Things My Kids Say: No. 015
As with most children, there has been a learning curve teaching my son the importance of modesty. He tends to be an exhibitionist around the house. Thus I have taken to telling him that nobody wants to see his business. Perhaps, in light of the following conversation, I should be a little more specific... Virgil: (After using a toy screwdriver on the wall) Mommy! The house is fixed! Me: Thank you! Great job! You must be a handyman! Do you work for Handy Manny? Virgil: No. Me: Oh! Well then you must have your own business! Virgil: Mommy, nobody wants
The Bible is For Bigots (and Other Christmas Stories)
Wow, the web seems to have blown up in the last 24 hours over the whole A&E Networks vs. Phil Robertson debacle! It seems everyone has a distinct and polarizing opinion on the subject. In case you're unaware entirely, Phil Robertson, the father of the family starring in the A&E show Duck Dynasty, said (in a nutshell) in an interview with GQ magazine that he believes homosexuality is wrong because the Bible teaches that it's wrong. And what a hullabaloo that created! People are shouting from their virtual mountain tops on either side of the debate. "Christians are haters!" "Stand
Things My Kids Say: No. 014
Me: Virgil, it's time to go to bed. Virgil: Mommy, I'm too little! Me: Virgil, come on buddy. It's bedtime now. Virgil: I'm too young!
To Santa or Not to Santa: That is the Question
It's that time of year. When elves are being mischievous on shelves. When reindeer are flying around shopping center rooftops. When an old man can somehow see when I'm sleeping. He knows when I'm awake. He knows if I've been bad or good, so be good for goodness' sake. (That's the only reason to be good, after all.) I don't ever want my kids to grow up thinking Christmas is all about Santa, or Santa's birthday (thank you, Bart Simpson). I know lots of families who wrestle with faith versus culture this time of year. I've read many blogs on
Things My Kids Say: No. 013
There is no lack of humor whilst watching your children gain a grasp of the nuances of the English language... My Husband: Son, don't give me attitude! Virgil: I am attituding you!
Things My Kids Say: No. 012
Virgil: Mommy, can I take my shoes off? Me: No, son. But thank you for asking. Virgil: I'm not asking! Me: Well, don't take them off. We have to go to the store. Virgil: I need to check them!
Record Cold, a Dead Heater and a Miracle I Didn’t See
"The worst ice storm in years!" "The coldest weather DFW has ever seen this time of year!" "Icemageddon!!" "Icepocalypse!" These are just some of the phrases floating around social media and local news over the past few days here in Dallas/Fort Worth. It has been the coldest, iciest weather I can remember in DFW. It started on Thursday with freezing rain and sleet, coming down in droves, for a solid day. And here we are, Monday morning, and about 2% of it has melted. Literally entire freeways are shut down. People have been stranded on the highway for days. No
A Letter to All the New Moms, From a Recovering Perfectionist
Before I had children, I knew exactly what kind of parent I was going to be. After my first child, I just knew I was mother of the year. After my second child, I questioned whether or not I should give my children up to be raised by wolves - perhaps they would do better than I. After my second child, I questioned whether or not I should give my children up to be raised by wolves - perhaps they would do better than I. I went to the hospital yesterday to visit a friend who just had her first
Things My Kids Say: No. 011
Virgil: Daddy? Mommy? Addie? Are you driving me crazy? I'm pretty sure it's the other way around, son. Pretty sure...
Today’s Miracle: Accidental Orange Julius
"Eureka!" she exclaimed with glee. Every once in a while, I have a Holy Spirit moment in the kitchen. You know the kind - when all the ingredients just magically work out to a perfect blend of culinary divinity. It's a taste of heaven by shear happenstance. Tonight was one of those nights. I made a smoothie. (Hold on to your hats, I know.) But this was no ordinary smoothie. You see, I never make the same smoothie twice. I never use a recipe and I never have a plan when I start. I just love foraging the refrigerator for
Things My Kids Say: No. 010
Virgil: Daddy, I want to tinkle like a big boy! Like Mommy!
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. 003
Virgil: (After picking up a foam letter B) Mommy, what's this letter? Me: You tell me. What letter is it? Virgil: It's a B! Me: That's right! What sound does a B make? Virgil: 'buh' 'buh' B! Me: And what words start with the 'buh' sound? Virgil: What word? Me: 'buh' buh' Ball? Virgil: 'buh' Ball! Me: And 'buh' 'buh' Banana? Virgil: And 'buh' buh' Monster Truck!
The Credit and the Glory
It was only when I realized I had failed that I realized I had finally passed the test. I had been a worship musician traveling between various towns and churches for over ten years. I had played every kind of venue there was - the famed, the dive, the tiny, the nostalgic, the coveted. I could credit to myself many accomplishments during those years. I could name off the cool people I had met, the opportunities I had had, the names I had opened for. My band had been on TV in literally every country in the world. But I
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