by Ashley Larkin | Oct 19, 2013 | 31 Days 2013: Right Here, Childhood, Faith, Family, Grace, Gratitude, Marriage, Mothering, One Word: Trust, Perfectionism, Perspective, Surrender, Trust
This is 31 Days of Right Here, not 31 Days of Hoarding Your Life’s Moments or 31 Days of Not Missing A Single Solitary Thing. As I continue writing, I realize all the ways this 31 days is not a try harder, do more message, but largely an invitation to let go....
by Ashley Larkin | Oct 14, 2013 | 31 Days 2013: Right Here, Childhood, Concrete Words, Family, Love, Marriage
We returned about 25 minutes ago from a long weekend with my sister and her family in Central Oregon. We feel full. From minestrone soup and brownies and nest building under the pine trees and running in the open grass and playing in the pool and listening to music...
by Ashley Larkin | Jun 14, 2013 | Family, Five Minute Friday, Love, Marriage, Mothering, Parenting
It’s ironic that when we sat on those sticky bench seats, and you and I met face to face for the first time in that big van on the way to Mexico, it was I who listened to you for so many hours. As you shared the story with the whole bunch of us, of Dad and his...
by Ashley Larkin | Feb 15, 2013 | Faith, Five Minute Friday, Love, Marriage, Mothering, Perspective, Truth-telling
Funny how a word can hit you new when you really stop to sit with it, let the letters and sound fall over a heart. Chip away a bit at its layers. Beloved. It’s always been one of my favorites, and I’ll admit that when Michael chooses it from among all...
by Ashley Larkin | Feb 14, 2013 | Celebration, Family, Love, Marriage, Mothering
Most wonderful day of cut hearts and sweet treats and red and pink joy to you. I’ve been thinking lots about love this week like many of you, I’m sure, and the word that continues rolling right ’round comes from 1 John 3:18: Dear children,...
by Ashley Larkin | Feb 8, 2013 | Five Minute Friday, Love, Marriage
This love dance between a husband and his wife is sacred, and so it is not mine alone to define each step. So today I will not tell you what record he placed on the ancient player, but he knew it was the very one I’d love. The crooner singing with a glint in his...