cultivating the beautiful ordinary by sharing our tales and our tables
When my friend and fellow ministry leader, Dave, passed away unexpectedly (and far too early), I made a vow. I have come to understand that vows can be used for protection against harm and also be good and hold a loyal oath. My vow was the latter. At Dave’s memorial, I remember hearing a handful…
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Silence was the language of my childhood—in our home, in the car, walking side-by-side. When our kids were born, I wanted to make sure car rides were filled with music and laughter and conversation. Some of the very best of the latter have taken place on the way to school. Here is one of my…
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I take a good hard look in the mirror and suck in a huge gulp of air. I am getting ready to step into the shower and have just stepped off the scale. The chaos of bed hair and a NyQuil-induced sleep blink back at me underneath the glow of the unforgiving bathroom lights. My…
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Staying in line is important when you are little. If kids get out of line and go their own way, things could get dicey. As the youngest of eleven kids, I learned to follow early. For me, following was easy and natural. You don’t have to think too hard, and you stay out of trouble…
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Twenty-one years ago, my sister shared a joke with my parents that made them belly laugh. I heard the laughs and saw the smile on my sister’s face, but only one thing raced through my four-year-old mind: “I want to make people laugh too.” I announced that I, too, had a great joke and assured…
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Much of my adult life has felt like a walking billboard for a “Never Say Never!” campaign. Whether it’s going back to school to get my Master’s degree, having two kids under two, living in the state of Ohio, or becoming a person who runs outdoors on a regular basis by choice, I’ve learned that…
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Everyone prepares you for the feelings that accompany your child’s first birthday, but no one prepares you for the emotional tidal wave that hits on their second. Or at least no one warned me. My daughter turned two on Friday, and amidst the celebrations and fanfare, I found myself in tears nearly every day leading…
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My eyes feel heavy. I have loads of to-dos in the waiting room of my brain, unread emails, toys all over, lots of people to call, and there is a sticky residue I noticed in the fridge earlier. I haven’t seen Theo eat a vegetable in a while; my small group is starting up this…
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The Pilgrim’s Credo– I am not in control. I am not in a hurry. I walk in faith and hope. I greet everyone with peace. I bring back only what God gives me. –-Father Murray Bodo* I was raised in the Christian fundamentalist tradition, then happily transferred myself to the evangelical tradition (that is, very…
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The day we decided to surprise our three boys with a trampoline, we stayed up late putting it together on the back patio after they were in bed, with me on constant lookout, sneaking into the hallway to listen for any signs that we might be discovered. There was so much joy and anticipation that…
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