Month: April 2026

I remember an old pastor defining greed from a verse or two in the Bible as “more to want.” Being greedy is sometimes sneaky. We keep something we should give away. We want something, give no thought to anything spiritual, and we just buy it. We click on an ad, we peruse Etsy out of boredom. “Add to cart, add to cart, add to cart”—what’s the harm?

I am guilty of greed. And the past few weeks I could tell my greed had a root of restless discontent, and I wanted to figure out why. Why did I find myself looking online at homes for sale in Charlotte? Why did I find myself looking at beach houses we could not afford (not to mention Josh doesn’t even like the beach that much)? Why was I shopping online and curating outfits and trying to find ‘just one more graduation dress option’? Why in the world would I not be UNBELIEVABLY GRATEFUL for this beautiful life God has given me? I have my health. My husband has his health. My kids are all healthy. That in itself is amazing and should keep me grateful forever. Then there’s this beautiful home I get to live in on this quaint street in this beautiful city where my husband has the perfect job for him that he enjoys and gets paid for generously! And my days are spent caring for the house and the family and going to the gym and meeting friends and having friends over and walking my cute little dog and planning for when to see my kids next. I have food to eat a plenty. And plenty of clothes and shoes to last me the rest of my life.

So I just decided to tell myself to stop it. Stop being greedy. Stop looking for what’s better and stop wishing it could be yours. Stop being ungrateful.

And start being grateful. I used my words to express my gratitude to God for all of His provisions. I told Josh how grateful I am for his hard work and provision for our family and asked his forgiveness for being a greedy wife—how discouraging that could be to him. And I started snapping some photos of beauty around me that I am grateful for. And it has felt so good. It gives your mind much more room for things that actually matter! And isn’t that just what the enemy wants to do? Clutter our minds with temporal things and desires so we don’t put our mind’s attention and heart’s affection on eternal things. I hope you will fight back when you sense discontent and greed creeping in to strangle gratitude out of your life.

I Timothy 6:6-8 “But godliness with contentment is great gain…if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.”

Hebrews 13:5 “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”

Psalm 23:1 “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.”

Proverbs 19:23 “The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied.”

Luke 12:15 “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Psalm 73:25-26 “Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth I desire besides You…”

Amen.

I thought we had appointments with sun, warmth, laughs as a family, sharing updates of our lives, good rest and restoration. But that’s not what happened. 

Instead, the underside of my pinky toe had an appointment with a sharp branch that took all the protective skin off and left me limping and bandaging it up and wearing tennis shoes the entire time. The sun missed the memo, as did the warm temperatures, and we spent most of the time on the beach in sweatshirts and using extra towels as blankets. I won’t even start on the many ways the hotel fell short. It was comical by the end of the stay. 

Not having these “appointments” left me grappling with disappointments galore. It was like I couldn’t shake myself out of feeling like the whole shebang—our effort to plan this time, pay for this time, prepare for this time, look forward to this time, and did I mention pay for this time?—was a colossal waste. 

Disappointment can be a doozy to deal with. Some of my disappointment is more like grief. Grief that certain things are no longer the way they used to be. Some grief that the way I thought it might look isn’t how it actually looks. Our family is changing and each person is growing and maturing in their own way, on their own path. The girls are about to live apart for the first time since Ruby went away to college her freshman year. Molly joined her the very next year, so they have enjoyed close proximity, and they know it’s been like stolen time. But this summer, things change. Mack will be coming home for the summer—an adjustment for him and us parents.

There used to be simpler times when we shared our lives more easily and freely. Time and distance are barging in and there’s nothing I can do about it. 

It’s totally normal for families to change. It’s good and right. But that often includes tensions, awkward conversations, even healing conversations,unmet expectations and giving each person room to become who they are meant to become. 

So I have to admit that yes, I had expectations of this trip that were not met. But I also have to admit God is sovereign over all of that and had His own expectations for this trip, and I’m listening to Him. What does He want me to learn? What is He asking me to notice about my family? How is my role changing and what new role am I supposed to take? Do I really believe He cares about all of my thoughts and feelings and disappointments? Can I tell Him even the seemingly shallow thoughts that roll around in my mind? Does He have a path forward for me after I’ve pouted and been a brat? Does He understand my griefs and hurt feelings even though to others it seems to fall flat? 

One thing I heard clearly was from my Bible reading (that’s where the clearest communication from God is, after all) 

I Peter 4:8 says,

“Above all, love one another fervently. For love covers a multitude of sins.”

Here’s how The Message translation puts it:

“Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything.”

So if I left our little trip asking what to do now, then I got some instruction…Love deeply. 

Relationships take work and effort and lots and lots of grace and forgiveness. 

I’ll share some fun photos from the trip. But just let them be a reminder that pictures you see (especially scrolling through Instagram) don’t ever tell the full story. There’s sometimes fuller joy you can’t see. More authentic intimacy you don’t pick up on in a photo. Or hard conversations taking place in the background. Hurt feelings. Disappointments. This is also called LIFE. 

We had dinner after attending a Good Friday service at Mack’s church.

One of many Boombalatti trips!

We went by Mack’s apartment

Easter baskets for the kids

The girls and I sat outside and talked before they left for Virginia. It was a healing convo we all needed. Well, at least Ruby and me. lol. (Just kidding, Molly)

I missed them immediately

The rest of our time on the beach can be summed up with this photo:

Here are some treasures I brought back from Wrightsville Beach—and lots more treasures in my heart I’m still sifting through.

But can someone remind me to only go to NC beaches in July?🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣I need the warmth and sun only!

One night that did not disappoint was the last night when we attended Mack’s baptism. We are so happy to see Mack walking with the Lord.

We love Mack and are praying God pours wisdom into Mack’s life and gives him clarity of purpose as He walks out his life in the Lord!

Got him a new bible for the occasion!

Hope everyone’s April is off to a great start🌺🌷🌹🌸🌼🪻🌸💐

We made plans to gather for our last Wednesday morning bible study, Body&Soul by Lisa Whittle. Some of us made more sneaky plans than others, so imagine my surprise when I saw birthday cakes for me and for Emily and gifts galore making their way into the house! Sneaky, creative girls!!

These were no ordinary cakes. A delicious almond and buttercream icing cake for Emily and an amazing homemade cake by Nicki for me. Evidently they figured out I like apples and pecans, so Nicki made up her own recipe with home made caramel and icing and toasted pecan and it was DIVINE. I’m not exaggerating. Josh’s words when he tried it? “This is in insane.” It was seriously so good and made with so much love and creativity I cannot even begin to tell you!!

I had intended to talk about our last week of homework and mainly wanted to focus on the love of God. He loves us so very much. Lisa was asked by a friend, “When is the last time you felt loved by God?” And she said it took her way too long to remember and have an answer to that question.

I spent a long time thinking about how I would answer that question too. Sometimes, and quite unfortunately, I can see other people’s lives and think God loves them more than me. Or at least He seems to have shown it to them in very personal ways.

And yet. I know how ridiculous that sounds. Of course God loves me and has shown me in a million ways. It’s just that I can way too easily focus on why God probably doesn’t want to help me, or I just feel like I’m overlooked by God and my concerns just aren’t worthy enough for His attention. All lies, and I know that.

So we were going to read Psalm 103 and focus on verses: 14-17.

“For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust. As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. When the wind has passed over it, it is no more, And its place acknowledges it no longer. But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children,”
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God has such great love for His children. It lasts forever and ever and ever.

I bought a lot of flowers for us to make our own bouquets as reminders that flowers are beautiful but they are temporary. They won’t last, but God’s love for us will last. We can always count on His love.

And we did make bouquets but not before each of my friends spoke such life and love into my heart. They shared what they love about me and what they pray my next year looks like. And then we all got to do that for Emily, whose birthday is Friday. It was so, so special. And what a tangible way to be the love of God to us!!!! That time was way more effective than any devotion I could have shared! As my friends spoke life into me with such loving words, it was like God was saying “yes” in my heart to all they were saying. God loves me, and He showed me through my friends.

And then the beautiful creations they made were amazing!! I loved sending them out with something they can look at and enjoy for the beauty the flowers give. But as they begin to wilt and lose their color and life, I pray they remember what never wilts or loses its life is the love of God. It truly is from everlasting to everlasting.

The day could not have been any more sweet. Thankful for friendships God has given me here in Charlotte! One of my friends brought me a birthday balloon on Wednesday morning because she remembered me sharing that when I turned 40, I was new to Charlotte and had no friends so I bought my own 4-0 balloons and had my kids take my picture. Lol! Sort of sad, but what a difference 9 years and a faithful and loving God can make! The answer to “when’s the last time you felt loved by God?” is fresh on my heart.