• God’s love for me. Unearned. I am accepted.


• My hard-working man. Lovingly providing. Happily returning home.


• Baby arms around my neck. Reaching up for me. Squeezing.


• Freedom to live Biblically. Refusing to be a slave to fear or guilt.


• Time. To learn. To relish life. To manage my house. To treasure family. To love others. To grow. To change.


• Friends. Close and distant. Friends who turn my face towards Christ.


• A home. A nest for family. A place of ministry.

I remember that all this has been given to me. I cannot act as though it were not a gift.

Grandma was pretty amazing herself—raising four sons, volunteering for various community organizations and serving as president of the Pittsburgh Women’s Club for one term and vice president for two. She and Grandpa loved to travel, and they visited over 100 foreign countries. That love of travel was passed down to their children and grandchildren. I’m sure that’s where I get my wanderlust. I don’t think I’m capable of picking just one place to live for the rest of my entire life.

Apparently they were both musical. Though the above picture was staged, Grandpa played the piano and Grandma, the violin. One of my uncles plays the banjo, and if you know my dad at all, you’re well aware that he plays about thirty instruments. My sisters and I grew up in a home full of music and instruments, and we’re continuing the tradition.

Here’s the Manka clan back in the day. See that handsome dude on the far right? That’s my daddy. Yep, sideburns and all!

Although Grandpa and Grandma are gone, their love for learning, travel, music, nature and science—just to name a few—is mine to keep.

Mommy & Daddy

Click here to view this photo book larger

Non nobis, non nobis, Domine
Sed nomini tuo da gloriam.

Not to us, not to us, O Lord,
But to your name give glory.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Below is a poem that I recently found. It brought a smile to my heart. Maybe your heart will smile too.

I am standing upon the seashore.
A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the
morning breeze and starts
for the blue ocean.
She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until at length she hangs
like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come
to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says,
“There, she’s gone!”
Gone where?  Gone from my sight.
That is all.
The ship is just as large in mast and hull and span as she was when she left my side,
and she is just as able to carry her load of living weight to her destined harbor.

The ship’s diminished size is in me, not in her.

And just at the moment when someone at my side says,“There, she is gone!”
there are other eyes watching her coming,
and other voices ready to take up the glad shout:
“Here she comes!”

Silas is crawling around on the family room floor exploring the blinds, the magazines, sometimes crawling over to visit me. He’s such a happy baby today—singing, talking to himself, laughing, smiling, napping well, and eating lots. He and I have been getting up quite early this week. The earliest morning was 5am. Ugh! We’ve since tried to make sure his belly is very full before bedtime, but, alas, the little boy loves early morning hours. At least today he waited until around 6:30 before waking me.

Stephen is in the office studying for his coming sermon tomorrow. It’s always a privilege for him to be able to preach at Crossroad. Tomorrow will be his third sermon. I know Stephen’s heart for God, his commitment to being Biblical, and his thoughtfulness in the words he chooses to convey what God has taught him about a particular passage. All those things I treasure.

I would say that the dishwasher is happily humming in the background, but it’s actually roaring. We usually make it a point to run it after we go to bed. It’s impossible to have the dishwasher going and to watch a movie at the same time. It’s certainly a loud machine, but I’m grateful to have it. In my opinion, the best thing about a dishwasher is having a place to store your dirty dishes until it’s time for washing. Of course, it’s nice to have the dishes washed too!

Yesterday the staff of Grand View Camp canvassed for Crossroad’s upcoming Vacation Bible School. The camp staff is in exile here in Phoenix due to the enormous Wallow Fire that has been threatening their rental property in Alpine, AZ, and their new still-in-the-process-of-being-built property near Eager, AZ. The Wallow Fire is the 2nd largest fire in Arizona’s history! Thankfully, both of the camp’s properties have been spared thus far. You can read more of their story here. In spite of this tremendous hardship, the camp staff has chosen to make this time of uncertainty count for eternity by helping several ministries throughout the state. Tomorrow they will be contributing to the ministry at Crossroad Baptist by helping set up and tear down and providing the music for our services. We are encouraged by their example of selflessness!

For those of you readers who live here in the valley, we’d love to have your kids attend our Vacation Bible School on June 20-24. It’s open to all kids 4 years old through 6th grade. Our church website has all the necessary information, and you can register your kids online. Don’t miss our free VBS held in the Verrado Middle School!

I’ve been getting us ready for our trip to Indiana next week. Flying with Baby for the first time is sure to be an adventure! He’s so busy these days. Not sure what we’re going to do to entertain him on the flight. Thankfully we found a good deal on tickets with Southwest Airlines, so no paying for checked bags! We also scored a direct flight which means only one take off and landing for Baby’s ears to handle. We’re looking forward to being back in Hoosier Land and seeing all the Moodys—yes, all of them! Uncle Tim and Grandma included.

We have plans to visit with my family (who will be in Plymouth, IN next week) and to visit a close friend of mine (who also happens to be in Indiana when we’re home). Lots of fun things coming up, so stay tuned!

This is one of my favorite pictures of Mom. It was always extra exciting to play in the snow when Mom was out there with us. She can throw a mean snowball!

If you were to ask me, “What’s the one thing you appreciate most about your mom?” I’d have to say, “She prays for me.” No matter what I do, where I am, or how old I get, I can count on my mom praying for me. Mom prays for Stephen; she prays for Silas. And God answers her prayers. What better way to love your children than to pray for them?

What character trait do I most admire about my mom? Her contentment. She’s like my Pop-pop in this—not pretentious, but quietly content with who she is and what God has given her. Like I’ve admitted earlier, I struggle with believing the lie that life is a competition and whoever has the best stuff or is the coolest, wins. I wish I took after my mom in this area of contentment. She’s a farm girl with simple taste that’s thankful for the gifts God has given her. Thanks, Mom, for being such an example to me!

Hope your first Mother’s Day as a grandma is truly special. We love you!

I’m learning that perhaps the most amazing and the most sobering task we are given as parents is to give our child an accurate view of God. I pray that God will give grace to Stephen and me as we venture forth on this amazing journey called parenting.

Believe me, if all those endearing young charms,

Which I gaze on so fondly today,

Were to change by tomorrow and fleet in my arms,

Like fairy gifts fading away

Thou would’st still be adored, as this moment thou art,

Let thy loveliness fade as it will;

And around the dear ruin each wish of my heart

Would entwine itself verdantly still.

Silas is now 4 months old, 2 feet tall and weighs 14 pounds. Yes, he’s as smiley as ever, adding a new “happy scream” to his repertoire. We go for walks around the neighborhood with Silas in the stroller or strapped to us in one of our many baby carriers. He looks a little confused when the wind blows.Silas has been trying out his Bebe Pod seat for the first time. He has plenty of wiggle room in it, as evidenced by his tilting posture!We love our little guy and are incredibly thankful for these four months we’ve had with him so far.