MomminginMinistry

This is the end of the beginning. Sixth grade graduation. Half way through public school. Two thirds of the way to 18. Two hours from the first day of the last summer of his childhood. This morning I listened to Moses tell Daniel what they were going to pretend play this morning, and I realize, just as I suspect Moses does, that those mornings are drawing to a close. This morning I paused our audio book to say a prayer with him in the car one last time as we rounded the corner to the drop off line at the boys' elementary school. I impulsively reached back to squeeze his hand but he misunderstood and just handed me my phone, which he'd been holding. I pretended that's all I wanted because how do you explain, "I just wanted to hold your hand?!" and I watched him get out of the car in that spot for the last time. He's already too old to take to the splash pad or the play area at McDonald's or the mall. All those things that I forget for a second because...

Photo credit, Ryan Albaugh I'm probably not alone in saying that the humble brag is one of my pet peeves. ESPECIALLY when it is proceeded by the words "I'm humbled to..." (receive this Oscar, be nominated for president, be inducted to this hall of fame, be included on this prestigious list). If you want to put that big honor on a button, a t-shirt or a bumper sticker, or write it in the sky for all the world to see, I will hoot and holler and celebrate with you. But seriously, you need to learn the difference between "I'm humbled by" and "I'm honored by" or else you're just being annoying. This week has given me much to celebrate. Last week we ran over to a little party for Moses' team at Quail run park (after Mo's last baseball game and also during Daniel's last baseball game at the same park). And you probably know how these things are. Mo can't eat the food, so there's always a rush to find something s...

Five years ago I became very interested in learning more about a single mom in a complicated relationship named Hagar. Her story was not as well known as some. She was a marginalized slave woman who made a brief appearance in the story of Abraham found in Genesis 15-21. I have never seen her pictured in the illustrated board book in the Sunday school rooms across from my office at church, but when my then three-year-old began working her words into his simple mealtime prayers saying, "Thank you for God to see us." (from Genesis 16:13), I knew her story needed to be told. When I was asked to speak in church this upcoming Sunday, Mother's Day 2019, I saw an opportunity to reopen this personal investigation into the woman who's words had impacted me so profoundly.  I have loved getting to know Hagar better these past few weeks and have become aware of some interesting facts about her that I had not noticed before. According to the journal article, Hagar, Vic...

I haven't blogged in a long time. I started this with the best of intentions. I knew I'd be busy and figured, I'd just type a little something, even if it wasn't much to keep up the practice. But what I didn't bargain for was that while taking classes I'd be writing a little something for about 20 hours a week, and instead of blogging feeling like a creative outlet, sometimes sitting in front of the screen any more started to feel more like a chore. BUT, I am on a break from school (to take care of other big and busy stuff) until August. And as I come up for air I'm starting to find a little time for reading novels, processing thoughts that are not about canonization and Old Testament book authorship. And I'm starting to really miss blogging. I've been thinking how ironic it is that Mother's Day falls in May. Because May is maybe one of the most loaded months for mothers. May is what we train for all year long. May is when all the things happen...