devotional

EVERYDAY ADVENTURES

Spring Cleaning I should have never used the pressure washer. Sure, the vinyl siding on the north end of my house was starting to look like a swamp, and yes, the pressure washer was just sitting in my shed collecting dust. But once I started down that road there was no going back. I’d hadContinue reading “EVERYDAY ADVENTURES”

EVERYDAY ADVENTURES

Feline Forte Everyone in my family plays an instrument except for me and the dog. My wife and oldest daughter play the violin. My youngest daughter plays the flute and guitar, and a few months ago our cat started playing the piano. Actually he learned it from my youngest who had taken up piano alongContinue reading “EVERYDAY ADVENTURES”

EVERYDAY ADVENTURES

Thanksgiving Helper I almost got fired last Thanksgiving. Or killed. Or maybe both. It was really my wife’s fault. She is an incredible cook, and at Thanksgiving, she goes all out. I cook the turkey, and she and my daughters make a ton of delicious side dishes and desserts for our family. It’s a greatContinue reading “EVERYDAY ADVENTURES”

EVERYDAY ADVENTURES

Pumpkin Palooza I was unlocking my front door when I spotted a dark object out of the corner of my eye. Someone had placed a new sign on our porch. It was black with only two words written in white, cursive script. It said, “Hello, pumpkin.” Uh oh, I thought. It has begun. You see,Continue reading “EVERYDAY ADVENTURES”

EVERYDAY ADVENTURES

The Wisdom of Preschoolers There are two kinds of people in life: those who avoid sprinklers and those who run right through them. Normally I’m an avoid-the-sprinkler kind of guy, but when my youngest daughter was three, we spent the summer looking for sprinklers every time we went on a walk. The first time itContinue reading “EVERYDAY ADVENTURES”

EVERYDAY ADVENTURES: TAKING THE CAKE

I once got fired for making a birthday cake. Actually, it wasn’t just one cake, but a handful of cakes that did me in. It may have been the seven layer number that finally pushed it over the edge, but I think it really started with the first one, the princess cake. See, my daughterContinue reading “EVERYDAY ADVENTURES: TAKING THE CAKE”

EVERYDAY ADVENTURES: YOUNG LOVE

The best part of any wedding is watching the ring bearer and flower girl. These kids have the potential to take an event that requires months of planning, and the investment of thousands of dollars, and turn it into sheer chaos. No matter how well-behaved a child is under normal circumstances, all bets are offContinue reading “EVERYDAY ADVENTURES: YOUNG LOVE”

EVERYDAY ADVENTURES: THE RETURN GUY

In my house, I’m the return guy. My wife loves to shop, but she hates returning things. Oh sure, she can handle online returns. Just slap a label on it and drop it in the mail. Easy peasy. But in-person returns? In the store? With real, live people? That’s another matter entirely. I can’t sayContinue reading “EVERYDAY ADVENTURES: THE RETURN GUY”

EVERYDAY ADVENTURES: DIY Nativity

Our church’s children’s ministry needed a manger for baby Jesus for an upcoming Bible story. Unfortunately, we didn’t have much money to spend on it. We looked online, hoping we could find a deal, but mangers are pricey these days, so I volunteered to throw one together. My version might not be awesome, but atContinue reading “EVERYDAY ADVENTURES: DIY Nativity”

EVERYDAY ADVENTURES: Fall Break Breakdown

My family and I couldn’t wait for Monday morning. It was my kids’ fall break, and I had taken the week off so we could all hang out together for an autumn staycation. Who needs a fancy beach trip or a week at Disney to have fun? Not us! Our minivan was a party onContinue reading “EVERYDAY ADVENTURES: Fall Break Breakdown”