When Dean and I were dating and first married, our holidays were spent putting hundreds of miles on our cars as we drove to where his family lived for a couple days, journeyed an hour and a half to my family’s Christmas Eve gathering and back, and then spent time with some of his family…
Author Archives: Mary
Do You Mean It?
“What does ‘Trick or treat’ mean?” My five-year old is at the stage of asking the meaning behind cliches that most of us rattle off mindlessly. “Well, it used to be that on Halloween people were saying, ‘Give me a treat or I’ll play a trick on you.’ It doesn’t really mean that anymore and…
The Importance of Sharing our Stories
Sometimes we wonder if anyone is really paying any attention to our words; if there’s any value in getting them down. There are times Solomon’s words echo through my head, “Of the making of many books, there is no end.” And I wonder if it is a worthy effort to add my own volumes–whether bound…
My Heavenly Daddy
“I’m ashamed of my wife! I’m ashamed of my daughters!” My dad’s drunken voice jarred my birthday-eve sleeplessness. It wasn’t the first alcohol-induced tirade I’d overheard, but it was the first that specifically included me. I remember thinking, “I’m only 8 years old. What I have done to be ashamed of?” Six weeks later my…
Creative Urges
“In the beginning, God created….” Genesis 1:1 In school, creative arts are often listed as ‘electives;’ in our adult life, they’re called ‘hobbies.’ Yet the very first thing we learn about the nature of God is that He’s creative. I never considered myself particularly “creative.” In my mind, that word was always equal to “artistic,”…
Where are you Building?
In the midst of California’s unusally stormy past couple of winters, there’s a story that’s been unfolding for some time. One day it took a dramatic leap as a cliff gave way, taking the hillside (and a couple of back porches) from an apartment complex on the coast. Funny, we’ve known since biblical times that…
Holding Out for Fast Food
“I don’t want anything,” pouted our 8 year old as we were about to order. He wanted to go to Taco Bell and wasn’t happy when we opted for a classic breakfast place instead. I’ve heard these words in the past, and generally ignore them and order something anyway, knowing the boy will cave once…
Mind Your Own Business
“Pblllltttt” “Moooom! He’s spitting!” I don’t know about you, but I don’t have any patience for tattling. If someone is in imminent danger of physical harm, I want to know about it, but otherwise, deal with it or drop it. I’ve tried to empower my kids to let someone else know when they’re breaking a…
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Barbie, Managing Editor
Hello! I'm Barbie, Managing Editor here at 5MinutesforFaith. I am so glad you stopped by! I live in Northern California with my husband and our four children, and I I love to openly and honestly share about God from my heart...
To read more about Barbie, please click here.
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