When you realize the birthday cake is for Jesus and not you… The singing hadn’t even finished. The cake was still intact. And my son was already done with his head on the table, and arms folded in. No drama… just pure, honest exhaustion. I keep coming back to this photo because it feels familiar … Continue reading It’s Not Your Birthday Cake
Category: Family
Forward To The Far Horizon
Weddings have a way of slowing time. Everyone else was talking, laughing, and toasting, but I found myself crouched low, watching my son crawl across the hardwood floor. The sunlight poured through the curtains, throwing long shadows of a man bent low and a boy moving forward. And in that moment, I wasn’t thinking about … Continue reading Forward To The Far Horizon
Why I Hate My Birthday
I hate my birthday. Not in the shallow “I’m getting old” way, but in the hollow way where the day feels like it should be full, but it isn’t. My brother and I were twins. For as long as I can remember, this day was ours. We blew out candles together. We fought over who … Continue reading Why I Hate My Birthday
Somewhere to Sleep
Life’s busy right now. Camp is in full swing. I wake up thinking about schedules and staffing and emails I haven’t sent. The days are long, the work is constant, and honestly, I’ve felt the weight of missing time with my son. I don’t get many slow moments with him lately. Not like I used … Continue reading Somewhere to Sleep
Still.
A year ago, I limped into the mess hall—bruised, pale, and unsure of how much of me was still intact. Some of you were there. Some of you carried me. Some of you prayed when I couldn’t pray. I had nothing in the tank. Just pain, and the sinking sense that maybe I had finally … Continue reading Still.
The View from Up There
He has no idea how high up he is. Strapped into a shoulder carrier with a seatbelt around his belly and ankle loops cinched tight, my son rides above the world without a single ounce of fear. He doesn’t know about gravity. Doesn’t know that one wrong step could send both of us crashing down. … Continue reading The View from Up There
While It Is Yet Night
There’s a line in Proverbs that used to roll right past me, She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household. I probably read it a dozen times without thinking much of it. Sounded poetic. Noble. Maybe even unrealistic. Who does that, really? Now I know. I’ve watched Cassie do it. … Continue reading While It Is Yet Night
Passed Over
Not everyone slept in Egypt that night. There was blood on the doors. Roasted lamb on the table. A strange stillness in the air, like the wind itself was holding its breath. Inside the homes of the Israelites, parents sat with their children—some in peace, some in panic. They had done what God asked. But … Continue reading Passed Over
Fun Over Function
It didn’t make sense. I have mostly myself to blame for being stubborn. We had packed up the car, excited to go for a walk on the first truly nice day of the year. The sun was out, the air was crisp, and we were eager to stretch our legs after what felt like an … Continue reading Fun Over Function
Not A Fluke
The cries come sudden, sharp and strong,a wailing wind that wails too long.I search for ways to soothe the sound,to bring the peace I thought I’d found. Once, I blew softly on your face,a whisper of wind, a fleeting grace.Your cries gave way to calm surprise,as if I’d solved the weeping cries. But days went … Continue reading Not A Fluke
Westerman.Blog 