A Mean Game of Telephone {Introducing the Take Heart Series}
{Welcome to Message in a Mason Jar where we’re finding the loveliest things in the most ordinary containers! To get posts delivered to your email box or blog reader, enter your email address on the homepage sidebar or enter http://messageinamasonjar.com/feed/ in...
Waiting in Wires: A Hint of a Better Self
Snow and ice crunched under the weight of my tires as I slowed to a stop to keep from sliding through. Street lamps flickered on and I turned my head toward a familiar shape moving out from the shadows. The hood of a quilted coat kept the figure from full view, but...
Getting Somewhere Even When I’m Standing Still
On her tippy toes, belly bent over the edge of the sink, she reaches with all her little girl might and cranes her neck just to get a sip of water. She doesn’t sigh or complain. This is the last hurdle before nap time and sometimes I find myself wanting to flush the...
If the Tee Fits: The (in)RL Beach House Is Back Again
I hadn’t payed much attention to what I was wearing yesterday morning. I had rolled out of bed in my pajamas and stayed in them after sending my son off to school. But when I opened my browser to enter my details in little boxes for the second go ‘round of...
Christen the Year
The woman unbuckles her shoes and settles bare feet on stone tile that glows with the colors coming through stained glass panels, a holy narrative to light the path. Sturdy brocade in white and gold hangs down to her ankles, the beauty of a bridal gown. She stood in...
Linger Like Bright Light
I’m not much for multi-tasking. I’m no good at tweeting (or doing much of anything) in the middle of spoken conversation. When there are preparations to be made and sick little ones to care for and people to catch up with and celebrations to attend, I find...
Fragile Fingers Sent to Heal Us {plus giveaway winners}
In the wee hours of Saturday morning, our Kindergartener wailed until we woke and rushed to his room, our eyes squinting at the sight of vomit-covered carpet. For more than an hour, we bent ourselves over the mess and comforted him in his sickness, a repeat of what...
Even the Child Yet to Be Born {plus a book giveaway!}
We circle up under the light of the tree, the firstborn leaning hard into my side and bending his head close to see the words, my little girl taking her place on what’s left of my lap, the baby in hiding filling me toward fullness. I turn the page and read aloud...
What the Children Are Saying
With a weathered spoon, I am chasing bubbles in boiling oatmeal when my three-year-old stampedes down the wooden stairs, shouting out with the tree in his sights. “Shh!” I shake my head, “Your sister’s still sleeping.” It’s a ruckus when he’s in the room. The...
I’m Darcy Wiley, co-writer of The Yes Effect: Accepting God’s Invitation to Transform the World Around You. I’m an explorer at heart… Read more