The morning was nearly perfect. I was up before 6 o’clock to sip coffee, pray and spend time reading my Bible in blissful silence. At 6:30, the kids thundered down the stairs and tumbled into the room. My littlest one leapt into my […]
When I was in high school, I was bound and determined to become a Broadway star. And in my book, grade point average didn’t really matter for a starlet heading to New York City. So I …
When I close my eyes and think about my grandfather, my memories are cloaked in a deep sense of contentment and warmth. I remember his gentle chuckle, the twinkle in his eye and never feeling …
Let me introduce you to my daughter. She is kind. She is sincere. She is witty. She takes care of her siblings with nary a complaint. She is everything a teenager should be … bright, …
I sit looking at two stuffed bears sitting side by side. Two bears well-loved by two boys who love each other. One is my son’s bear. For six years, this blue bear has been his constant …
In keeping with a tradition that I have a hard time keeping up with, I give you the Haveman highlights from 2016... The majority of last year was spent in anticipation of a new kitchen. And …
A few years ago, my husband and I purchased a pressure cooker as a wedding gift for a young couple. I thought they were crazy for wanting a pressure cooker. But when you are running …
Twenty years ago, I whipped up my very first Thanksgiving feast. I secretly wanted to prove to my new man (and his mother) that I knew my way around a kitchen. And the meal did not …
Ten years ago, my grandma went to be with Jesus. Her death was unexpected and left the family reeling. Ten years later, I still acutely feel the loss. And I often write about her profound …
I vividly remember the moment the nativity story came to life for me. I was ten years old and languishing through a midnight Christmas service. My exasperated mother had just roundly disciplined me for provoking my …
