“Look Alive”

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I like to have friends who are funny. I guess everyone likes to laugh, but it is super important to me. If my husband wasn’t exceedingly funny I don’t know what our marriage would look like. His unparalleled ability to make me laugh has been a staple of my adult life — we started dating a few weeks after I turned nineteen.

But I have been blessed to know lots of funny people. One friend of mine, Carol, had such a great line the other morning that I just keep replaying it my mind.

For the past couple of years I have been in a Bible study that meets at 6:30am. Now, you should know that I hate the idea of being somewhere at that ungodly hour. The first year or so it was on Thursdays, which worked well for me because I taught on Thursdays. But then it switched to Fridays and there was no earthly reason for me to do it except that I adore these girls — girls of all ages. One newly married, one with five kids in her thirties, and so on. We have every decade covered from twenties to seventies. Carol is the oldest in the group, and last Friday the funniest.

Most of us in the group come looking like we just rolled out of bed, because we have in fact just rolled out of bed. But there are some exceptions, and Carol is one.

When it was observed on Friday that Carol looked very put together with her make-up beautifully done, she defended herself with her thick southern accent like this:

“You know how an Army sergeant tells a subordinate to ‘LOOK ALIVE!’ That’s all I’m aiming for here. I’m just trying to look alive so y’all don’t cart me out of here with me saying ‘I’m alive! I can walk!'”

There’s no way I’m doing it justice. It was so perfectly timed and delivered. We laughed and laughed, and I’ve smiled every time I’ve thought about it since.

But beyond it being a fabulous line, I am just grateful to have friends of all ages. I feel like women who only hang with women in their own demographic are missing out. Life is richer when you know new mamas and aged adventurers (my friend Ann is the gold standard on this front — she was born in 1937 and is still game for all kinds of fun and travel). You should know girls who are in college and those who are new grandmas.

How can you cultivate these relationships? It’s actually so easy. Be committed to a church. That’s all it takes. Have a meal here or there with some women from church and before you know it, you have all kinds of women who love you and whom you love.

Don’t worry about finding a perfect church — it doesn’t exist. I love the line from someone who was inviting a friend to church. The friend was reluctant and said, “Nah, church is full of hypocrites.” But the churchgoer said, “C’mon, there’s always room for one more.” This is the truth. The church is full of sinners and hypocrites, like every other institution in this fallen world, but there’s also love and authenticity and true friendship, and the Gospel. Plus the Bible is absolutely clear: God loves His church and we are called to love it too.

Hebrews 10:25 says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

I pray you are committed to a church and that you have a Carol who can make you laugh even at the crack of dawn.

With Love,

Kristie

Cheer Up! On Your Feet!

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Friends,

How is 2026 starting off for you? We’ve sent our boys all back to work and school, and I’m already trying to figure out how and when I can see them again. It helps to know the days are getting longer and spring is around the corner.

Plus, I am so encouraged by my daily Bible reading. This year I am using the Bible that my parents gave us for Christmas in 1997. My dad’s unique handwriting is such a warm greeting when I happen to flip to it, and I am enjoying having notes too. For 2024 and 2025 I read through the whole Bible in versions that did not have notes, which is important. Let’s not be too eager to rely on someone else’s interpretation. Still, on occasion it is really convenient to have a little help. Hopefully I am striking the right balance with it.

One verse that no one would need a note for is Mark 10:49 (NIV 1984):

Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”

So they called the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.”

This is true every day of our lives: Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling YOU.

It doesn’t matter what you may be facing in life, Jesus is calling you. He’s calling you to know Him better through His Word, through prayer, through Christian community. He’s calling you to obedience and to abide with Him in the vine. Maybe your 2026 is going swimmingly thus far, Jesus is still calling you to your feet. He’s still drawing you closer.

But maybe your 2026 is already one of disappointment and heartache. Jesus is there to provide forgiveness and healing. Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you. He’s calling you to know He will never leave you nor forsake you. He’s calling you to stand up and do the next right thing. He’s calling you to have an eternal perspective and to ponder the verse below:

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:17 (NIV 1984).

May 2026 be a year we all recognize what is truly important and know it’s not anything that is in our news feed. It’s much much simpler. What’s important is that Jesus is calling. And we always answer, one way or the other.

Blessings,

Kristie

P.S. This little graphic below is so apt. I would give credit to the maker but I don’t know where it came from. I re-posted it a few years ago, but it is still on point.

Happy 2026!

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Friends,

I went for a lovely long walk this morning along the beach above. Even though it was chilly, it was still a wonderful way to kick off the new year.

More importantly, I started reading the Bible again. It feels a little like that scene from Elf where the elves celebrate a successful Christmas by kicking right into gear making toys for the next Christmas. I just finished reading my Everyday Gospel Bible yesterday, but not unlike those happy toymakers, I am committed to diving right back in because I am so blessed by this habit.

I know a lot of people like The Bible Recap (plan, book, podcast) but this year I am going back to the Five Day Reading Plan. I prefer it to others because I like having a New Testament reading every day, and I like how it spreads out Matthew, Mark, Luke and John so that you are reading a whole gospel every couple of months.

So, happy New Year and I hope you’ll be committed to reading the Bible this year, and maybe use the Five Day Reading Plan.

May God richly bless you and yours in 2026!

With Love,

Kristie

Bah Humbug!

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Last Wednesday I saw A Christmas Carol the broadway musical at The Wick in Boca Raton, Florida. I highly recommend it. On Saturday I went to a Christmas party/book exchange and walked away with the beautiful edition pictured above. My attitude this year has been rather “Bah Humbug,” which is not usually an issue for me, but two doses of Dickens has helped.

Part of the issue is a major construction project which has made our living space quite small. I wasn’t even going to do a Christmas tree because of the mess. But my sweet Nate insisted on buying me a little tree the first day he was home. And honestly I’ve probably never appreciated the smell so much. I can look at the lights on the tree in that little corner and pretend that there is no construction. Obviously any construction project is a first world problem. All five of us will be together starting on Sunday and I am immensely grateful for that.

Even so, the reminders from A Christmas Carol are helpful.

Dickens wrote that the misery experienced by the ghosts “was, clearly, that they sought to interfere, for good, in human matters, and had lost the power for ever.” And he was correct. We will all lose that power, and we should make today count for eternity.

Another passage that stuck out to me was this one:

And now Scrooge looked on more attentively than ever, when the master of the house, having his daughter leaning fondly on him, sat down with her and her mother at his own fireside; and when he thought that such another creature, quite as graceful and as full of promise, might have called him father, and been a spring-time in the haggard winter of his life, his sight grew very dim indeed.”

This longing for family, daughters in particular who I am only gaining through marriage, is conveyed in such a sweet and unique way: “a spring-time in the haggard winter” of life. I love it!

And of course this passage is wonderful too:

“But they didn’t devote the whole evening to music. After a while they played at forfeits; for it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child himself.”

I hope as we are getting so close to Christmas that you have many opportunities to be child-like and to reflect on the fact that the “mighty Founder ” of Christmas was a child himself.

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.

Isaiah 9:6-7a

Blessings,

Kristie

The Magic of 500

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Hi Friends,

I hope you and yours had a lovely Thanksgiving. We mixed it up this year and celebrated Thanksgiving in Florida’s Panhandle. This meant fewer flights and less stressful travel. Plus, it left open the possibility of getting to the Iron Bowl, which only one of us ended up following through on.

At one point I was relaxing by the pool watching a dad throw the ball for a group of boys playing 500. The magic of this simple game has delighted young boys for generations. It made me so nostalgic. My sons still love throwing a football on the beach, as evidenced above, but the utter delight of childhood 500 is a thing of the past.

It made me think about how babies and young kids make holidays all the more enjoyable. We had many laughs this past week, and we played lots and lots of games, but I miss the sweet innocent days of little ones. Children have such simple faith and enjoy such simple pleasures, and of course, nothing is better than holding a baby. I love just watching babies take in the world around them, smiling and laughing so easily. Grandchildren are not in our near future, but I hope to do a better job of seeing relatives or including young families in our celebrations.

Simone Weil said, “To be rooted is perhaps the most important and least recognized need of the human soul.” The magic of boys playing 500 and children at holiday events then are not mere traditions, they are experiences that joyfully root us. As my own family is now full of adults who have moved a lot, the lack of rootedness is apparent to me in odd moments. One of my goals for 2026 is to do a better job of growing roots, and thankfully, I have a marriage to look forward to next summer. What’s more rooting than that?

Still, even though I agree with Simone Weil, our most basic need is to know Jesus and to be rooted in His love.

These words from the Apostle Paul form a beautiful prayer:

Praying tonight that You ” being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” (Ephesians 3:17b-18).

With Love,

Kristie

Hot Tips: Make Eye Contact and Set Limits

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In 1997, Will and I moved to Arlington, Virginia, where I was starting law school and Will was starting residency at Walter Reed. One of the first Saturdays we lived there, we packed a picnic and gloves and a baseball and went to the Jefferson Memorial. After our picnic, our game of catch was short-lived, because Park Police told us there was no ball playing allowed. It was a matter of reverence.

But things have changed. Just a few weeks ago I was walking around the Iwo Jima Memorial. A cute young girl was using a ball throwing thing with her dog. Since I circled the monument a few times to try to get in a few steps and take in the fall colors, I passed this girl, her dog, and the ball repeatedly. I would’ve smiled at this girl, but she had expert training in not making eye contact under any circumstances. In fact, most young people in DC have this skill. And I’m just going to be honest: I hate it. I’m an introvert. I find small talk exhausting. But the no eye contact thing is weird. I was in Washington the same month I spent a week in Alabama. Guess which group of people seems happier? It’s not even close.

Partly it’s the old truth: right feelings follow right actions. Smile and acknowledge, and you feel more joyful and worthy. Who is responsible for teaching so many to stay in sad and awkward silos? The Bible says we are made in the image of God. Do you ever stop to think how incredible that is? Should an image-bearer be committed to ignoring other image-bearers? Obviously not.

But I have another tip for you. And I guess it’s probably related since it involves social media. Last Friday morning I was writing in my prayer journal, confessing yet again that I had not been using my time wisely. I felt right then that I should set a limit on my phone. I put my prayer journal down and had to look up how to do it. I set a limit on social media for one hour. Seemed pretty generous. I know someone who has a much shorter limit, and he cannot change it because his friend has the password. But guess what? Even though it was like 11 am, I had already reached an hour! Kind of embarrassing. But also kind of great, because the rest of the day I was more productive and focused than usual.

A week in and I can tell you this limit is my friend! I feel like my attention span is healing with all the reading I’ve been doing.

Plus, in the only Psalm written by Moses, one verse says, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).

Let’s number our days aright and affirm the worthiness of those around us.

Blessings,

Kristie

Can You Ever Go Home?

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Hey Friends,

I hope you are kicking off this month of Thanksgiving in some wonderful way. I walked along the beach this morning on a path I haven’t done in months. I used to do it all the time. But in the last year I have taken not one, but two, nasty falls on that route. Both times I was enjoying my music and evidently not paying enough attention to the little variations on the sidewalk. Both times I scarred my knee and hurt my wrist. So I tried to be so careful today. No music, just enjoying the cooler temps and the beautiful sights. And in some ways this feels like home. We’ve lived here for more than three years now and I have memories from this precise area since I was eleven years old. We got engaged here. We have a ton of great memories here. We have a wonderful church community and I feel known and loved.

But in some ways, nothing feels like home. My first eighteen years were spent in Michigan, but obviously that was a long time ago. I spent a total of seventeen years of adulthood in Northern Virginia and as much as I love it there and have wonderful friends there, it doesn’t feel like home. I visited just last week and the “this is not home” sentiment feels a little sad. I had babies there. I was flooded with memories practically everywhere I went. But still, it was not home.

Our two older sons graduated from high school while we lived in Tennessee, and there were some tremendous blessings in that season. But as charming and beautiful as it is there, I haven’t felt like it’s home when I have visited.

Truly, nowhere feels like home. But maybe that’s a gift. Maybe the nomadic life leaves you with an openhandedness that is healthy. I do not feel like I have to live in a particular place to be happy. In fact, I feel pretty confident that I could live almost anywhere and soak up whatever a certain locale has to offer. Maybe because I don’t have an earthly home like some do, my longing for an eternal home is stronger. I hope that’s the case, because all of us are just passing through.

As Paul writes in Philippians 3:20-21, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”

Everything and everyone is subject to Him. One day my lowly body– that trips and falls– will be like Jesus, glorious beyond imagining. And what comfort to know that I cannot be plucked from His hand. My citizenship is sure, written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Yes, that is home.

What is home to you?

With Love,

Kristie

Hairdresser Wisdom

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I recently had a fascinating interaction with a hairdresser. He told me he has the same conversation over and over again. Women sit in his chair and lament that their children do not want children.

He also told me about one client who is in her 50’s. This woman cares for her aging mother and wonders how her mother could possibly get by without the help she is able to provide. She worries about what will happen when she herself begins to require help yet has no children.

These are sad conversations. I have compassion on this man who navigates them daily. Meanwhile, I have multiple friends, roughly my age, who are already blessed with grandbabies. How can these divergent paths be explained? I think it’s just one word: evil. Satan is the father of lies and it’s a lie that anything in this world could be better than family, than trusting and obeying God’s design to procreate.

Jim Carrey said, “I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.” He’s on to something. One of the privileges of success or wealth is to know that it is not the answer. I’m sure you know some very successful people. I’m sure you know some wealthy people. I certainly do and none of them would claim that either is as satisfying as spending time with their families. Nothing we do is as impactful or joyful as building a strong family.

And yet no family is perfect. Even with attentive and loving parents, the world is a fallen place and there will be problems. But a Christian family that tries to live out the teachings of Jesus can point to the perfect peace and perfect belonging that we will enjoy in eternity. Of course there are people who are not blessed with a spouse or with children despite their intentions and desires, but I think their God-given roles are still family-like. We are all called to invest in future generations, to care for the aging in various capacities, to help every person we encounter to know that God loves them.

An older friend of mine has a granddaughter who will not speak to her. The granddaughter’s values do not “align” with her family’s and she has cut off ties with all of them. A willingness to do this should be met with shame by everyone. Every single person in this woman’s life (I think she’s around 30) should be telling her that she’s being ridiculous. A true friend will always encourage forgiveness, and reconciliation, if appropriate.

Satan wants us bitter and alone. Jesus wants to gather us like a hen gathers in her chicks. Satan wants us to focus on being aggrieved. Jesus wants us to be celebrate being grafted into the family of the One True King. Satan wants us cut off from our families and to live in uncertainty about our destiny. Jesus wants us to know that, as believers, nothing can separate us from Him.

Jesus said,“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” Matthew 10:16. How are you putting these words into practice today? Do you know who the wolves are? Do you recognize and fight against the lies of our culture? I hope so.

Blessings,

Kristie

The Grand Finale?

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Hi Friends,

You know on July 4th how the fireworks end in a grand finale? It’s just berserk, totally out of control? Bordering on being too much? That’s how I feel about my life recently. It has been one outrageously fun thing after another. I told Will I feel like maybe it’s my grand finale.

I am a huge and consistent proponent of the short vacation. We have made some incredible memories going somewhere for just one or two nights. But this month we took a thirteen night road trip! We spent the majority of our time in various spots in Alabama. It was Family Weekend in Tuscaloosa and our oldest son joined us too. Then we explored Alabama’s beaches and killed time until our middle son, a Georgia grad, was back in Auburn. He got back from a quick trip abroad the night before the Georgia @ Auburn game. We stayed with some of our favorite friends from Northern Virginia in Auburn, saw a bunch of old friends from Tennessee, and went for a beautiful hike at a local state park. I also snapped the picture above from a rooftop bar in Auburn.

I have spent quite a bit of time in Alabama for sports — lots of swim meets at beautiful natatoriums in Birmingham, Huntsville and Auburn. I’ve been there for baseball and basketball games too. Still, until this trip, I didn’t realize how much I love the state. It is a hidden gem of beautiful places and welcoming people.

I’ve been thinking about why this trip was so fantastic and I think there are some obvious reasons: we got to see all our boys and they are all doing great! But some less obvious reasons are that we watched almost zero television, except for a couple of football games. We didn’t keep up with the news much at all. Every day we spent the bulk of the day outside. Some days we ate only one meal but made it a good one. We got our steps in, and then some. Every day we laughed and laughed along the way. We have not taken that long of a vacation together since we went to Europe in 2000. Years ago I used to do two weeks plus in Michigan with the boys, but Will has never been able to stay the whole time. I feel like it was the most restorative vacation of my life.

Next week I get to see more old friends, look at wedding rehearsal venues and go dress shopping with my girl. Like I said, it’s a lot like that last 30 seconds of fireworks: totally out of control!

Truly, I have no reason to believe I’m in my last days. I am not the thinnest person but I am extremely strong and active. We eat pretty healthy too. But I am not promised another breath and neither are you. I think it’s beneficial to acknowledge that. Maybe your current season is full of hard things, and the days feel long and discouraging. Or maybe you are somewhere in between. But wherever we are, the truth is we need to know what happens when we die, because none of us is getting out of here alive.

I remember overhearing a conversation decades ago at a Chick-Fil-A play area. One woman was telling another woman how she’s a good person, how if there is a heaven she’ll surely be welcomed in. I honestly felt sick about it. How could anyone think they deserve heaven? I am all for life on earth being ruled on the merits. But when I die, I know my most righteous of deeds, which are few, are like filthy rags compared to a Holy and Perfect God. I have zero chance of being with Him for eternity on merit. No, my only hope is Jesus and His robe of righteousness.

For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Romans 10:3-4

Praying that my friends will not be ignorant of God’s righteousness, and that they would believe in Christ, whether it’s the grand finale or not.

Love to YOU,

Kristie

Jerry with One R

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Hi Friends,

I started writing this blog in August of 2008. It was a nice outlet for me to think and write deeply about various facets of life with three young sons. On occasion I would write posts specifically to commemorate events that I found particularly amusing or interesting. When I flip through my volumes of the early days from Spur, I have zero recollection of some of the stories. Had I not written about them they’d be forever lost.

So, I am shamelessly admitting up front that part of my motivation here is to remember the events of last night.

Yesterday we drove up to St. Augustine to attend an Alison Krauss & Union Station concert. Will bought the tickets when the tour was announced months ago and we’ve had it on the calendar as our first empty-nester trip. We stayed in a lovely hotel and Ubered to the Amphitheater.

The crowd was especially friendly, and we talked to various people around us. In fact, as we we walked in we saw an older couple we had chatted with at the hotel. When we were introduced to their friends, one woman hugged me “Hello.” As we entered the venue Will said, “Did you just hug that woman?”

But the funniest part was when we met the group sitting in front of us. The woman’s name was Alison (with one “l”) Kraus (with one “s”). After we had talked for a few minutes, Will said, referencing another band member, Jerry Douglas: “It’s funny that’s your name because my name is Jerry Douglas with one ‘r.’”

It was never clear whether they knew he was joking because they proceeded to call him “Jerry” the rest of the night. But the very best part was when we decided to walk partway back to hotel because the Rideshare line was too long. There we were walking down a pretty dark street in street in St. Augustine when a car zoomed by with a woman hanging out the window yelling, “JERRY!!!”

What a delightful time we had! I climbed into bed laughing about “Jerry,” and savoring hearing such fabulous live music. Making sweet memories is so good for your soul. As Ecclesiastes says there is a time for everything, including a time to laugh.

The picture above is of Saint Augustine and his mother Monica. I took this picture yesterday inside the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine. In his Confessions, Augustine said that those who knew his mother felt God’s presence in her heart. What a lovely sentiment! We do know that she prayed fervently for her son during his years of rebellion, and we know she was full of joy to know those prayers were ultimately answered.

Anyway I’ll close this with a refrain used as part of closing out the concert last night.

In Your Love I Find Release
A Haven From My Unbelief
Take My Life And Let Me Be
A Living Prayer, My God To Thee

Take My Life And Let Me Be
A Living Prayer, My God To Thee. (written by Ron Block)

With Love,

Kristie