We had a baby! After all that anticipation and waiting (40 weeks, 4 days – or, if we go by how it felt, approximately 12 years of pregnancy…), it happened. Our sweet, squishy, snuggly baby boy has finally arrived earth-side! He’s here! I am a birth story junkie. I just love them. I wrote up our … More Wilson’s Birth Story
One of the Sabbath practices at our home is listening to a sermon. It’s one of our ways of worshiping as members of God’s great congregation in a way we don’t get to do when we are leading worship on Sundays. One blogger I know describes leading worship as being “on, like Beyoncé at a concert on.” … More Top 10 Sermons Winter 2015/Spring 2016
When my husband Daryl and I first started dating, one of our pastors asked us to be his newborn daughter’s godparents. We were honored, but also a bit miffed. “We’re not…married,” I said to Pastor K. “I’m aware,” he said. “Then how can we…?” asked Daryl. “You’re both wonderful people,” K said, “and even if you … More Appearance and Truth
My husband and I had a grumpy friend in seminary who always wore a scowl. Yet on Easter morning, Daryl walked by him and the man was beaming from ear to ear. “You okay?” Daryl asked. He’d actually never seen the guy smile before. “It’s Easter!” the man exclaimed. “It is just the BEST day!” … More Easter’s YES
Are you the mother of a preschooler or an infant? Have you thought about finding a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group? It’s my second year in MOPS, and it has been awesome. So for this week’s Top 10 Tuesday, the Top 10 Reasons to Join a MOPS Group. 10. This parenting thing? It is haaaaaaard. … More Top 10 Reasons to Join MOPS
We’re in the last days of only child-dom here at the Ellis house. Our little preschooler is about to have his world rocked. We’ve had some really sweet moments of playing and reading and snuggles. I’ve cherished his smile and being able to give him every last ounce of my attention during the days we … More The Last Days of the Only Child
I’m a generally happy person. The only ministry job I’ve ever resigned from was hospice chaplain. I love end-of-life care, but nine hours of hospice a day almost did me in. I used to come home and cry for hours. Daryl would talk about a difficult test he took at school, and I’d respond, “Really? … More Sitting in the Sad
Oh, it’s a comedy. I spoke at a MOPS [Mothers of Preschoolers] gathering down near San Diego Thursday. I love, love, love speaking, and add an extra “love” to that list when it’s speaking to moms. There’s something really special about groups gathered to support women doing one of the hardest, most exhausting, most rewarding … More Public Speaking While Nine Months Pregnant
At our birth conference a couple of weeks ago, our midwife* asked Daryl if he wanted to help catch the baby when it’s born. His face went white. “Well, I… I mean… I would love to… It’d be really amazing, but what if… what if I…” “Drop it?” she asked. “Um, yeah,” he said, sheepishly. “I’m not … More Our Helper
One of the best-kept secrets in ministry is how much pastors love their congregations. The best pastors always get a bit personally attached, no matter how good their boundaries are, because ministry is an all-in endeavor. When you’re sharing meals and life, praying at hospital bedsides, baptizing babies, officiating at weddings, crying at funerals, working alongside … More I Hold You in My Heart
Courtney Ellis 