Carrie's Corner

So many of us in this world are broken in some ways.  Some of us are very broken--as  a matter of fact, I would say we are more than just broken--we are shattered.  Life has been hard on us and we have weathered some really tough times.  Some of us are a little broken, with a chip here or there, but not much more than that.  After all, our lives have been pretty good to us.  Some of us are not shattered, but we are more than just chipped.  Life has been hard, but not unbearable.  We have experienced heartache, yet have still come out of it, more damaged, but still intact.  Cracked, chipped, broken and shattered. What is God supposed to do with all of those pieces?  Can he really put us back together again?  If he does, are we ever really the same?  I guess that depends on what you believe God can really do.  Do you really believe he can make all things new or do you think you will just end up looking like the cup in the ...

Both David and I have experienced the death of someone close to us.  David lost his father in a farming accident when he was 13.  It was sudden, unexpected, and shocking.  I lost my father when I was 22, after watching him fight cancer for a little over 6 years.  It was drawn out, expected, but still shocking when his death finally occurred.   The grief that we both experienced was tremendous. These experiences shaped our lives and even our marriage.  It's a conversation we have always had--from the very beginning of our marriage.  We've always had life insurance and we've always talked about what the other spouse should do in the event of our death.  Though it sounds morbid to have such conversations so early on in marriage, it also served us well to keep a sense of reality in our lives.  We never know how long we have on this earth or how long someone else has...and therein lies the lesson of making the most of the days we now have. Eph...

I admit it.  I am NOT a leapfrog.  I'm not exactly a turtle either, but I do move at the pace of  turtle sometimes.  It drives my leapfrog family and friends a bit nutty.  I don't mean to drive them crazy, but I often times move at a different pace.  I'm a thinker.  I'm cautious.  I ponder.  Probably a little too much of all of those things at times... On the other hand, my leapfrog family and friends drive me a bit batty at times.  They get excited over a new idea and want to pounce on it right away, without giving it much thought.  Forget caution and who has time to think? Let's get it done---NOW! I do enjoy having leapfrogs in my life though.  They are the movers and shakers of the world.  They like to get things done, like to implement new ideas and aren't afraid to jump into new situations.  I admire their lack of fear and their carefree attitude about what could happen.  Of course they often look at me ...

Recently, a friend of mine told me that she was frustrated with homeschooling,  I sympathized with her.  I've been down that weary road of frustration many times.  Homeschooling can be hard--no doubt.  There are days when you are really scratching your head and wondering what you were thinking.  You might even be questioning the Lord and wondering what HE was thinking when he asked you to take on this project....but rest assured--if you truly are following the Lord's leading in this area, then he will give you the tools you need to complete the task.  Isn't that true of other areas of our life though?  Truly---whatever God has called you to do, he will provide the tools you need.  Why is that so hard to grasp though? Truthfully, I was filled with doubts regarding homeschooling.  I was pregnant with our fourth child at the time, and couldn't see how I was going to teach a 1st and 3rd grader all while juggling a toddler and a newborn. ...

It was 97 degrees at my house today.  Doesn't feel much like Fall is around the corner, but I know that it's coming.  Oldest son returned to college this last week.  I'm missing him quite a bit.  We had a good summer together. My daughter returned from her summer job and is getting ready to start classes next week.  I'm very glad to have her presence around again.  School started this week for my two younger ones, which meant I had to "go back to work" myself. (I'm their teacher!)  I was pretty excited at the beginning of the week, but by Wednesday I was ready for the first school break!  It was a rough week.  Somehow over the summer, it seems as if my children's brains atrophy a bit and they've forgotten what they have already learned.  We were stuck on the same math lesson all week.  Ahhh...but this too will pass.  I'm sure next week will go better. I'll be more used to oldest son being gone and daughter will have resumed ...

I was inspired! All of the kids and their dates were going to be home Sunday. It's been a long summer and we haven't had too many family dinners where everyone was in attendance, so I decided to go all out. I set about on Saturday to prepare the meal for Sunday. I cooked up potatoes for my potato casserole, made dessert, set the table and made it pretty. I did all of the work I could so that Sunday's meal would come together quickly when we got home from church. I made sure the table was properly set and looked nice, as well getting the house presentable for company. We all sat down to enjoy that lovely meal and the conversation and laughter that is a common theme for our family dinners. It was nice. It was homey. It was comfortable. But then.... As soon as dessert was over, off everyone went in their own direction. The younger boys headed out to the kitchen to get the dishes done and clean it up, my husband headed off to work with a ministry he is involved in, m...

I've often said that I was a  better parent before  I had kids than I have been since  I've had kids.  Parenting is hard.  Bottom line--no frills, no glowing advice or quips--it's hard.  Don't believe me?  Just ask me---I'm a MOM! When I brought that first little one home, I was so overwhelmed.   What do I do?  How do I do it?  Will I get it right?    I was exhausted from lack of sleep and recovering from a C-section and I found myself in tears almost all of the time.  Yet, I had fallen in love with this tiny little creature and couldn't wait to spend time with her.  One was hard.  Yep--you heard me.  One child was hard.  I couldn't imagine having anymore.  She was cute and tiny and precious and I found myself just staring at her in the rare moments that she decided to sleep.  Overwhelming joy was mixed with overwhelming exhaustion and overwhelming fear.   What if she died?  What i...