Funny how so often my Bible reading for the day is exactly what I needed. That happened this week when I read the verses above.

In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses is getting the people of Israel ready to enter the promised land. The time has almost come. They are on the threshold of something new after 40 years of wandering. And to prepare them, Moses gives them all kinds of instructions. Things like what to do once they’ve crossed the Jordan River, how to live once they get there, but also, instructions about the battle they are about to encounter.

Because, waiting for them on the other side of the Jordan is not just a land flowing with milk and honey, but also a fairly large contingent of enemies. (Who can blame them, really, for defending their land?) It’s not like the Israelites can just walk in and set up camp.

So, Moses prepares them for battle.

It’s January 8, and I just finished reading the Bible all the way through.

The check-off sheet I keep there says I started reading it in May 2018.

Reading the Bible through in a year just never seems to work for me. But actually finishing the Bible does—I’ve read the Bible through a few times. The first time it took over two years. The second time it took a little less than two years, but still, I couldn’t get through it in a year.

The past few times it took 18 months—that just seems to be my best rhythm. I could chide myself for not finishing it in a year, but many years ago, the first time I successfully read through the Bible in two years, I did something radical. When the first year was up, rather than closing my Bible and starting again in Genesis on January 1, I decided to just keep going.

Happy New Year, friends!

I’ve been reflecting over the past year, as we all tend to do at the time of year, and realizing it was a really good year for my reading life. And because so many of you who follow me on Instagram requested my Top Ten list, I thought I should oblige.

The International Terminal at O’Hare Airport is one of my favorite places to watch people. One moment in particular captures my interest. Once the travelers have collected their luggage and passed through customs, they take their final steps through a set of double doors to the public spaces where a sea of smiling faces greets them. Families outside the doors eagerly await the first glimpse of their loved ones—Grandma coming for an extended visit or lovers reuniting after a long separation. Some stand on tip-toe just to catch that first glimpse of their loved ones. Others tote huge bouquets of balloons or flowers. Some even bring homemade signs that say, “Welcome Home!”

Today’s the day.

“A 2-Day Parade of Epic Deals” as Amazon calls it.

You won’t see these kinds of deals until Black Friday, which is four months from now.

But I don’t “do” Prime Day (and I don’t do Black Friday, either), and here’s why.

We sat at a table in a lovely villa sharing a lunch of homemade Italian delicacies. Six of us had been seated together for lunch in this ornate dining room, surrounded by other guests at several other tables. The setting was spectacular and the view outside the windows was breathtaking—vineyards and distant Tuscan hillsides.

The woman across the table, we learned very quickly, was the sister of a famous pop singer. Her husband, seated next to her, was an investment banker; they lived in Boston. She had one son, about a year old, and a nanny, who had accompanied them on their Italian vacation and was, at that moment, watching him at their hotel.

I’m delighted to share this post with the (in)Courage community! I’m sharing a piece of it here, but for the full post, head over to (in)Courage.

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When my husband and I started dating in college, the internet had not yet been invented. Just imagine a world in which during summers and school breaks, our communication was relegated to the occasional phone call and lots and lots of letters.

This morning, as I walked out of my local polling place, a very old woman in a wheelchair, who was being pushed out the door ahead of me, said to the group waiting in line: “Thank you for coming and making your voice known . . . no matter how you voted.”

And then she giggled a little bit.

I loved that! Her comment made me feel a spark of joy after what was probably the most contentious election cycle I’ve ever seen.

(I live in Illinois, after all.)

You see, there are some things I wish right now.

Over the past six months I’ve heard from many readers that the book has been a great encouragement to them. One of the main takeaways, for many parents, has been the idea of having a vision for your family that I talk about in Chapters 1 and 2.

Have you thought about why your family is here? Have you thought about what makes your family uniquely you? Have you thought about God’s purpose for your family?

These are all questions I ask in First Ask Why, hoping to encourage parents to think a little more deeply about their family, their purpose, and their vision of how God could use them to shine the light of Christ into a dark world.

I was on a plane last week. Two planes, actually. The first trip was eight hours, then a two-hour layover, then another two hours home to Chicago.

Long day.

By the time we got to our second flight, we were tired, sore, greasy, and just ready to be home. Our connecting airport was a crowded, chaotic mess, so we were feeling the stress of travel quite keenly by this time, and we were anxious to get to our seats.

In an exit row.

A few weeks ago I walked with a friend who not only has a beautiful lab, but also has kids and grandkids living within walking distance. Our walk took us past both of her daughters’ homes, and I found myself thinking about how wonderful it is that she can actually walk to see her daughters and her grandkids. With her lab!

I also found myself feeling . . . what’s the word? Oh yeah. Jealous.

Friends, I'm so happy to be guest posting at Risen Motherhood today! I'm talking about creating a gospel-centered vision for your family, and here's just a bit of it. You can find the full post at Risen Motherhood.