Unnamed and Unfinished

I know, there has been silence on my end of this blog for a few weeks.   I had some thoughts kind of percolating, but nothing that was really forming into a blog post.   Then tonight I was talking with a new friend about my trip tomorrow to see Jen Hatmaker and Nicole Nordeman at the “Mess and Moxie” event in Chicago, and it came together. In preparation for tomorrow’s visit I have been re-listening to my “For The Love” audiobook (by Jen Hatmaker).   In one of the chapters she talks about parenting and how the thing she wants most is for her kids is for them to grow up to be committed disciples and for them to love other well, like Jesus loves.   And I thought, “Me to!”   What I want most for Big and Little is for them to love Jesus fiercely and to mirror that Jesus love to others. Jen Hatmaker says, “This is why we live and breathe: for the love of Jesus, for the love of our own souls, for the love of our families and people, for the love of our...

Tonight is strange.   It’s kind of like the night before Christmas, full of anticipation and the feeling that I won’t be able to sleep.   The knowing that tomorrow is a day when I will wake before the sun.   But instead of waiting in anticipation for something I know will be good, I wait for answers that might be good and might be bad.   It’s a strange anticipation. And I know so many people are praying.   It gives me comfort and it makes me feel like I am not alone in this health issue with Big.   I know people are praying for her both here and abroad.   A friend called today and left me a message letting me know the church he visited this morning had Big on their prayer list, and they prayed for her.   A friend of the family from my childhood days let me know on social media that the East Coast is praying for Big.   I am not alone.   God’s family has us blanketed in prayer. But that makes me examine my theology of prayer. ...

I have wanted to start a blog for quite some time, but the task was too daunting. Honestly, I could never get past the "thinking of a name" phase. I wanted my blog to cover so many things: faith, parenting, marriage, friendship, early childhood education, lifelong learning, books... SO. MANY. THINGS. And how do you name it when it covers anything an everything? I couldn't, so I just never started blogging. And besides not being able to come up with a name, I couldn't decide what stance to write from. I am no expert in ANY of these things. I am not a perfect Christian, expert mother, amazing wife, never-fail friend, master in early childhood education, PhD or author. So who am I? Tonight, as I was thinking I realized how few answers I have, but how okay that is. God never called me to be finished... at least not on this side of heaven. I am a completely incomplete person. I am a mom in the trenches. An early childhood educator who sometimes has no answer...