Musings from a Busy Mom

Background: Almost two years ago we moved to a new town… not a town we thought we’d select - we had wanted to stay close to our good friends as well as to our church - but God provided a house with everything we needed in this city, so we followed where He provided. When we moved in, unlike anywhere we’ve lived before, we could feel the darkness surrounding us. Our friends encouraged us that God was going to use us to be a light in this darkness. We have made some friends - Christians and non-Christians alike, and we have some lovely acquaintances. We have enjoyed living in an area where my husband can speak Spanish a little more often and where we and our children benefit from learning about different cultures first hand. When a leader in our neighborhood stepped down in January 2022, my husband and I felt God was leading me to step into this leadership position as part of our getting involved with and ministering to our new community - for those trying to read between the lines, yes,

" Why are you leaving Facebook?" Quite a few people have asked me this question lately. I thought I would publicly let all my online friends know the 'whys' of my decision. There seems to be a lot of misunderstanding on why so many people are choosing to leave Facebook at this time. First, I want to clarify: I have been planning this for a while. I have taken breaks from Facebook throughout the years. I always come back because of my friends and family – I love the pictures and memes, and historically there has been a lot of uplifting posts from which I have benefited. However, a few months ago I knew I need to start planning my exit strategy. I downloaded my Facebook information and then started debated when to leave and if I wanted to leave all my friends in Facebook land. For me, it is more than just the current climate of Facebook, but that is where I want to start.   I see friends asking why people are leaving, attacking people for leaving, and ridiculing people

There will always be times that we, in our human flesh, will disappoint just as there will always be times we will be disappointed by others. There is always going to come a time when you don’t necessarily see eye-to-eye with even your best of friends.  However, in true friendship you look beyond those disagreements and look to what is really important to your relationship - how important you are to each other.  I once thought I had my tribe in an organization, especially after I became a leader at its highest volunteer level and was welcomed into a small 'sisterhood' of like-minded women. But the way some of the women from what I considered my "tribe" have behaved and treated others, myself included, is inexcusable… they are only with you if you agree with them on all fronts.  You disagree with something, you are called names, lumped with others by stereotypes, or ridiculed.  You leave the organization, you leave the tribe.  This painful process can be, an

This year I got to take the summer off.  Now, my friends who know what all I did this summer would say that is a crazy, unfactual statement. I took my children strawberry picking and we made a dozen jars of strawberry jam. I went with my youngest to CentriKid (a children’s camp) in Alabama. I went with my older two on a Student Life Missions camp in North Carolina.  I spent a week in South Carolina visiting family (and a good friend). While in South Carolina I purchased a lot of peaches, which means I made lots of jam and some canned peaches. I took children to various birthday parties. I spent time with my children and my chickens - and a little time running from a bossy rooster. I started our homeschool back up and I went to an out of town funeral.  Physically, my summer was very busy, mostly good, and exhausting. But before you say it, no, I am not lying about taking the summer off. Compared to my summer, I did not physically do very much this past spring, but I had a very bu

Like most people I know, I grieve over the state of our nation, over the divide between our people, and over the lives recently taken; and I am outraged by the actions of my fellow citizens. I am mad that we as a country are not yet respecting each other as equals. I am angered by people blocking highways and interstates, keeping ambulances from quickly rendering aid, from employees getting to work, and from moms and dads returning home to their families. I am furious that people are using recent events as an excuse to attack others. Yet at the same time I am heartbroken for all the people affected by these issues.  I am sad so many do not respect life - their own or the lives of others. I am mournful over those who souls have not found true peace. All lives matter. No one is better than anyone else. We all are created equal, we all are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights. We are all equal in God's eyes. We are all broken; we have all done wrong. In our co

A few months ago we added chickens to our backyard.   Yes, we already had one, but she is more like a member of the family… I joke that she needed pets. Molly Boy We had one chicken that was ‘unsexed’ and knew we had a 50/50 shot of a hen, which is what we wanted.   However, as Big Red started showing signs that he was indeed a young rooster, our little Molly started to crow (he is now known as Molly Boy). When I am already awake and going about my day, I don’t mind hearing the roosters crowing.   In fact, I find it endearing.   I even enjoy hearing their little ‘crow-offs’ in the middle of the day.   However, roosters do like to crow at (or just before) the break of dawn.   And when I am sleeping, I do not like to hear a rooster crowing. That once sweet enjoyable sound grates on my nerves.   The roosters are doing the same thing they always do, but at that moment I do not want to hear it… I do not want to be awakened. The other day I when I was listening to the roost