I am not a member of the Baptist church. On Pentecost, I celebrated with Garden of Grace UCC and officially transferred my letter of membership to this welcome and affirming community of faith. UCC operates through congregational polity just as the Baptist tradition does. The UCC celebrates Eucharist every time they gather. They are notably …
Finding Yourself Again
I remember with our first child, looking at the woman in the mirror and not recognizing the eyes looking back at me. To be sure that was because he came into the world through an emergency c-section after a long labor. I didn’t realize the trauma I had been through until my partner showed me …
A Women’s Place in SC
On this day in 1919, the US House approved the 19th amendment – giving women the right to vote. There was a notable regional pattern in the vote #19thAmendment #WomensVote100 pic.twitter.com/JVrl8DdFYE — Matthew Isbell (@mcimaps) May 21, 2019 This week 100 years ago, women earned the right to vote in the United States, but not …
Pastor Mom
Our church photographer captured this photo after service and I can’t imagine a better picture of what it looks like to be a Pastor Mom. I have so much help in an amazing partner and an amazing community who are so generous. With their help, I feel like I can truly step into both of …
Postpartum Profit: A review of maternity and postpartum retail
The postpartum period is one that is grossly neglected in American healthcare. Once a woman is released by her doctor at or around the six week period, her postpartum care is nil. At six weeks, the postpartum period is completed. You can resume your normal activities, except you are completely different and so is your …
Clinging to Safety
As our baby turned three months, she has developed a habit while nursing of clinging to something, anything that she could hold onto: the collar of a shirt, the string of a hoodie, a lock of hair, an available finger. Her grip is strong and fierce as she holds on. Our three-year-old in preparing to …
Surprise Springs Up
This year in the midst of our irises springing up out of the ground, we had quite a surprise. I am not much of a gardener, so the fact that these irises that I transplanted four years ago bloom every year is still astounding to me. To have another bloom was remarkable. At first, I …
Pastor’s Kids
I never thought about being a pastor and a parent as I was growing up because the concept of being a pastor was not something that women did and I certainly never saw a woman with young kids who was a pastor. When I saw these images, it made me stop in my tracks because …
Sitting in the Darkness
We’ve walked in darkness for the last 40 day. We’ve longed and hoped for light. But here we sit – in the darkness, in the hopelessness, in the disappointment. I didn’t understand this part for so long. Perhaps I don’t even really understand it now. I was taught Good Friday was good because …
“Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice”
In the girls’ bathhouse at my grandparents’ pool, there was a sign that hung on the wall: Sugar n’ Spice and everything nice That’s what little girls are made of. I remember thinking that was a cute saying, especially because it rhymed and painted a picture of a smiling, bow-wearing little girl. Actually, that may …