Finding Joy on the Journey in Faith, Family, and all Things in Between.
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...]
If church should look like family, and family connects over bonds made, blood shared, vows taken, and years lived together, how do we become family as a church? How do we find the home where our hearts settle into community? In most churches, we sit in rows or pews, or folding chairs facing forward. We may engage the message and punch out notes on our YouVersion app or in the torn off section … [Read more...]
Day 26: My Testimony: Which Bubble Do I Fill? I felt the red flush of embarrassment rise up my neck and fill my face with splotchy crimson blots. "Not a porch, stupid. A Porsche! Don't you know anything?" She cocked her head to one side, her strawberry blonde hair falling to the side as she wrinkled her freckled nose in distaste. I still had no idea what she was talking about. She had said … [Read more...]
Day 10: Continued... The next nine years. We judged the shiny cars lining the parking lots of the mega churches. We judged the Sunday school good looks of the upper middle class and their hands unsoiled with anything as unsavory as the destitute, the impoverished, the minorities, the populations that have never heard the name Jesus. And Satan seized upon this bitterness and choked out the … [Read more...]
So what holds us back? This is part of my testimony. To understand my journey and relationship with church, there was a long road that led to now. My avoidance of church has included everything from boredom to cynicism to hurt. I started life as a missionary kid, living each day in community. When my parents moved us back to the states, church took on a very different form. Church in … [Read more...]
He's stomping. The heel walk thudding up the stairs. I hear his door close. Not slammed because he knows better but loud enough to display his surly temper. And I wonder at this eleven year old man-child, so like me in his temperament and yet I find myself constantly at odds with him. I go to his room. Pursue him. I am right in this. I am his mother and my decision won't change regardless … [Read more...]
They are coltish, wobbling on strappy sandals, their wedges creating even longer legs, jutting from their teeny tiny shorts. They hobble along in clusters of three or four, their long hair cascading down their backs and brushing over bare shoulders. Their shiny lip-gloss sending off tiny glinting sparkles like confetti thrown at a party. They swing their pink striped bags jauntily. Victoria's … [Read more...]
We are the world changers. The visionaries. We are the strongest political movement ever known. We have no borders or bounds. We seek to establish justice and ensure domestic tranquility through grace filled lives, serving hands, and faithful hearts. We are the diplomats of grace. The people with hands made to serve and hearts made to heal and branch out. We are the vine gatherers, … [Read more...]
Around here we write for five minutes flat on Fridays. We set a timer, throw caution to the winds and try to remember what it was like to just write without worrying if it’s just right or not. Want to play Five Minute Friday? It’s easy peasy! 1. Write for 5 minutes flat on the prompt- no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking 2. Link back here and invite others to join in. 3. Meet … [Read more...]
Hello my lovely readers, I am so glad you stopped by my blog today, but I'm not here. I am guest posting over at Inspired by Family again and I'd love it if you'd join me there where I share about karma, social justice vs. kingdom justice, being the prodigal, and offensive grace. Link over to see how my rabbit trail mind works. And don't forget to leave me a comment to share your thoughts or … [Read more...]
To my beautiful little girl, Kaia Listen close, because this is something every girl should know. This is something that so few of us make it into adulthood really believing. But I tell you, my lovely princess, you are heart wrenchingly beautiful. I tell you every day because you need to know this in your core. You are beautiful because of the image you bear. You are beautiful because your … [Read more...]
To my beautiful girl on her 7th birthday. My sweet Kaia, This week, you will be seven. Burning in my heart are the things I long for you to know as you get older and blossom into a young woman. My hope is that you will return to these birthday letters as you grow and it will remind you of your mother's love and desires for her most precious little girl. These are my words to you this year as … [Read more...]
My sister-in-law Sarah turned 30 something yesterday. I wasn't there to celebrate with her because, you guessed it, still sick. And the last thing anyone wants at a party is a coughing, hacking, wheezy mess. After 13 years of marriage into our strange family, she has become part of my heart. She is a dear friend and confidante. We watch our kids grow up together. We share our trials … [Read more...]
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