Baby 'Berry

We just found out a few days ago that we are pregnant - and we have 3 First Response Pregnancy Tests to back us up! Being the weekend, I haven't scheduled any appointments yet so maybe that is why this still feels so unreal. Or maybe it's because it's been just the two of us for so long. Even when Gabe has been deployed, we've been a team, a unit. It's been Gabe and Krysann, uninterrupted (but enhanced with Sam and George), for going on five years - seven when you count our courtship.

Lawless One

"But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God." (Galatians 6:14-16)

I struggle with rules. A lot. Not as a stubborn independent asserting her individuality, but as a stubborn

Mrs. Sedberry Goes to Spokane

First off, anyone who knows me knows that I fell absolutely head over heels, past-the-honeymoon in love with Salinas. It was an unlikely match; my entire life I heard nothing out of Salinas but stories of gang shootings, drug deals, shady characters and general shenanigans. I was apprehensive to move there because of said stories, but to Salinas my husband led so to Salinas I followed. After nearly 2 years it became home. Partly because it is just beautiful there, partly because it is minutes from the city/town of Monterey, the world renown Big Sur and the fairytale village of Carmel, partly because I did not feel scorned by customer service representatives, but by an overwhelming majority, I fell in love with Salinas because of its people - specifically God's people.

Who Is Desecrating Marriage?

As Prop 8 is overturned in California, Christian organizations are campaigning with fervor in final attempts to keep California's marriage laws restrictive to heterosexual unions. While the Bible is clear that homosexuality is not God's design, I have to ask myself if this political battle is one we should really be taking on considering our own real positions.

My Warrior, My Savior

My best friend Beth loves the Lord and she loves His Word. Every now and then she will share with great excitement what she is reading and how it is affecting her walk. She will then say, "You have to read this!" Yesterday she shared with me what she has been reading in Nehemiah. Surely at some point I have read from this uncommon book, but I honestly do not remember what the thing is about. So I cracked it open and amid the new-page smell started reading. I am at Chapter 7 and while I am certain

God Aches for Us

“Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen…”

How often this little tune plays over our stories during the rocky course of our lives. Our pains individual, our sorrows secret, our hurts tucked beneath the coats we spend so much time weaving. A person holding a sign on the side of the road twitches like a junkie, but weeps for his beloved children

Not About the Butterflies

When a person gets married there is a feeling of excitement, beyond hopeful, almost arrogant. There is seemingly nothing in the world too complicated to navigate. It is a beautiful sort of naivety. A kind which carries the couple through unbrushed teeth and makeup-less faces. It sweetly calms a new marriage with superficial triumphs - that feeling of a "special love" allows a bride or a groom to easily forgive things which would under

Mystery by Brooke Fraser

Note: These are not official lyrics.

I want to get your words stuck in my head
I want to touch your soul with mine
I want to always be, be by you led always

Trusting God Isn't Always Easy

Now and again you hear or read something which matches words to a cry of your spirit. I listened to Mystery by Brooke Fraser for probably the 20th time, but last night it just fit the mold to perfection.


Sometimes our most basic desire shines through: to be loved. We want so badly to feel

To God Be the Glory... With or Without the Great Things He Hath Done

Being an over-thinker, my logic on nearly all subjects ends up bringing me to that "WHY?" question; you know the one… That enormous, ancient, often decorated but generally ugly elephant in the room which has sent some to an asylum and others to sheer Hedonism: Why are we here? I admit I have been depressed at the other end of this question on more than one occasion.... We are born, we live, we love, we suffer and then we die. I may

God's Charity Case

By Your Side by Tenth Avenue North:

"Why are you striving these days?
Why are you trying to earn grace?
Why are you crying?
Let me lift up your face.
Just don't turn away.

Why are you looking for love?
Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough?
To where will you go child?
Tell me where will you run?
To where will you run?

'Cos I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall.
In the dead of night,
Whenever you call
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you.
My hands are holding you.

Look at these hands and my side.
They swallowed the grave on that night.
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in
And give you life.
I want to give you life.

And I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall.
In the dead of night,
Whenever you call
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you.
My hands are holding you.

Cause I, I love you,
I want you to know
That I, I love you.
I'll never let you go."

I'm always amazed at how God brings me back to him. Whether by a grand display of His awesome power, or a quiet whisper to my writhing spirit, He always gets his point across: "I love you." Such a paradox that love is. One so simple and untainted, yet so incredibly intricate. He leaves me feeling so small and insignificant, yet divinely important at the same time. I feel often like Hosea's wife: an adulterer against the sweet companion who gives me everything I have ("the grain, the new wine, the olive oil; I even gave her silver and gold, but she gave all my gifts to Baal"). I constantly deny time with my Provider, my Love, for no other reason than my selfish desires. I believe though I know better that my time is better spent with other lovers. I am callously surprised when my Husband takes away those I have betrayed Him for and still more stunned when He turns in His passion and offers me the marriage of my youth. When He offers me the gentle love and close friendship I experienced when my own passion for Him was new and unburdened. Surprised when He fights for me though He told me long ago that He would do anything to keep me. I am such a severe work in progress. When I step back and consider myself objectively I am convinced that I am not worth the work He puts into me. But He never gives up. When I am at my worst, there is that soft reminder of a steadfast devotion.... God doesn't love me because of anything I have done or any special quality I possess. He loves me because He loves. Real love isn't dependent on the person being loved. Real love is inherently unconditional and noncondemning so in order for God to love at all, He must love even the parts of me that are to anyone else unlovable. It's complete and it's overwhelming.

(Hosea 2-3)

From the Steinbeck Center