Last Sunday, as we celebrated All Saints Sunday, I read the name of my own dad as one of the saints to remember on this high and holy day. It was not the first time in my years of memory that I have read someone’s name who was difficult to read. It is always difficult …
Yesterday was the first day of the 2022-2023 school year! It was a big first for our family because it was the first time that everyone was attending the same school at the start of a new school year. It felt big to be able to go together to a place we love and a …
Just this week our six-year-old passed his swim test so that he could slide down the waterslide at the pool. They even gave him a band to show he had passed! It was an exciting afternoon. Even though he has just started school, he is used to having to take tests and he knows it …
Each Sunday, as I robe, there’s a small part of me that basks in the last bit of quiet before my mic goes live. The weight of bringing the gospel to God’s people, especially in the midst of a pandemic and so much violence, weighs on my heart and soul. For just a moment before …
I forgot how busy the end of the year was, especially with different school schedules for four different kids. Even as we try to remember where we are supposed to be on which day, I find myself overwhelmed with gratitude that we are HERE in this place. This year we have a kindergarten graduation and …
My morning meditation runs are usually at the same place and part of the trail runs behind the baseball fields on a narrow path between the scoreboard and the fence. A place where home runs are earned and points add up. As I was running this morning, I thought of all the things we keep …
For the first time in a very long time, I was able to attend an Easter morning sunrise service. We were at the beach and there was a service within walking distance. As we walked onto the beach with our six-year-old, I felt immediately at peace. The sun was rising over the ocean, people were …
After my second year of teaching, I went to Germany for one school year to teach. As a young American in a small town, I found myself most often on the same schedule of retirees. We would eat our kuchen and kaffee at the same time in the afternoon and then go see a lecture …
This past Sunday was March 13….again. Two years ago as we gathered for worship in our sanctuary, we lamented and prayed. A global pandemic was sweeping across the world and we still didn’t know how we could stop it. We ended worship with a tearful benediction that God would protect us until we were able …
As I went to write my weekly reflection in my planner, I flipped back to the month view wondering whether I had ever filled out February. It has been a busy week and February is such a short month, I didn’t want to forget to look ahead. As I flipped back, I realized not only …
