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Historically, June through September is my favorite time of year. These months include my birthday, 4th of July, bonfires, pool days, and a natural time of rest.
However, this summer often felt like winter to me.
Let me explain.
Right before Marla was born I was studying John's Gospel with some friends. We were working through Jesus’ seven “I AM” statements and discussing...
#4: “I am the good shepherd.”
Here are a few things Jesus says:
In this season, I'm finding it's hard to have any kind of routine with spiritual disciplines.
It’s hard to set aside intentional time with God when we’re not on a schedule.
It’s hard (impossible?) to practice solitude and silence when I’m never alone and our house is rarely (if ever) quiet.
I never intended to share Jude’s birth story publicly on the internet. I began writing this for myself as a way to remember and honor how our little boy came into the world. It’s incredible how quickly we forget the details. But after several friends (mostly women, of course) asked for the story, I decided to open it up for everyone (censoring out some of the “gory” details)…
Navigating my current season of life, feeling the weight of the pandemic, and watching tragic events unfold around the world, has all made me hesitant to show up here. Most days I feel as though I have nothing to offer anyone else in this season…
In the first chapter the reader is introduced to a man named John (not the author, but a Baptist). John the Baptist, (Jesus’ cousin) is out in the wilderness telling people about “The Christ” who is described as the “word”, “life”, and “light” for all mankind…
We made it! We moved all of our things and ourselves to Nashville, Tennessee this week. Admittedly, my life has been a bit of a mess - which hasn’t left a lot of space for dealing with things outside of me … things I have no control over…
We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28 …. Throughout 2020 I heard the Christian community (myself included) reference the above verse…
Shay, Gatsby, and I are moving to Nashville, Tennessee in 10 days. I’ve been trying to figure out how to write about this. I wanted the title of this blog post to be “New Year, New Zip Code” where I would excitedly share about our Nashville story and how we decided to leave Chicago. It’s been a three year journey, full of little details and a few plot twists …
This past year, I read a lot of books - some for fun, and some for the purpose of learning and growth. I went into 2020 with a list of books I wanted to read… yet, none of them stand out as “Top 5.” Each of the books listed below fell into my lap at the right moment, when I needed it, and when the Spirit was sure to do the most work in me. Whatever you’re in search of, I hope this list can be a resource for you…
If you're like me, the month of December is usually a time of looking back and reflecting on the year. I usually pull out my journal, look at whatever goals I set nearly 12 months ago, and then hope and dream about the coming year.
Life is beautiful, and messy. We can’t experience joy without also experiencing suffering.
Suffering is defined as “the state of undergoing pain, distress, or hardship”. There is a laundry list of life experiences that fall under this umbrella - which can range from physical pain to mental stress. No one has a monopoly on suffering, and at the same time none of us are exempt . . .
A few weeks ago I attended a candlelight rooftop concert in the West Loop. The audience was masked-up, 6-feet apart, outside listening to LIVE music. I didn’t realize how much I missed live music until it was happening.
I intended to write Marla’s birth story soon after she came into this world. I know how easy it is to forget every little detail and just focus on the fact that “She’s here!”
But I must have replayed her story enough, that the flow of events and timestamps are still fresh in my mind. Nearly four months later, and I can still recall how wild and beautiful her birth was - and I’m excited to share it!