It can be easy to fall into a prayer rut. We may pray the same type of prayers – for those struggling with health concerns, for example. We may always pray the same way or at the same time of day. Or maybe your rut is that you don’t pray at all, really. It feels overwhelming … More 10 Ways to Pray
Postpartum women face quite a few challenges. It’s a time of great joy but also deep exhaustion, hormonal recalibration, physical changes, and all of the upheaval that comes with adding a new human into the family mix. People mean well. They really do. But the things they say sometimes… Gonna try for another one? Oh my gosh, … More 10 Things Not to Say to a Postpartum Mom
Nothing tests your understanding of God like a preschooler. Our firstborn is asking some pretty tough questions. I’ll be the first one to admit that I don’t have all the answers, especially to the tough questions a preschooler asks. Perhaps nowhere are his questions tougher than when we read him Bible stories before bed. The Bible … More Gruesome Bible Stories and Your Preschooler
Maybe you don’t have kids yet. Or maybe your kids are grown. Now that we have a new baby, I’m amazed at all the stuff I forgot about in the three years between our oldest and our newest. So for those of you who don’t currently have young kids, here are ten things parents of … More 10 Things Parents of Young Kids Wished Other People Knew
No matter how well you’ve prepared for certain big things in life, you can never be fully prepared. Whether you’re surrounded by well-wishers offering advice or totally alone on an island, there will be things you just didn’t predict until the big event happens. I had some idea of what welcoming baby #2 into our lives would … More 5 Things Nobody Told Me About Adding Baby #2
I struggled to make friends in high school. Part of it was my bookish, introverted nature. The larger part was that I assumed I only needed one friend. I bought into the BFF thing, believing that there was one person out there who could be my be-all and end-all in the friend department. I was wrong. … More 10 Friends Every Woman Needs
I stood in front of the mirror trying to screw up my courage. “I should be ready for this,” I told myself. “Other moms do a lot more than this a lot earlier” I wasn’t preparing to climb Everest, or even host a preschooler’s raucous birthday party. All that lay before me was a day with my … More Stopping the ‘Should’ Cycle
I can be a complainer. Most of us can, if we’re honest. It’s too hot out today. I can’t believe the waiter got my dinner order wrong. I definitely didn’t need to get a cold this week. Why can’t my husband ever remember when it’s trash day? Oh great, it’s allergy season again. It’s often easier to … More A Broken Washer and Other Lessons in Gratitude
[Newbornlandia, week six. In which my eyes no longer open all the way because: TIRED.] A couple of weeks ago my husband preached a sermon on humility. It was one of his best (ironic, I know, being that it was on humility – you can find it here if you’re interested). Sitting in the congregation that Sunday I … More Saying Yes and Other Lessons in Humility
I’m currently on parental leave from my position as an associate pastor. Our church has been incredibly supportive of our growing family. Not everyone is so blessed. Parental leave is a sticky wicket in America. It shouldn’t be, but it is. From my own ongoing personal experience, here are 10 Reasons Parental Leave is Necessary. 10. Yesterday … More 10 Reasons Parental Leave is Necessary
Courtney Ellis 