Last month I was invited to share my call story with some young leaders in the church. Now, you might be wondering, "What's a call story?" A call story is a phrase pastors and other Christians use to describe how God led them into ministry. Although I have the privilege of bearing witness to others' faith … Continue reading My call story
"Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid." ―Frederick BuechnerIf we were having coffee right now, I’d tell you the emotion I’ve been battling most lately is fear. Fear is an uncomfortable emotion to harbor: Fear tells us we are weak and insignificant. Fear makes us believe are powerless. Fear … Continue reading Fear and great love
Jack, today is your first birthday. One year ago your daddy and I were on our way to Lutheran General Hospital so I could give birth to you. (You were in my tummy, but you decided it was time to come out!) At 8:05 p.m., when you finally took your first breath, we cried tears … Continue reading The wonder of one
Jack's first birthday falls at end of this month. The thought of this had me sobbing hard in bed last week while he slept peacefully in his room. (This seemed strangely ironic, given our sleep struggles.) Many of the courageous, creative mamas I follow have written notes to their pre-mom selves that I … Continue reading A note to myself, before I became a mama
Happy New Year! As I write this, I’m hiding out in my bedroom while my husband entertains our 11-month-old. I have my laptop, my coffee, a cozy blanket and snuggly dog, and I'm feeling especially grateful to be indoors on this chilly day in the city. It's heavenly. It’s been pretty quiet on this blog … Continue reading Highs, lows of 2017 + my 2018 intention
It happened on a Tuesday morning. I stepped on the scale and it there it was, the number I’d been longing for—my pre-baby weight. Seven months had passed and finally all 50 (yes, 50…) pounds I’d gained via pregnancy were gone. This moment I’d built up in my head, this goal achieved felt strangely anticlimactic. … Continue reading Making peace with my post-baby body
One of my favorite authors, Gretchen Rubin, has this expression she often uses: "The days are long, but the years are short." This idea has always resonated with me, but after six months as a new parent, it holds new meaning. Just a month ago my days began at 2 a.m. for a feeding and … Continue reading Six months and counting
