There I sat in the too tiny chair at the low table, feeling like Alice in Wonderland when she ate the cake and grew too large for her surroundings. To my right was a little boy, awaiting my help to write his name at the top of his coloring page. To my left was a little girl, sniffing and wiping away tears with the back of her hand. Surrounding us was the clatter and chatter of a dozen other Pre-K children, playing with toys around the room while the two official leaders of this clan sat among them, playing, encouraging, and talking. 

I was there for work purposes. One of my new gigs as a freelancer involved a church who wanted me to observe these kiddos in order to write something for their ministry. There are two things you need to know about me:

1. My three sisters-in-law on the Carr side of the family all work in the preschool realm. My mother-in-law is a retired kindergarten teacher. One of these ladies is doing her own thing and doesn't fit with the rest of the family—that's me! Yet they love me anyway. And I am amazed by their care and skill and desire to shape young hearts. Tonight's time in the Pre-K room only solidified this great respect I have for them all. 

2. I was hesitant when my own child was this age. I sought out the aforementioned amazing women in my family when I had a preschooler in the house. It was all new territory, and I needed help navigating the landscape. But I surprisingly enjoyed that age of exploration and wonder more than I would have imagined. My daughter is now 11, so it's been a while since I've hung out with the preschool crowd. 

So I looked around, wondering if anyone else noticed my slight awkwardness in this setting. 

No one seemed to mind. The kids welcomed me right in. The little boy with the coloring page—he was more than happy to share a marker and allow my big-person handwriting to grace the top of his page. The sniffing girl? She was sad because it was her first time at this church, and she was scared. I told her it was my first time too. That didn't exactly break the ice, but she warmed to me later. And when three more kids came in as service was beginning to start, they didn't know I didn't truly belong here. They just assumed I was part of the regular crew. They started telling me about how they were cousins and they were having a slumber party that night, and we became fast friends. 

I had a blast with that preschool worship service. We sang. We danced. Cartoon critters on the screen shared some thoughts with us. Then we heard a part of God's story. It was one of my favorite services I've been to this summer. 

I went to observe, but I gained much more than research for a writing project. I was reminded of some important wisdom:

• It's OK to be silly and act crazy sometimes. It feels good. Don't worry about what other people think about you.

• Cartoon animals talking to you are pretty cool. 

• Sharing is hard, but it's not the end of the world. 

• Worshipping God is best when songs have motions you can do with your whole body.

• Everyone is welcome around the coloring table—no matter what you look like and even if you're a grownup that's too big for the chair. And if you ask the right questions, everybody at that table has a story, and they might just tell it to you. 

See also Wisdom Through the Ages, part 2 and part 3.

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

On August 1, 1998 two naive kids committed to have and to hold, from this day forward. And Steve and I have been by each other's sides ever since. 

As a young lady I was easily distracted in my interests. But somehow this man has gotten a hold of my attention and hasn't let go. (I'm as surprised as you are!) Here we are, 19 years later, and I still daily anticipate Steve's his texts or calls, his handsome face, his arms around me, and him making me laugh. That's no exaggeration—I still want to be around him (pretty much) every day!

Maybe I enjoy Steve because he makes me better. Our conversations are challenging, encouraging, sometimes spirited. With him I feel more beautiful, more talented, and more confident than I truly am. God knew he's the motivation I'd need to try new things in life. In our marriage I've experienced new situations, new places, new perspectives, and I've taken risks I wouldn't have on my own. (Plus we have this amazing kiddo together who has been a bigger blessing than I could have anticipated. Not too shabby.)

All in all, I came out ahead these many years later. My heart is full, and my list of blessings is long. 

Happy anniversary, Steve. Love you.

Taken this past spring in Paris by our daughter—we forced her to commemorate a mushy moment.

The photo above is an homage to this one taken in 2005. On a trip to the Holy Land, our tour group swung by Paris for a brief stint on the way back to the U.S.

Sometimes everything works against you in the silliest of ways.

The batteries die, the sound gives annoying feedback, and the security alarm goes off during prayer. But when the Word of the Lord wants to get out, his message persists. 

This happened this past Sunday. Technology went awry, and distractions were aplenty. Yet I kept on teaching, praying for my own focus as well as the focus of others. And praying that I would share God's Scripture with power and truth—for that's what his Word is. 

It was especially worrisome because we had people visiting for the first time. I wanted them to feel welcome and at home at Echo Church and hear from the Bible, not be put off by interruptions. Yet perhaps the messiness simply shows that we are not in charge. It is not about our glory. God's Spirit moves through the beautiful and the broken. Surely he can move despite a microphone issue or two.

When we participate with him in sending out his Word, he promises to move through it. 

"As the rain and the snow
    come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
    without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

—Isaiah 55:10-11

Photo by Kane Reinholdtsen on Unsplash