Happily Ever Hustling

I have a love-hate relationship with this time of year. On the one hand, I cherish the slower summer days with no agenda and fewer responsibilities. On the other hand, I’m a creature of habit. I love schedules and routine. I thrive when life has structure—and my kids do too. Every August, I can see…

I love having a tidy house. I love clean spaces and clear countertops. And I absolutely hate clutter. As my three-year-old says, “Mommy don’t like messes.” Guilty as charged. Nothing puts me on edge more than a disordered home. Everything in our house has a “place,” and my dear, sweet husband and children have learned…

At the start of each summer, ever since I became a teacher, I embark on the purging of my entire house. Honestly, we’ve probably spent most of the school year in what I call “survival mode,” where we push things to the side into an “I’ll deal with that later” pile. My entire family anticipates…

Why Persistent Prayer Isn’t Annoying to God—It’s an Act of Faith It’s summer break, y’all. PTL.The time all of us teachers and students have been counting down to since Spring Break—or let’s be honest, since the first day of school for some of us. I love all things summer. I love slower mornings curled up…

Have you ever paid close attention to the habits in your life that have been passed down from generation to generation? Maybe you’ve had a newlywed argument that ended with, “Well, that’s how my mom does it!” I know I have. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more aware of how much of my life…

“Do everything without grumbling or disputing.” — Philippians 2:14 I am not an optimist. I’ve never been the one in the group to point out the silver lining when the ship starts sinking. In fact, as I’ve gotten older, people who do that kind of thing really annoy me. Sometimes—okay, most of the time, let’s…

I haven’t always been a teacher. In fact, becoming a teacher was one of the last things I ever wanted to do. A career known for being overworked, undervalued, and underpaid? No, thank you. For eight years before I stepped into a classroom, I was a pharmacist. I grew up hanging out behind the pharmacy…

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.”(Matthew 7:24–25,…

You know the one thing I hate about trips to Disney World? Coming back home. It’s the worst, y’all. If you’ve ever experienced the Disney blues, you know exactly what I’m talking about. I can feel it in my soul even as I type. You’ve just spent the most magical week of your life with…

Our family went to Disney World for Christmas this past year. We actually left on Christmas morning and spent four days in the parks. I know some of you are thinking we lost our ever-loving minds going to Disney during the busiest week of the year—and you’d be right—but let me tell you, it was…