For years, I have wanted to share our adoption story here on the blog. I’ve wanted to tell it in a way that is respectful to my husband, and to his past. I’ve wanted to honor our daughter’s joy and the love she radiates every single day. I’ve spoken about it in coffee shops, playgrounds, Bible ...
Marriage, according to A Slightly Better Wife
Celebrate Absolutely Everything
Why We Celebrate Absolutely Everything 🎉 Someone once told me, “You guys celebrate everything!” At first, I took it as criticism. Were we being frivolous? Over the top? Maybe. Later I realized… what if it wasn’t criticism at all? What if it was actually: “Wow, those people really know how to look on ...
12 Years Ago Today
Twelve years ago today, I met a boy. Before long, he made me a wife and a momma. We were just babies back then! We had no idea how incredibly hard life would be—how we’d lay his mom to rest after her battle with cancer, how many funerals we’d attend, how many bills would come, or even how many cars ...
My 30th Birthday Recap
What a great day! Not because we did anything spectacular for my 30th, but because we spent it together. I’ve always been the type to celebrate absolutely everything, and usually to celebrate BIG. Learning to Slow DownLately, I’ve been praying for God to teach me how to slow down. To savor quiet ...
Marriage: I Want You To Keep Fighting
Friends, if you’re feeling like your marriage is falling apart, I want you to take comfort in this: Jesus’ hands are not only for comfort, but for healing. Radical healing. I’ve seen it in my marriage, and I believe it can happen in yours too. Marriage is such a good gift from God, but we also know ...
Texts From Dad: The Church
From my dad: "This is the church where your mother and I got married." Okay so maybe he isn't very poetic, and this picture doesn’t spark a hundred emotions within you like it does for me, but I know my dad’s big heart and this sure made me smile! Just take another look at the picture, would you? ...
My Heart Today: The Orphans
Photo Courtesy of Courtney Lorenz Photography. My family and I drove home from church today in our Town and Country van. We bought it new, had it custom-fit for our family, and delivered to the same dealership where we had bought our last minivan, just a couple years before that. When we got ...
Happiest Pumpkin in the Patch
My husband agreed to let me bring home the prettiest pumpkin today. He loves me so well, and honestly, he makes me the happiest pumpkin in the patch. It makes me smile to think that my teenage-self found him early on, so I could have all these years to love him, learn from him, and be spoiled by ...
Where Can I Improve?
During the Passion Pursuit Bible Study, I asked my husband a meaningful question: "Where do you think I can improve, or what can I do to be better for you?" Now, you might be expecting something spicy, but this is 100% PG! 😉 Let me tell you, that study is AMAZING, so practical and so ...
Godly Sex? For Real? Yes!
God has given us clear guidelines for intimacy in marriage. Who knew? 😉 I continue to be amazed at how many verses encourage me in my role as a wife and friend to my husband. One thing I love is how Scripture makes it clear that the husband’s and wife’s needs and desires matter equally. That’s such ...
Rain, Remembrance, and Peace
It rained all day yesterday. My husband took the day off work to take me to a doctor’s appointment, the one I've been dreading, for my breast exam. I told him I could have gone on my own, but he knew better. He knew I needed him with me. My mom watched the kids, and I was so thankful, since the ...
I Love You to Death, Marry Me, and Have Fun
A couple weeks ago, I was digging through my keepsake box for a specific picture of an old friend. I couldn’t find it, and for a moment, I felt a little defeated. But then I found something else from that same time period — a playful, just-for-fun “marriage proposal” from a co-worker at the pizza ...
Why I’m Pulling Back the Shades and NOT Seeing 50 Shades of Grey
Ladies, we need to talk. Grab a cup of coffee, this may take a while. I know many of you are really looking forward to seeing the 50 shades of Grey movie this weekend. But can I just ask, WHY? What about it is appealing to you? Now before you envision me sitting up high on my soap box writing this ...
Dear Kids
Hey Kids, Tonight your dad and I played a game called iota. it's labeled as "the great big game in the teeny-weeny tin". We just got it a few days ago and finally got a chance to sit down and play it mostly uninterrupted. I won the first game by a long shot (296-199, if you're curious). But the ...
Practical Tips For Being A SLIGHTLY BETTER WIFE
A Slightly Better Wife is not what I am, but what I strive to be. Marriage is a journey, and each day gives us new opportunities to grow, serve, and love our husbands in ways that honor God. This week, I’ve been focusing on a few simple practices that help me work toward being a better wife: 1. ...
Reflections from my 10 yr class reunion
Thoughts the day before my class reunion: I'm not going! But just in case I do, in the next 24hrs: Drink water Avoid carbs Whiten teeth Shave legs Thoughts just hours before the reunion: Crap, I ate carbs! Could I buy one of those girdle things? I really wasn't cute in high school, so I'm sure no ...
Approved Fightin’ Words
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry James 1:19 Sometimes, even in the best of marriages, we find ourselves in a disagreement or a tense moment. Yesterday reminded me of that! Thankfully, God’s grace always ...
A Letter to my Children… & You
Written for my children, for when they are older and will understand it more. In the meantime, maybe you {my dear readers} could use this right now, too? I know I would benefit from these words being spoken to me daily. My Dear Children, I pray you are clinging tightly to Jesus. Be ready. Be ready ...
I Will Rise
Proverbs 31:15"She rises also while it is yet night and provides food for her household." Over the years, I’ve come to realize that this verse speaks to more than just breakfast. Yes, it can certainly mean the literal food that nourishes our family’s bodies, but it can also point to the spiritual ...
My Journey to Becoming a Slightly Better Wife
I found my old diary today. The dairy is from 1999, when I was in middle school. My parents had separated for a year, my oldest brother joined the army, my second oldest brother was in his senior year of high school. He was in love and was getting married soon. He was my best friend, and I couldn't ...