I was eating yogurt with one of my congregants who has a birthday this week. When I walked in she was helping out a young mom who was trying to wrestle two little girls and get yogurt at the same time. This led to a conversation about how we knew each other. When she discovered …
I’ve experienced this first hand: In the face of this reality, a new opportunity is emerging. In fact, there’s growing evidence this new generation will bring the greatest opportunity for small church ministry in 2,000 years. Why? Because, as the first generation with a majority born and raised outside traditional marriage, genuine relationships and intimate …
I’ve been thinking a lot about my first students from my first class this May. Been wondering about whether they and their families are in this same position. The never-ending cycle is real and haunts too many people in our society: But this subsidized housing is all she can afford. Most of Houser’s paycheck goes …
Dog collars against dog leash. Birds heylookiehereherehere heylookiehereherehere. Lawnmowers starting. Car doors opening. Saturday greetings. Aggravated Owner Lady come here! Leave those dogs alone. Dogs happy panting. Birds whirlywhirlywhirlydo whirlywhirlywhirlydo. Water hoses spraying freshly cleaned cars. Dogs’ toenails clicking on asphalt. Chihuahuas yapping. Home hellos. Tired dogs’ snores.
Today, I went running for the first time in a really long time without the pups. After Tuesday’s 3 mile run and a dog yappy hour, Waylon has been limping a little bit. I’ve realized as much as I have been sitting over the past three years each week in class and commuting, I just …
There was a point in my journey as Mama 2 that I always felt 5 years behind because I didn’t join our girls’ lives until our oldest was 5. It seemed I always scheduled meals out or meet ups with grandparents during nap time, and I never had the needed stuff in my mom bag …
Today, Willie and I started our Therapy Thursday visits. We went to see Mr. S, someone I have been visiting him for the last six months who is legally blind. He is 94 years old and is having a hard time with his declining health. After receiving clearance from his assisted living facility, Willie and …
When I was in elementary school, I asked for desk for my birthday. It was something my cousin had started and to which my grandfather responded by building on with his hands. I received the same kind of desk for my birthday that my cousin had. I was thrilled to have my own space …
Last week on ThinkingOutLoud, Elisabeth and I talked about our work space (no not Office Space). I realized that I had more of an abstract working place than a set work space. Because I have been in school for the last three years and working on top of that commitment, work has been squeezed in …
As we get ready for Willie to start his training in nursing homes, we look at these stories and know the work we will do is important work in providing healing. Sometimes dogs understand better than any human can.
