THE MOM JOURNEY

That vision drew us in and we put down our roots in the small, ragtag community. After several years of feeling lost, we found home. We loved the liturgy. We loved the prayers. We loved the unhurried lack of “production values” in each service. We loved the telling of the Big Story of the Gospel, the Big Context of scriptures.

THE MOM JOURNEY

discovering there IS life during diapers, toddlers, and teens and

after that too

LIAR, LIAR | THE MOM JOURNEY We made a regrettable choice at the beginning of the school year: we took in a boarder. With two boys out of the house, we had an empty bedroom. The young man in question, hereafter known as Pompou “THE ROADS ARE SQUIRRELLY…” “No, Mom,” Curly-head shook his head, “The roads are really squirrelly out there and I don’t want you driving on them. I’ll get myself to class.” And then there LUCY | THE MOM JOURNEY She was mischievous and I was tense. I was a very green camp counselor at a mission camp for First Nations kids when I met 9-year-old Lucy the first time. I wanted to be a good camp counselor and L PRETEND | THE MOM JOURNEY I got some interesting parenting advice from an old friend whose life-as-mom is somewhat paralleling my own. Her advice was, “Pretend.” Pretend that I’m SOMETIMES I FEEL OLD I feel old because I forget how old I am.. Most of my blog-reading these days is done on the recommendations by my 20-something kids. I read and LOVE blogs by young, restless, edgy, and incredibly thoughtful men and women who are exploring their faith in a purely post-modern landscape.

SHEEP AND WOLVES

Sometimes the bites from sheep hurt worse than the bites from wolves. Sometimes the sheep forget themselves and turn into wolves. Sometimes the sheep aren’t clear on the difference between sheep behavior and

wolf behavior.

WHY I WOULD BAKE THAT CAKE There are two explicit teachings of Jesus that shape my thinking on whether or not I would bake a wedding cake for a gay wedding. First, recall that Jesus was born into a world ruled by the Romans. The Jews were not free people. By law, any Roman soldier could require a non-Roman citizen to carry his burden for him for one mile. I CAN’T KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT “Why Jenni, are you expecting again?” “Yes, yes I am.” She beamed. “Phew! I’m so relieved you said yes. I’m always getting in trouble for asking that ques

THE MOM JOURNEY

That vision drew us in and we put down our roots in the small, ragtag community. After several years of feeling lost, we found home. We loved the liturgy. We loved the prayers. We loved the unhurried lack of “production values” in each service. We loved the telling of the Big Story of the Gospel, the Big Context of scriptures.

THE MOM JOURNEY

discovering there IS life during diapers, toddlers, and teens and

after that too

LIAR, LIAR | THE MOM JOURNEY We made a regrettable choice at the beginning of the school year: we took in a boarder. With two boys out of the house, we had an empty bedroom. The young man in question, hereafter known as Pompou “THE ROADS ARE SQUIRRELLY…” “No, Mom,” Curly-head shook his head, “The roads are really squirrelly out there and I don’t want you driving on them. I’ll get myself to class.” And then there LUCY | THE MOM JOURNEY She was mischievous and I was tense. I was a very green camp counselor at a mission camp for First Nations kids when I met 9-year-old Lucy the first time. I wanted to be a good camp counselor and L PRETEND | THE MOM JOURNEY I got some interesting parenting advice from an old friend whose life-as-mom is somewhat paralleling my own. Her advice was, “Pretend.” Pretend that I’m SOMETIMES I FEEL OLD I feel old because I forget how old I am.. Most of my blog-reading these days is done on the recommendations by my 20-something kids. I read and LOVE blogs by young, restless, edgy, and incredibly thoughtful men and women who are exploring their faith in a purely post-modern landscape.

SHEEP AND WOLVES

Sometimes the bites from sheep hurt worse than the bites from wolves. Sometimes the sheep forget themselves and turn into wolves. Sometimes the sheep aren’t clear on the difference between sheep behavior and

wolf behavior.

WHY I WOULD BAKE THAT CAKE There are two explicit teachings of Jesus that shape my thinking on whether or not I would bake a wedding cake for a gay wedding. First, recall that Jesus was born into a world ruled by the Romans. The Jews were not free people. By law, any Roman soldier could require a non-Roman citizen to carry his burden for him for one mile. I CAN’T KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT “Why Jenni, are you expecting again?” “Yes, yes I am.” She beamed. “Phew! I’m so relieved you said yes. I’m always getting in trouble for asking that ques SERVING AS A CAUTIONARY TALE I am a MOPS mentor. I started out thinking that I could be an example. Hooray, it’s possible to survive 4 babies in five years. Hooray, after the intensity of parenting preschoolers, it’s possible to emerge with at least 3 brain cells left.

BRIDAL SHOWERS

I’ve never been very girly when it comes to showers. I would be more than happy to miss every baby shower and bridal shower that comes around. Frankly, they bore me to

LISTENING TO LIES

I’m wondering these days, as I hear so many mommas groaning in our own homes, our own families, our own cities, have we unwittingly listened to lies? These troubles with our kids, the MY DIRTY SECRET: LIFE IS BETTER INSIDE MY COMPUTER I really hate to admit this but I’m finding that I like my kids better when they live inside my computer than when they live at my house. Different companion maids has been home all week and I’m really ready for him to head back to Haiti.. When he’s out

THE MOM JOURNEY

discovering there IS life during diapers, toddlers, and teens and

after that too

WALKING WISELY (AND PUT THE TOILET SEAT DOWN, FOR CRYING I want to share with you an aha moment. It wasn’t one of those ah­how­lovely­and­perfect moments. It was one that left me going OUCH, THAT’s going to leave a mark! JULY 10 – AMISH COUNTRY Wondergirl and I drove through Amish Country today. It was breathtakingly beautiful. We discussed what we know of the Amish. About 80% of what I know about the Amish, I know from Christian fiction writers like Beverly Lewis.

BIBLE STUDY ANXIETY

I suffered a terrible bout of social anxiety last week. I went to Bible study. We attend a very small church that majors in fellowship and body life and really doesn’t do much in the way of programs. I CAN’T KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT “Why Jenni, are you expecting again?” “Yes, yes I am.” She beamed. “Phew! I’m so relieved you said yes. I’m always getting in trouble for asking that ques WE ALMOST GOT SUCKERED IN TO THE AMERICAN DREAM We almost got suckered in to the American Dream by the furnace guy. Our old furnace has gone on to furnace glory (or perhaps furnace hell.hard to know with that one) and it’s time to buy a

THE MOM JOURNEY

That vision drew us in and we put down our roots in the small, ragtag community. After several years of feeling lost, we found home. We loved the liturgy. We loved the prayers. We loved the unhurried lack of “production values” in each service. We loved the telling of the Big Story of the Gospel, the Big Context of scriptures. ABOUT ME | THE MOM JOURNEY I’m 50 52 53 pushing 56 years old. In Mom-blog years, that’s roughly 3500 3640 3710 170,324 years old. Odds are pretty good that I’m more than halfway through my life. I want t

LISTENING TO LIES

I’m wondering these days, as I hear so many mommas groaning in our own homes, our own families, our own cities, have we unwittingly listened to lies? These troubles with our kids, the SERVING AS A CAUTIONARY TALE I am a MOPS mentor. I started out thinking that I could be an example. Hooray, it’s possible to survive 4 babies in five years. Hooray, after the intensity of parenting preschoolers, it’s possible to emerge with at least 3 brain cells left. JULY 10 – AMISH COUNTRY Wondergirl and I drove through Amish Country today. It was breathtakingly beautiful. We discussed what we know of the Amish. About 80% of what I know about the Amish, I know from Christian fiction writers like Beverly Lewis.

BROTHERS FIGHTING

“How do I stop my kids from fighting? What did YOU do?” The earnest young mom of toddlers waited for my answer. And of course I didn’t have one. I hate it when my kids fight. And SURROUNDED BY STUPID PEOPLE I do not want to be surrounded by stupid people when I die. I just spent a week playing hostess to and caring for an elderly relative, Sadie. Sadie doesn’t know Jesus and doesn’t want to

BIBLE STUDY ANXIETY

I suffered a terrible bout of social anxiety last week. I went to Bible study. We attend a very small church that majors in fellowship and body life and really doesn’t do much in the way of programs.

LIFE GOALS….HA

There is so much going on right now that my head is spinning. Ellen is in her final days and even hours. Every phone calls stops my heart for a minute as I anticipate hearing that she’s finally been set free from her disease-consumed body. WE ALMOST GOT SUCKERED IN TO THE AMERICAN DREAM We almost got suckered in to the American Dream by the furnace guy. Our old furnace has gone on to furnace glory (or perhaps furnace hell.hard to know with that one) and it’s time to buy a

THE MOM JOURNEY

That vision drew us in and we put down our roots in the small, ragtag community. After several years of feeling lost, we found home. We loved the liturgy. We loved the prayers. We loved the unhurried lack of “production values” in each service. We loved the telling of the Big Story of the Gospel, the Big Context of scriptures. ABOUT ME | THE MOM JOURNEY I’m 50 52 53 pushing 56 years old. In Mom-blog years, that’s roughly 3500 3640 3710 170,324 years old. Odds are pretty good that I’m more than halfway through my life. I want t

LISTENING TO LIES

I’m wondering these days, as I hear so many mommas groaning in our own homes, our own families, our own cities, have we unwittingly listened to lies? These troubles with our kids, the SERVING AS A CAUTIONARY TALE I am a MOPS mentor. I started out thinking that I could be an example. Hooray, it’s possible to survive 4 babies in five years. Hooray, after the intensity of parenting preschoolers, it’s possible to emerge with at least 3 brain cells left. JULY 10 – AMISH COUNTRY Wondergirl and I drove through Amish Country today. It was breathtakingly beautiful. We discussed what we know of the Amish. About 80% of what I know about the Amish, I know from Christian fiction writers like Beverly Lewis.

BROTHERS FIGHTING

“How do I stop my kids from fighting? What did YOU do?” The earnest young mom of toddlers waited for my answer. And of course I didn’t have one. I hate it when my kids fight. And SURROUNDED BY STUPID PEOPLE I do not want to be surrounded by stupid people when I die. I just spent a week playing hostess to and caring for an elderly relative, Sadie. Sadie doesn’t know Jesus and doesn’t want to

BIBLE STUDY ANXIETY

I suffered a terrible bout of social anxiety last week. I went to Bible study. We attend a very small church that majors in fellowship and body life and really doesn’t do much in the way of programs.

LIFE GOALS….HA

There is so much going on right now that my head is spinning. Ellen is in her final days and even hours. Every phone calls stops my heart for a minute as I anticipate hearing that she’s finally been set free from her disease-consumed body. WE ALMOST GOT SUCKERED IN TO THE AMERICAN DREAM We almost got suckered in to the American Dream by the furnace guy. Our old furnace has gone on to furnace glory (or perhaps furnace hell.hard to know with that one) and it’s time to buy a SERVING AS A CAUTIONARY TALE I am a MOPS mentor. I started out thinking that I could be an example. Hooray, it’s possible to survive 4 babies in five years. Hooray, after the intensity of parenting preschoolers, it’s possible to emerge with at least 3 brain cells left.

THE MOM JOURNEY

discovering there IS life during diapers, toddlers, and teens and

after that too

BROTHERS FIGHTING

“How do I stop my kids from fighting? What did YOU do?” The earnest young mom of toddlers waited for my answer. And of course I didn’t have one. I hate it when my kids fight. And “THE ROADS ARE SQUIRRELLY…” “No, Mom,” Curly-head shook his head, “The roads are really squirrelly out there and I don’t want you driving on them. I’ll get myself to class.” And then there SOMETIMES I FEEL OLD I feel old because I forget how old I am.. Most of my blog-reading these days is done on the recommendations by my 20-something kids. I read and LOVE blogs by young, restless, edgy, and incredibly thoughtful men and women who are exploring their faith in a purely post-modern landscape. SURROUNDED BY STUPID PEOPLE I do not want to be surrounded by stupid people when I die. I just spent a week playing hostess to and caring for an elderly relative, Sadie. Sadie doesn’t know Jesus and doesn’t want to SEEING GOD’S FAITHFULNESS TO OUR KIDS For better or for worse, we did a lot of “living by faith” when the kids were young. It wasn’t easy to live in that fragile place, but we saw a lot of miracles of God’s provision.

SHE WALKS IN BEAUTY

I was told that the job of the Mother of the Groom was to wear beige and shut up. So I bought a brilliant blue dress with silver sparklies on the tiers of floaty layers and I decided to get myself a eyelash mink extensions.I wore sparkly jewelry from yourdiamondteacher.com and DO CATS HAVE MORAL AGENCY? Eight months ago Different Drummer Boy brought home the tiniest, cutest little kitten. And our great big dogs were terrified of it for the first week. After that, she became part of their pack and I CAN’T KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT “Why Jenni, are you expecting again?” “Yes, yes I am.” She beamed. “Phew! I’m so relieved you said yes. I’m always getting in trouble for asking that ques You are using an insecure version of your web browser. Please update

your browser!

Using an outdated browser makes your computer unsafe. For a safer, faster, more enjoyable user experience, please update your browser today or try a newer browser. Update Your Browser | Try Something New

| Hide This Warning

* About me

The Mom Journey

discovering there IS life during diapers, toddlers, and teens and

after that too

� Older posts

I WAS BRAVE ONCE

Posted on November 7, 2016

by Jubilate

I was brave once,

a long time ago.

To be clear

it was a resentful,

foot-dragging sort of brave.

But still.

Brave.

And as a result

I can look back and see that I’ve had a truly

amazing life.

Categories: Uncategorized

| Comments Off

on I Was Brave Once

WALKING WISELY (AND PUT THE TOILET SEAT DOWN, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD) Posted on July 13, 2015

by Jubilate

I want to share with you an aha moment. It wasn’t one of those ah­how­lovely­and­perfect moments. It was one that left me going OUCH, THAT’s going to leave a mark! Read

more »

Categories: Uncategorized

| Comments Off

on Walking Wisely (and put the toilet seat down, for crying out loud) WHY I WOULD BAKE THAT CAKE Posted on April 13, 2015

by

Jubilate

Who would have thought that the terrifying prospect of baking a cake could cause such an uproar. Not I. The question that seems to haunt the interwebs these days is, can  baking a cake or arranging some flowers violate my conscience? I want my decision-making and thought processes to be based NOT on current evangelical blogposts or discussions I hear in my circles of Christian friends. Rather, I want to look at how scripture might speak to this. Obviously, there is no story of Jesus needing to decide whether or not He will bake a cake for a gay wedding, but I believe there ARE some stories that might shed light on this question. The question has become almost trite: what would Jesus do? More to the point, my question is what DID Jesus do. And what would He have ME do?

Read more »

Categories: Uncategorized

| Comments Off

on Why I would bake that cake

JET FUEL

Posted on June 27, 2014

by Jubilate

Sometimes I leak jet fuel on things.

like when I speak

or teach

or mentor

or write.

It’s probably just as well. I’ve been handed a moped, instructed to keep my speed below 20. Because that’s what women should do. And the jet fuel leaks

and leaks

and burns.

And the moped is burning out. Sometimes I look at the sky and the fighter jets

wheeling

against the blue.

Categories: Uncategorized

| Comments Off

on Jet Fuel

THE DEVOLUTION OF MY CHURCH Posted on June 25, 2014

by Jubilate

_IT’S NOT THAT I FEEL THAT I’M TOO GOOD TO BE A SECRETARY. WHAT BREAKS ME IS KNOWING THAT THE POWERS THAT BE IN MY CHURCH THINK THAT BEING A SECRETARY IS ALL I’M GOOD FOR._ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Years ago, we were captivated by the vision of the small Anglican church plant in our town: to establish ourselves deep in the rougher parts of our community and grow a presence there. We fell in love with the idea of growing relationships and doing life with whoever God parked next to us, from university students to struggling single moms to homeless guys who couldn’t remember their last real meal. That vision drew us in and we put down our roots in the small, ragtag community. After several years of feeling lost, we found home. We loved the liturgy. We loved the prayers. We loved the unhurried lack of “production values” in each service. We loved the telling of the Big Story of the Gospel, the Big Context of scriptures. We loved our meals together.  We loved that we weren’t part of the Evangelical Industrial Complex. We loved the freedom.

But. Read more »

Categories: Uncategorized

| Comments Off

on The Devolution of My Church

TWO YEARS AGO

Posted on February 17, 2013

by Jubilate

Two years ago today, I last spoke to my friend, Ellen. I had waited so long for an opportunity to tell the truth and two years ago today, that chance came. So I told the truth. I told her that dying isn’t the end, no matter what it feels like. It was the first time she allowed me to use the “D” word. It broke all the elaborate rules that she and her husband had set up around her cancer like a fence. I broke every rule. It was a risk; I might never be forgiven. I could live with that. My last words to her were, “I love you.” It took Ellen seven more weeks to die, but that February 17 evening was the last time she was able to talk to me on the phone. It was the last time I heard her voice. Categories: Uncategorized

| Comments Off

on Two Years Ago

� Older posts

*

ROADS I’VE BEEN WALKING Roads I’ve been walking Select Month November 2016 July 2015 April 2015 June 2014 February 2013 January 2013 July 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 November 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 February 2010 January

2010

*

FIND ME ON FACEBOOK

*

SEARCH ME

Custom Search

*

*

*

Subscribe by RSS

Subscribe by Email:

Delivered by FeedBurner

*

*

META

* Log in

* Entries RSS

* Comments RSS

* WordPress.org

* About me