, Read More
What it Feels Like to Write a Book
I have been working tirelessly on the final edits on a book about our journey with Gracie, and I’m not sure what to think... Recently as I was getting ready to send this manuscript to an agent, I had insomnia four nights in a row. I couldn’t understand why, but finally came up with an analogy that expressed how I was feeling. It was as though I had invited a bunch of people over to my house because I wanted to feed them a nice, home cooked Italian meal…and then...hours before the guests Read More
The Momma Diaries
Motherhood has not been smooth sailing for me. I'm assuming it hasn't been for you either, although one can never tell. From day one, I've chosen to stay at home with my kids (Just for the record, I'm not saying this is for everyone...). Some personality types seem to thrive in the role of a stay-at-home mom, but for me it's been a steep learning curve. I've wrestled with a lot of dissatisfaction, feelings of insignificance, failed expectations, all of which have resulted at various times Read More
My Crisis of Faith and How to Get Through Your Own
Have you ever asked your self one of these questions: If ultimate truth really does exist, how could I even find it? And, if I did find it, how would I know that I’ve found it? There are so many religions out there, how could we possibly know which one is right? Even though I was born in a Christian home, went to church three times a week, attended Christian college, and went right from there into ministry life, I went through a crisis-of-faith of sorts at age 28. It actually began the Read More
One Year Ago Today…
I have been searching for the right words, but it turns out I didn't need to. You can just read about it here. Read More
Good Friday and My Really Bad One
A few months ago on a Friday, there were some words exchanged in our home that led me to lock myself in the bathroom and get on my knees (Deep breath for those of you who thought being a pastor/pastor's wife meant being immune from these kinds of things...). The details are muddy, but I'm sure it involved being challenged by my husband, my pride getting dealt a good blow, and feeling offended. I was nursing the wound with tender, loving care when I remembered my prayer from that morning, Read More
The Day Colby Told Our Church to Stop Tithing
"What do you think would happen if I told our church to stop tithing?" I stopped what I was doing and looked over at Colby who was preparing for Sunday's message at the kitchen table. "Well, I'm not sure..." I responded, feeling both a level of pride in my scholarly pastor-husband who was parsing Old Testament Law...and a fear that I would soon need to start applying for a part-time job. "I mean, tithing was an Old Testament command given to ISRAEL as a part of the OLD covenant. There is Read More
“In an Orchard Stands a Tree”
“This is my dream come true,” Haley comments slowly and with awe. We are all looking out the window of our van at snowdrifts that tower over us like giants. The Northeast apparently hasn’t recovered from the winter storms and we find ourselves in a scene straight out of “Frozen.” A few minutes later, we pull up the driveway to my grandparent’s home. Only, for the first time in my life, my grandpa won’t be there. Even though it’s below freezing, the kids beg to go outside and play and I follow Read More
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