RECENT POSTS
Happy 15th Birthday, Penny!
We celebrated Penny’s 15th birthday last week. She requested a game-themed party, and she has recently become a pro at backgammon. Marilee and William felt
12 Tips on How to Start Reading the Bible
In this new year, if you’re considering the small, gradual steps to begin the habit of reading your Bible, I have a short e-book for
What Did You Experience in 2020?
When did you experience wonder and joy in 2020? What do you need to let go of from this past year? What word or verse
AJB Recommends: Top 3 Episodes of Season 3
Here are the top three episodes from Season 3 of my Love Is Stronger Than Fear podcast based on audience downloads! Now is a great
Christmas Recap
A recap of our family Christmas…treasuring memories! CHRISTMAS EVE We always spend Christmas at my mom and dad’s house, and I realized this year that
When Christmas (and Life) Is Unexpectedly Disappointing
It’s going to rain. A lot. We have a foot of snow on the ground, and the past week has held snowshoeing and skiing and
Christmas: Prepare for a Party
As we prepare for Christmas, we prepare for a party, to celebrate. For many years, I’ve thought about Christmas as a time to “prepare room”
AJB Recommends: Holiday Favorites
Last night, William and Marilee and I cuddled in my bed together to watch The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, one of my holiday favorites. It’s
What Repentance Has to Do With Christmas
It was only this year that I learned that the four weeks of Advent (the season in the church calendar that leads up to Christmas)
I’m Booking Zoom Events
I’m booking Zoom events! One day, I’m going to get on an airplane and fly to a school and a church and a conference center
The Healing Work of Salvation
How is salvation “healing work”? Early on in Matthew’s Gospel, he writes that the angel told Joseph to name Mary’s son Jesus because he would
AJB Recommends: All the Fascinating Ideas
I have so many fascinating ideas to share for you to consider! I took the whole week of Thanksgiving off. I shut down my laptop
The Power of Saying “I’m Sorry”
Is there power in saying, “I’m sorry”? The nurse at Penny’s school called me to tell me that Penny had a sore throat and a
I’m Writing a New Book! Really and Truly!
So I’m really and truly working on a new book after letting it simmer in my brain and heart for the past few years. I
Rest Beside This Weary Road
When the kids were little, we got in the habit of singing “Christmas church songs” before bed. We no longer sing these songs all year
AJB Recommends: Gifts for People Who Already Have Everything
For the past three years, I have taken Marilee with me on the annual trip to buy gifts for her eleven cousins. This year, she
Advent, Hope, and Canceled Parties
This year the calendar walks us through a season of Advent, hope, and canceled parties. The weird thing about being a practicing Christian in America
Walk With Me Through Advent
The Christmas decorations took over our local CVS months ago, and our kids made their annual transition from constant conversation about Halloween costumes to constant
Thankfulness or Toxic Positivity?
Many of us are away from family and friends at a time of year when we usually gather together. I don’t want to be too
A Series on Gratitude
In 2019 I wrote a series of posts on gratitude. Thanksgiving feels different this year, and I’m finding I need reminders of the truths I
Pointe Shoes and Developing Perseverance
Penny got new pointe shoes last week. For a long time, I thought pointe—which requires strength in both the feet and ankles that I didn’t
