A Spiritual Smorgasbord and Its Various Impacts On an Otherwise Sane Person
I grew up in church. Ok, more specifically I grew up in a non-denominational Disciples of Christ church and an evangelical, charismatic Church of God private school. And then I went to a Baptist church. Ok so, more accurately, I grew up denominationally confused. The liturgical, dogmatic church where I grew up was in stark contrast to the charismatic, evangelical spirit-filled church where I went to school. Whereas on Sunday mornings I was wearing robes and lighting candles, on weekdays I was casting out demons and dancing in chapel. Then when I became Baptist I learned a lot about rules
Things My Kids Say: No. 009
Virgil: (After I put on my sunglasses) Mommy, you look simply adorable!
First Fruits
I love listening to past sermon series from my church. It's like finding an old journal and reminiscing on things you forgot you knew, forgot you loved, forgot you thought. My favorite place to listen to them is in the car, because when you're the mother of a toddler and an infant, the car is one of the few places where you can actually focus on something for any length of time. I find myself looking for excuses to drive just so that I can listen to sermons. My pastor, Robert Morris, is very anointed and his teachings always strike
Things My Kids Say: No. 008
Me: Good job, buddy! You put a pickle on the potty! (He calls poopoo "pickles.") Virgil: I did! It's a big, sliding pickle! Me: What's a sliding pickle? Virgil: Jake and the Neverland Pirates slide like a pickle! ...Perhaps I should pay more attention to Jake and the Neverland Pirates...
Things My Kids Say: No. 007
Virgil: Mommy, I have germs everywhere! Look!
Things My Kids Say: No. 006
Virgil: (After falling off the couch, through sobs he says) Somebody's tired! ...Think he hears that very often?
Things My Kids Say: No. 005
Virgil: (As I'm putting on my lipstick) Mommy, is that stripes on your face? ...thank you, son... thank you.
Things My Kids Say: No. 004
Virgil: Daddy, you're not feeling so well. Want some gum? It's good for you!
Selling Jesus
There is an epidemic in the church today. It's rampant in not only the church-proper, but also para-ministries and various evangelical organizations. It is the epidemic of "selling Jesus." We, as a church, have become borderline obsessed with how we market the message, so much so that some are even overlooking the Messenger. We get caught up in gimmicks, selling points, and marketing strategies. Don't believe me? Take a look at the tools of the modern church. Everything from True Love Waits to the modern, hipster "God is cool, just look at how cool our church is" mentality - the
Gratefulness that Changes Us
I had the privilege of reading the birth story of a friend of mine today. I knew bits and pieces of her story, but I had never heard it told from beginning to end, all the details included. As I read her story, I was moved to tears at the courage through struggles, the faith, and the joys that came from patient endurance. I didn't know her during that time of her life. All I see now is an amazing mother who takes pleasure in the tiny details of her son's life. I see a mother who makes every occasion
Things My Kids Say: No. 002
Random Kid at Chick-fil-A Playground to Virgil: Stop following me around. Virgil: I can't stop following you around.
Things My Kids Say: No. 001
My son is a zany little fellow, always coming up with something crazy to say. I've been told over and over again that I need to be writing these things down. But some of them are just too funny not to share. So I decided to start a new feature on my blog: Things My Kids Say. I say "my kids" because I know that in the not too distant future, one precocious little eight month old will be joining her brother in witty toddler banter. I'm thinking long-term here, folks. So without further adieu, I bring you Things My
Monster Trucks, Iambic Pentameter, and the Dog Days of Motherhood
I love being a mom. It's a lot of fun, most of the time. But if I were painting a picture of Cleaver-esque perfection in my home, I would be lying to you. For all the love, for all the fun, for all the smiles, for all the laughter, there are just those days. You know what I'm talking about. Days where all you want to do is find the nearest UPS Store and ship those suckers off to the first taker. Today has been one of those days. I'll just break down a few of the conversations I've had
I Hope I Never Forget…
I hope I never forget the way Addie talks all day in her little four month old way - with a long string of "ah-goos" and raspberries. I hope I never forget the way she lights up when anyone she loves is near, smiles a big, toothless smile and squeals with delight. I hope I never forget how she looks on her big brother with a longing to be right in the middle of whatever he is doing. I hope I never forget how Virgil says, "Good night, sweet dreams, I wuva you," every night when I close his door
It Just Takes a Little Discipline
For those of you who are parents out there, you know first-hand that it's not very easy. Kids can get the best of us when we're not looking and throw a wrench in even the most pleasant of occasions. Those of you who are parents of toddlers are keenly aware of this fact. But I'm no first-time mom now. I'm a mother of two. It's a whole new ball game these days. My attention is divided. My time is cut in half. My patience is tested at triple the pace. It's tough business, this mothering stuff. And anyone who says
You Know You’re a Tired Mom When…
As a follow up to yesterday's post, I thought I'd make a list of some of the silly things I've done as a tired mom. I have to admit I've been guilty of some pretty ridiculous mom laziness in my time, moreso lately it seems. Some of them, when I think about them, make me literally laugh out loud. So I thought I'd compile a list of my lazies in hopes that it will serve to remind me someday of the craziness of this era of motherhood, and remind some of you that you're not as bad as you think.
Mother of the Year
I've been quite tired lately. Tired, cranky, incessantly hungry, so much so that for a few terrifying days I thought I might be pregnant again. Don't get me wrong, we want more kids. Just not yet. Dear sweet Jesus, not yet. I love being a mom. It is far and above the best thing I've ever done. I'm no super mom. But I love my babies and they bring me more joy than I ever could have imagined. But they wear me out. I'm beginning to come to grips with this as my daughter turns three months old. We're through
Miracles Still Happen
It was a Monday like any other Monday during the end of my pregnancy. I woke up that morning one day past my due date and about ten days past my wit's end. Yes, I was mentally and emotionally done being pregnant. But I was apparently not physically done. Now before you go judging me for my ungrateful attitude, please let me explain that I am a relatively complaint-free pregnant woman, up until the last few weeks. Being that I'm only five feet tall, I'm convinced that my tiny frame just makes carrying around a seven pound baby and twenty
Star-shaped Quesadillas and the Resiliency of a Two Year Old
There are no pearls to offer on this particular blog entry. I have no divine wisdom to impart on you after countless hours of observation and months of postulation. What I have for this entry is the right hand of motherly camaraderie, extended from me, the first time mom, to you, my faithful reader-mom, to remind you that you're not crazy, you're not alone, and you aren't failing as a mother. A friend of mine said wisely, "In comparing ourselves to others, it's important to remember that we are comparing our insides to their outsides." In other words, when other
It’s My Favorite Time of Year
Fall. It's the best. When you live in Texas like I do, it's the best for a lot of reasons. Namely, you've just come out of what was quite possibly the hottest summer you've ever experienced (even though you say that every year) and you're so desperate for relief that when it finally comes, all you can say is, "Thank you, Jesus!" But aside from the falling temps, there is something so magical about this time of year to me. Maybe it's that the days are getting shorter and the nights are crisp. Maybe it's the pumpkins and general feeling
$1.58 Later, Dinner for the Whole Family
I'm all about using what I have on hand. I'm also all about saving every dollar possible. Some might call me cheap. I call it thrifty. I like to think of myself as The Frugal Wanna-be Gourmet. So on on tonight's menu: dinner for the whole family for a whopping $1.58. Now that I have your undivided attention, I shall reveal my magical goddess of the kitchen secrets to you. 😉 The other night I didn't feel like putting a lot of effort into dinner, so I grabbed a rotisserie chicken, some fresh asparagus, and some new potatoes (my personal
I’ll Never Underestimate a Toddler Again
I was in my room putting on my make-up at my dressing table - my typical morning routine. My son was playing around the house, in and out of my room with random toys and gadgets he found impressive - his typical morning routine. He walked up to me with his winning smile, the one and only remote control to our precious, smart 3D HDTV in his hand. That was the last time I saw the remote control. Honestly, I have looked everywhere: the toilets, the closets, under beds, in drawers, in trash cans, in toy chests, in nooks and
For everything, there is a season
Recently, my husband and I made a huge decision. After several years (yes, years) of praying, considering, questioning, and praying some more, we decided that it's time to say goodbye to the band, Lately. I've been playing in a band since I was sixteen years old, starting off in my little youth band at the Baptist church I grew up in. A band is a lot like a marriage - a lot of ups and downs, a lot of good times, a lot of struggles, where communication is crucial and emotions have to be the caboose, not the engine. We
Just Believe, Somehow
A few years ago I lost my dear friend, Stacy, to a blood clot that led to her sudden passing during childbirth. This is America. Things like that just don't happen very often thanks to modern medicine and all its marvels. So needless to say, we were all shocked. We wondered how something like this could happen, especially to someone who was bringing an innocent little baby into the world - a baby that will never know his own mother. It was a tragedy to say the least, and in the midst of it, I wrote the song Somehow. You
From Here to Eternity
My sweet grandmother passed away this week. We knew it was coming soon. Two and a half months ago, she fell and broke her hip. (I mentioned it in my previous post.) She went downhill fast from there and after what seemed like an agonizing two months, it was over. Just like that. It was all over. I've been reminiscing a lot the last few days. I keep looking at the picture of her (above) and thinking about her life. After 88 years, she must have seen a lot. She lived through the Depression and World War II. She worried