2020

This month I had the opportunity to share a Sunday morning message with Dover Friends Church in Wilmington, Ohio. Actually they had invited me to share in January, but lucky for all of us we were snowed in that weekend and church was cancelled. I say *lucky* not because we got to stay home but because my message wasn't ready yet. It needed to--as my chef husband would say--simmer and season a bit more before it was truly ready to be consumed. The topic of my message was "rejection". Randy and I were blindsided by rejection during the last week of December, so it was very fresh on my heart in January. Too fresh. Too painful. If church hadn't been cancelled that Sunday I would have spoken specifically about the hurts we had experienced. The lies. The betrayals. And I would have shared this advice from Jesus: "Whatever village or town you enter, search for a godly man who will let you into his home until you leave for the next town. Once you enter a house, ...

Our travels are starting to get confusing, even to us. How did we ever come up with this crazy plan? We partially blame (and definitely thank!) Randy's mom. When she died in November , she left her motor home to Randy and his brothers in her will. As we thought about leaving Mexico and how to honor Mom, it just felt right to go out on the open road. So, on leg 1 of this journey, we stopped in Pie Town, New Mexico, to fill the motor home with the belongings we would want to take with us (including Mom's ashes) for the RV portion of our journey. And now, a month later, we were heading back to Pie Town. We flew Allegiant Airlines from Stockton to Phoenix because it was several hundred dollars cheaper than anything else we could find. We know Allegiant has been in the news lately for safety concerns, but we've flown them several times, and put our granddaughters on their flights as well, and have always had positive experiences. (Incidentally, our flights from Ohio to...

Anyone who truly knows me knows how important this little girl is in my life. This summer we'll have spent 12 years together. My dad found her, locked in his barn, when she was only 6 weeks old. She was an ornery puppy, hard to potty train and chewing on anything she could get her little puppy teeth into. But she showed up at just the right time... the week of my first divorce. I put up a good front on the outside, but most days this little girl was the only reason I got out of bed. She kept me moving and going. Since then we've been on countless adventures together. Moving from Ohio to Indiana, then back to Ohio, next to California, and then down to Mexico. And we're about to embark on another epic road trip across the U.S. once again. What does Jovi have to do with my 40-40-40 challenge? Today's donation goes to Paws Assisting Veterans ( PAVE USA ), which trains service dogs for veterans who suffer from mental or physical disabilities as a result...

Yesterday I made my donation to Modern Day . Modern Day is for people like Randy and me who feel called to serve in missions but aren't affiliated with any particular organization. When you go on your own, like we did, you are responsible for all of your finances, communication, connections, and spiritual support. When an organization sends you, they help with all of these pieces of the puzzle. Modern Day provides the same support that those sending organizations do. In fact, some sending organizations have started using Modern Day to help them too! One of my favorite parts of this organization are the video resources they provide, that offer tips and support for common missionary struggles: marriage in missions, rest in missions, safety in missions, finances in missions, guilt in missions (this one is HUGE!). These videos are all free and are right there on their website, so if you know a missionary (whether they are already on the field or are preparing to go or are praying...

On Thursday, while I was avoiding reality for a day, Randy and I happened to turn on the television just in time to catch an episode of Life Today . Life Today is the television program for the organization Life Outreach International, which focuses on bringing water and food and shoes and other necessities to the world. While I can't usually bring myself to watch the last 15 minutes of the program, with the sad pictures of children with flies in their eyes and distended bellies, the first 15 minutes always include an interview with individuals whose lives have been turned upside down for Jesus. And who are using that upside-down momentum to make a difference in the world. The stories are incredibly inspiring. I ALWAYS love those first 15 minutes of the show. Thursday was no different. Thursday's episode included an interview with Cassie Hammett, founder of The Hub: Urban Ministries . On The Hub's website, Cassie writes: The call to love the poor is clear in scr...

Time for another guest blog! This one comes from my friend Jeff Laycock, who I went to high school with. When my nieces were born and spent time in the NICU, Jeff reached out to me to assure me that even though it was scary to see them so tiny, with IVs in their heads and tubes up their noses keeping them alive, it was also the safest, best place for them to be. He knew, because he had just been through it with his son, Hayden. Who has to be the cutest spokesperson for Nationwide Children's Hospital, BuckeyeThon, and ending Pediatric Cancer that I have ever seen. Here's their story: BUCKEYETHON Our story starts when my pregnant wife, Bri, and I went to her 20-week appointment to find out the sex of our baby. The excitement of the day soon turned to confusion, fear, and sadness as the doctor explained that the heartbeat of our unborn child, a boy, had dropped into the 50s from the typical 180s since the last time Bri had visited. He told us he suspected congenital he...

Every Saturday morning I lead devotions for the kids. We use "El Libro Devocional de Maravillas" ("Wonders Devotional Book") to guide us. It includes a Scripture, a short explanation about what the Scripture says, and why it is important to our lives. In addition to the reading, I always try to have a little activity for the kids -- something to help them remember the devotion. Last Saturday's devotion was about the importance of trusting God, so I decided we would do a "trust fall" as our activity. We used to do this at camp every summer when I was growing up. We would have to stand on platforms of various heights and fall straight backwards into the arms of our friends and fellow campers. Terrifying. As I was preparing for the activity on Friday night, 7-year-old Anita walked into the room. I asked her to turn around and fall into my arms. She did without any hesitation. Such trust! I was totally jealous. On Saturday morning, Anita an...

On Thursday morning, Randy and I had a short two-hour drive to El Centro, where we would return the U-Haul and transfer its contents into a trailer pulled by Gary and Karen, the directors of Sonshine Hacienda. We were so excited to see them! Even though we hadn’t yet crossed the border into Mexico, it felt like we’d arrived. During the morning drive, a semi-truck kicked up a rock and cracked my windshield in two places. So, while Gary and Karen ran errands, Randy and I found a local glass repair shop. They were so nice, quick, and did great work. We took their business card and promised that if we couldn’t get all our needs met in San Felipe we would return to them. We met up with Gary and Karen again and went out to lunch at Sizzler. I was craving something healthy, seeing as we’d been grabbing fast food for the last three days. The Sizzler salad bar was just the ticket. We had an opportunity to talk and reconnect and share all of our excitement over our arrival. Kare...

I just finished reading " Big Magic ," by Elizabeth Gilbert. (You might recognize her as the author of " Eat, Pray, Love .") The subtitle of Gilbert's book is "Creative Living Beyond Fear." And the timing of it, reading this during a time when I've so recently " failed " at being intentional , is all too perfect. Because one of the reasons I struggle with moving beyond "good intentions ," to actually getting things done, is fear. Fear of failure. Fear of imperfection. Fear of rejection. Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO - it's a thing!) on "this" because I'm doing "that." Fear can immobilize you, keeping you stuck in those "good intentions ." But Gilbert points out that creativity doesn't strike while you're doing nothing. Great ideas, if you're ever so lucky to have one, happen when you're busy living, doing, creating. It reminds me of the Parable of the Talents, found in M...

At the end of 2012, I reflected on the year I had just survived. It was one marked with obedience to God, both failing to be obedient and succeeding. I was determined to not just survive, but to live and thrive in the year to come. And to do so I realized I didn't have to wait until the end of the year to look back on whether or not I had succeeded. I could decide in January who I wanted to be and how I wanted to live in the coming year. So I claimed "one word" to help guide and define me. My "one word" in 2013 was EMBRACE. Each day I lived with intention, embracing everything from pajamas  to expiration dates , boundaries to answered prayer , triathlons to hibernation . That year gave me the confidence, the readiness, the opportunity to walk across Spain as a single woman in 2014 and again with my husband in 2015 . Those experiences also allowed me to live with intention, but in a very different way. Particularly in 2014. From day 1 on , I learned that w...

I am a terrible housekeeper. I never remember to dust and I haven't seen my kitchen table in months. Yes I do eat at said table. And if you want to join me you are welcome to put your plate on a book or magazine of your choice. I have zero willpower. Every 3 months for 10 days I do a "cleanse" and only eat lean meat, fruits, and vegetables. I am yet to make it to day 5 without cheating. I am very wasteful. I waste everything. Everything. I had never heard of Saint Nicholas Day until yesterday (even though Wikipedia says it is popular in Cincinnati). And it sounds really scary. Kids getting butchered (on a similar note, did you hear they are going to make a movie out of the books Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark ?). Demons kidnapping naughty children. Giving presents to unmarried women who "need" to find a husband. (Maybe it's not such a shortcoming to have neglected to put my shoes outside Thursday night.) Typically when we talk about shortcomings ...

Walking in the dense morning fog yesterday reminded me that we can't always see where we are going. We don't always know where things will end up--jobs, relationships, projects, travel, challenges, blessings... I certainly didn't anticipate enjoying having a " word of the year " so much. I could never have imagined all the opportunities I've had to embrace life and living this year. But I did it. Day by day. Step by step. And just like walking in the fog, the joy and love and opportunities have unfolded little by little right before my eyes. And now we are in our final weeks of 2013. With no idea what is to come in 2014. And that's okay. Because we'll figure it out. Step by step. Day by day. So long as we keep moving forward. Head-on into the unknown. EMBRACE FOG . We are all on this journey, with endless opportunities to walk blindly into new adventures and deeper into current ones.

I delivered a really great gratitude sermon on Sunday. It was full of energy and enthusiasm, challenge and grace, laughter and a few tears. It included the kids as well as the adults, Scripture and loads of personal stories. And yet... Confession time... I, personally, don't believe women should be pastors. Let me say first of all that this is not the fault of the church or the way I was raised. I have never sat through a sermon (nor would I deliver one) that said as a woman I should sit there and be quiet (which isn't what I am proposing, by the way). My dad never told me this, nor did my grandfather. We even had a female pastor when I was a kid and everyone loved her, including (maybe especially) me. It is simply a personal conviction I have, based on my own reading of Scripture and time with the Lord in prayer and waiting. I believe men are to be the spiritual head of our churches and households, to guide and protect and nurture the flock. (And find it eternally fr...

After spending every day for two weeks with my nieces and nephew I felt confident in delivering a sermon on Sunday about how parenting is a lot like preaching. These are the main points: In both parenting and preaching... I have no idea what I am doing 90 percent of the time.  I learn more than I could ever teach. I have to pray constantly that I won't completely screw up, and hope that others will have mercy when I inevitably do.  It isn't my job to always do everything for the kids or the congregation, but to encourage them to be and do and wrestle and grow and learn independent of me. I don't have all the answers. Not even close. Not even a little bit. (And that's okay.)  At a glance you might think this list proves I shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a pulpit, let alone a McDonald's Playland. But here's the thing... Despite not knowing what I am doing (that we are clear on!), what I do know is this: (1) I am called to be a spiritual momma to a...

Tis the season for charitable giving appeals to fill our mailboxes and inboxes and "missed" calls. From colleges to churches, missions to cures... I actually find it quite easy to sort these appeals into 3 categories:  trash (I can't give to everyone),  the 'I'd like to give and maybe I will' pile (there are way too many in this pile), and  I'm headed to my computer right now to donate (there are a select few who make the list year after year). One letter came this week from an organization that I love with the fullness of my heart: A Christian Ministry in the National Parks (ACMNP) . I served with ACMNP at the Grand Canyon where I had the easiest, funnest summer-with-Jesus of my life. And I served with ACMNP at Yellowstone where I had the hardest, deepest, most life-changing, catapult me into wholeness summer of my life. Both experiences were instrumental to the life of ministry I have today and I wouldn't change a minute of either one. ...

Tysen. Beautiful Tysen. World changer, this one. Last Friday I asked her what she was thankful for. "Jumping in mud puddles," she said. Her brother added, "She REALLY likes that." It is true that she is happiest in motion. Twirling, jumping, climbing, running. I'm surprised we haven't found her on top of the refrigerator yet. On Sunday I asked her again. "What are you thankful for today?" It has taken me this entire week to process her answer, to embrace it for myself, to recognize it for the gift that it is. "Me," she said. One tiny word and those big beautiful eyes piercing my soul. "Me." Not mud puddles or Aunt Katie. Not school or silly songs. Not tights or beautiful dresses, princesses or cinnamon rolls. But "me". And then she pressed her face up against the door and made an awkward smashed-up-nose-while-kissing-glass face. Because that is part of her "me". Silly, playful, compassionate...

I got an email from my boss yesterday. A forward really. From an author. A response to the manuscript critique I did recently (remember the one that was late because Robert and I were kickin it at Applebees?). The author was asking for a new deadline. So he could revise the manuscript. "I'd like to go through it again and take all of these critiques into account."  This is an editor's dream response! And a complete surprise. Typically writers (I am one, so I can say this) think they are perfect. They have reasons and justifications for everything an editor suggests might be changed. And you can't blame them. After all, I spent 15 hours editing something he spent his whole life writing (through experience, study, dreaming, writing and rewriting). So for him to receive the feedback so willingly was like being handed the winning lottery ticket of editing.  But more than that. I was simply shocked. That he could be helped. By me .  *** Short...

Remember that work I was in such a hurry to get to St. Louis for, just a couple of days ago (read  EMBRACE WARMTH  for a recap)? Well, I didn't do any of it that night. Instead, I sat in the hotel's hot tub, ate another bowl of soup, and watched cable TV. The work really did have to be done, though, so I got up the next morning and worked from 6 a.m. until 11 when I had to check out of my room (these are my "peak" working hours anyway, so I made way more progress than I would have if I'd skipped the hot tub the night before). I pulled into Starbucks at precisely the moment my boss's secretary was emailing me asking if the work was going to show up in her inbox anytime soon. "Getting online at Starbucks. One minute." I replied. Normally I would feel guilty that she had to send this reminder/request. But here is why I didn't this time... The work I was doing was a manuscript critique for a book set to be published next year. About how to ...

Last week I was surrounded by people with a passion for writing. At least, they were once passionate about writing. Many, it seemed, had become jaded by the "business" side of what they once loved. What started out as writing for the love of writing had turned into: do I need an agent? how many more rejections can I take? why did that book get published but not mine? when will I get my chance? can someone decipher this contract for me? should I make the changes the editor suggested? Why, why, why? When, when, when? This is true not just for writers. A coach with a passion for football can lose sight of that passion when he has a losing season, angry parents and board members, kids with no leadership or work ethic. A passion for teaching can be jaded by having to teach based on a standardized test, students with no respect for their elders, or a student who--no matter how hard you try--just doesn't get it. A musician may lose her passion if she keeps facing clo...