This sweet boy is at such a fun, wild, crazy, stage of exploring his world and learning through discovery every day. I love being there for every minute of it, even though I sometimes just need a minute where someone isn’t asking me a question. His speech has really taken off and he is asking new questions nonstop. He found the shell above and decided it had tiger stripes like the tiger he saw at the Dallas Zoo. I’m completely biased, but I’m pretty sure he is a baby genius (just like every mother in history). I long to be the mama who is all in with my kids, loving them fully with the love of Jesus and guiding them through these childhood years.
Daily I marvel at his inquisitive nature and the pure joy he finds when he learns something new. He inspires me to look at the world around me with fresh eyes. He laughs with wild abandon and is so free. Do you laugh like that? I hope I do. In the midst of this depression battle, moments of pure joy and freedom are illusive. I’m soaking them up and trying my best to be in the moment, on the floor, playing, laughing, teaching, and fighting for freedom from this struggle.
I hope to laugh like this every day of my life.
What brought you joy today?
You can find more from my Life to the Full series here.
, two blankets, thumb tacks, and the room’s clock radio. We build a hotel tent around our pack-n-play. On one ill-fated occasion we used the hotel “crib” at a super nice resort that shall remain nameless. It resembled something found in an orphanage in Kazakhstan. Horrible. We went out the next day and bought a cheap pack-n-play and then donated it to a ministry in the area when we left. It would have cost $50 to fly with our travel crib from home each way ($100 total) and the cheap-o crib cost $40. Awesome. 
with our older child so the dark isn’t scary. It may take a few tries to get your child used to the Hotel Tent, but it will be well worth it when you aren’t trapped with your spouse on a bathroom floor. Your child gets the sleep they need to enjoy the trip and you don’t have to watch a movie in the bathtub. Everybody wins. 
Inside most temples, cathedrals, and churches were the most beautiful tile mosaics I have ever seen. Along the Via Dolorosa, I saw this incredible mosaic (about 8-feet tall and 20-feet-wide) of Jesus carrying his cross. Every tile had to have been cut and polished by hand, then very carefully arranged to create this beautiful image. I’m still in awe. 
The hill of Mount Zion, the highest point in Old Jerusalem, is dominated by the Church of the Dormition (left photo, below). According to Christian tradition, it is the place where the Virgin Mary died. Nearby is The Upper Room, where Jesus washed his disciples’ feet and served The Last Supper before being crucified, and King David’s Tomb. The Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu (right photo, below) is a stone’s throw from The Upper Room, located on the lower east side of Mount Zion. This Roman Catholic Church takes its name from Peter’s triple rejection of Jesus. The church has been rebuilt several times, the latest construction in 1931, and further connects Peter with the golden rooster on the roof. Inside are multiple underground caves and crypts. Some believe Jesus was imprisoned here. On the north side of the church is an ancient staircase that leads to the Kidron Valley and many Christians believe Jesus followed this path down to the Garden of Gethsemane. 
There were so many wonderful, magical moments on this trip. I had a blast following the footsteps of Jesus and visiting places important to his ministry. However, walking along the stone streets of Old Jerusalem put so much into context. I don’t know if it was the conglomeration of three major religions (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam) or the sense of old world charm in a bustling metropolis, but I loved every minute of it. Luckily, my tour group spent the last day of our pilgrimage in Jerusalem. We even shared Holy Communion in the Garden of the Empty Tomb. Even though the final day focused on the Via Dolorosa, I intentionally stayed at the back of the pack (like I normally do in large group settings) to capture lifestyle shots. Anybody can Google the places I’ve seen, but I wanted photos that captured the essence of the people who live and thrive inside the ancient city’s walls. There were open-air markets and street vendors selling shawarma (meat prepared on a rotating spit), brightly colored scarves blowing in the breeze, a variety of candies and sweet treats displayed on tables, and more fresh produce than this country girl could ever imagine! It was truly a magical day, an unforgetable experience. 
More highlights of my Holy Land trip came from experiences with water. Where there is water, I usually find a way in … literally! I 
If you get the opportunity to sit atop a camel, just do it already! There were 54 adults standing and gawking, talking about how cool it would be to ride a camel, but nobody was willing to get on the furry animal until Yours Truly demonstrated it was perfectly safe. And no, Mister Camel did not spit or bite me. 
