Finding Joy on the Journey in Faith, Family, and all Things in Between.
I hope to God in 10 years I disagree with some of my blog. Anyone who knows me, knows that I don't love being wrong. So why would I want to be wrong now? Simple. If in 10 years I agree with everything I've said at 34 years of age, that will mean I've learned nothing, grown little, and have closed my mind and heart to being pliable. If I had a blog in my twenties, and thank God I didn't because … [Read more...]
I might have been the one that hurt you. I might have turned away a bit as you were sharing your story. I may have broken eye contact and glanced beyond you when you were talking, making you feel small and invisible. You might have flushed red as I excused myself with an empty smile and moved on. I might have used you when I thought I'd stand a little taller on your shoulders and ignored you … [Read more...]
It's been quiet around here lately. My mind full but my heart empty. I write close and soul deep and sometimes my bone marrow dries, the stuff where words settle in and gush onto the page with each pump of my heart. So I went to Jumping Tandem with weariness in my bones. With the ache of the overtired. A bit frustrated at the grace I'm trying to walk around in and sometimes find myself … [Read more...]
I went to a writers conference this past weekend and found my people. The people who love words and story. The people who feel creativity and imagination are divinely inspired. Within the diversified lineup of speakers, were a few I wouldn't have purposely chosen to see. For instance, William P. Young, who was a brilliant speaker and by all accounts a lovely, humble man, wrote The Shack, a book … [Read more...]
We would've never dreamed of pushing food to the other side of our plate in protest or allowing the petulant sulk of childhood tastes take precedence over being a good guest. After all, I was born with the trifecta of gracious eating. Asian ancestry, missionary childhood, and community living. As an Asian, food is about community and respect and eating together serves a purpose much greater … [Read more...]
Remember that time I went to The Influence Conference and I was all insecure and awkward and God had to sit me down and talk some sense into my very pathetic attitude? You don't? Oh well then, never mind. Ahem. I am part of a wonderful community of women on the Influence Network and I'm joining in a little link up today with members of said network. Here are a few things of the get to know you … [Read more...]
So you want to be a writer? Or you say you already are. Maybe you're waiting for someone to give you that title and the thought of calling yourself a writer seems too grand a statement for the scribblings you do when kids are tucked in bed or between classes at school or after a long days work. Maybe you feel the story in you gliding across the blank screen, but you don't know if it's a … [Read more...]
Day 27: My Testimony: The Path Since Then A few weeks ago, I sat tucked deep in a wooden booth at a local pub with my brother and his wife. We are talking life. And family convention has predestined that we question and wrestle with it. This life. Our talk turns to church. It is no secret that we've had our share of struggles with church. And this church is no different. I've gone for almost 9 … [Read more...]
I fingered the insert in the church bulletin with disdain. Seriously? A teddy bear tea party? I was 20 years old! Why was women's ministry so antiquated? The men's ministry was off to shoot clay pigeons for their gathering and we had to scrounge up teddy bears and doilies and nibble on soggy triangles of cucumber and miracle whip smooshed into crustless Wonderbread? I envisioned the … [Read more...]
I started this blog as a ministry to others. To share my stories and develop community here. I wanted to have a place to share what God was doing in my life. I wanted this to be a place where I was fearless. Where I could push past platitudes and be real and transparent. I had no idea this blog would minister to me more than to others. Last year at my blogging début, I chose one word … [Read more...]
I knew I would eventually get around to finishing my 31 days. I didn't know where this series would lead when I started it and I'm still not entirely sure but I know that during this season of depression, church has been on my mind a lot. These are some of those ramblings. Day 24 She sits at the corner booth, tucked away with a bowl of soup. The steam rises past her face and she concentrates … [Read more...]
There is something to be said about writing in and through. So many times we can't write out the words in the midst of our own pain, our own trials, and we are so immersed in our story that it's hard to get perspective enough to share it. And I get that. Sometimes we do need time to heal, to process, to let it breathe. But there is something about that perspective that is powerful which … [Read more...]
Day 23 So we talked church this past month. And you shared with me your stories, and I shared mine. And I loved every single email and comment even if we disagree on some things. But I am sharing where I feel God is leading me in regards to church, and while you may totally disagree (I would have last year) I'm sharing my story. I am still deeply in process and in no way have arrived but … [Read more...]
Day 19, 20, 21, 22 and my first Allume take-away recap. How's that for multi-tasking? First of all I want to offer my humble apologies for it being day 30 and me barely eking out day 19. I knew this would be a stretch for me but I hadn't realized exactly how much. However, I have discovered some things as I've waded through this topic all month. God shows up, even though I don't always … [Read more...]
I'm coming to you live from Allume with Lisa Jo and a bunch of the wonderful five minute Friday lovelies that I've spent the last 10 months getting to know. We wrote and shared and spoke into each other's lives and it was beauty. So here's my five minutes on Voice. I am tired. I overschedule things, I undersleep, I overstress, I underpray, I overeat, I underexcercise. I am … [Read more...]
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