RECENT POSTS
Chapter 3: Beauty
It was over a decade ago—a few months after William was born—that I caught a glimpse of my body in a full-length mirror and worried
It Doesn’t Have to Be Groundhog Day
I’ve heard our moment compared to Groundhog Day again and again and again. If you missed it, Groundhog Day is a great movie from the
Raise Your Hand if Your Back Hurts
I knew all spring there was a good chance our kids wouldn’t return to school. It still felt like a blow when the news came.
When I Slammed the Refrigerator Door
This is a picture of what happens when: You realize that you are out of granola and decide to make a really quick trip to
When Your Enemy is Yourself
Does anyone else ever feel like your enemy is yourself? Does anyone else have a voice inside their head saying nasty things about you right
How Love Brings Power in the Midst of Powerlessness {Ep 109}
I finished recording this week’s episode of the Love is Stronger than Fear podcast where I talked about how love brings power in the midst
Happy Mother’s Day!
So today, on Mother’s Day, can you imagine getting really mad, maybe not for a terrific reason, and yelling at your kids and slamming a
Reading Small Talk: Behind-the-Scenes
Want a glimpse of Small Talk behind-the-scenes? How do my kids REALLY feel about being stuck at home with our family?! What do they think
Carrying Love Letters from God {Ep 108}
I sometimes expect God to communicate through the equivalent of Marvel comic book “Shazams!” and action movie explosions. I expect Him to grab my attention
AJB Recommends: Talking with Doctors Who Are Christians About COVID-19
I happened to listen to two doctors talking about COVID-19 from their vantage point as physicians and people of faith. In the first interview, Dr.
A Mother’s Day Gift: Reading Small Talk Podcast
Download Audiobook To all the mothers and fathers of young children who are struggling right now, I have a small gift for you—the Reading Small
Head, Heart, Hands Audiobook
I have a gift for you—a free audiobook of Head, Heart, Hands! After I wrote White Picket Fences, I heard back from many readers that they
How My Daughter Convinced Me We Can Help {Ep 107}
My Aunt Jane sent us five masks a few weeks ago (see photo). When the masks came, after we decided who gets which one and
Toilet Paper, Hoarding, and Sharing
I bought a 9-pack of toilet paper in the grocery store last week. Yes. It was a brand I didn’t recognize, but it was soft
AJB Recommends: Podcasts That Bring Comfort
Are you in a place of fatigue from the news? I have three recommendations for podcasts that bring comfort. I listen to a lot of
Less Distraction and Paying Attention
Distraction—largely in the form of entertainment and busyness—keeps us from love. (So does fear, and so does injustice, which I’ve been talking about in the
Where Is God When People Suffer {Ep 106}
Over the past few years, I’ve become more and more convinced that love is the foundation of all reality. Love is the deepest truth about
Praising God in Sorrow, Just Like Jesus
I mentioned last week that Penny and I have been singing worship songs together lately. It is such a gift to me to turn off
AJB Recommends: What to Read, Listen to, and Watch This Weekend
If you’re wondering what to read, listen to, or watch this weekend, I have recommendations for you! Reading Recommendation It’s hard to believe that a
Postponed Speaking Events, Grief, and Gratitude
Today I expected to be speaking at the Festival of Faith and Writing in Grand Rapids, MI. I was planning a new talk about the
Consequential Strangers and Social Distancing
I was out taking a walk in our neighborhood yesterday, and I happened to cross paths (at an acceptable social distance) with a man who
