I’m going to be giving away TWO 8 x 8 hardcover Shutterfly photo books! I have become a big fan of creating online photo books because I’ve all but given up on old skool paper & scissors scrapbooking, which is sad indeed. A couple years ago, I made a Shutterfly book of our 2010 summer. My olive branch, stuck out to my family to let them know I still care about documenting our precious time together though my scrapbook finishing... Read more
Every year, across the world 287,000 women die in pregnancy and childbirth. If that seems fairly high to you, it is. That’s one death every 2 minutes, 800 times a day across our globe. These unborn souls need traveling mercies if anyone has ever needed it. Alemi, on the right is 25. She lost her first two babies in the final trimester of her pregnancies. ::::Deep, sad sigh:::: She came to the Maternity Worldwide Health Clinic at 29 weeks with... Read more
There is beauty and brokenness in parenting. The heartache of possibilities held in tension with the fullness of joy is enough to make your heart explode like day old lasagna left too long in a splattered microwave….or something like that. It’s messy. Brokenness. I want to be a more engaged mother, a kinder mother, a more loving mother. All noble, all good. Here’s the thing, in my head, it sounds like this: “what kind of mother do you think you... Read more
netizen |ˈnetəzən| noun a user of the Internet, esp. a habitual or avid one. Are You Focusing On The Obstacle Or The Opportunity? by Michael Hyatt Perhaps if it had been us, we would have spent more time focusing on the problem—analyzing Goliath, digging deeper into the problem, and trying to understand the various options before us. Not David. Balancing Act at Kristin Tennant’s Halfway to Normal blog. …maybe balance is really all about the work of it—the back... Read more
I’ve got a giveaway for you, giveaway winners & two book reviews just in time for “Mistmas” as Rhysie likes to call the wonderful Advent season upon us. The first is a wonderful book sent to me by Frank Robinson, Jr. called Letters to a Mixed Race Son. The book is just as it sounds: a group of wonderful letters written over the years to Frank’s biracial children. I found it to be lovely & inspiring. And of course, it... Read more
Almost by accident, we had a super chill Thanksgiving. We didn’t go anywhere and no one came to our house. We didn’t eat out (stressful with a 3 yr. old in tow) and I cooked once over the 4 day weekend. We watched the Lions game. I fell asleep at halftime & woke up in time to watch the Lions bite it in overtime. Boo. Dave took the boys to the park and I gladly cleaned up dishes, and caught... Read more
I read The Ditchdigger’s Daughters in 11th grade when I had absolutely no aspirations for college or writing or sports or anything. My world was just that small that I had no clue what it had to offer me or what I could possibly offer it. But in the pages of that book I found 5 black female siblings who overcame poverty and went on to be M.D.’s. I saw myself in them and realized I didn’t have to fit into... Read more
I’ve been on a trauma recovery journey I’ve been trying to articulate to myself and the Lord for the last five months. It’s one I’m going to attempt to articulate -in part- to you. This is what I know so far. Everybody loves a good redemption story right? I heard a fascinating TEDx talk by Jane McGonigal. When I began to hear Jane talking about some of the qualities that describe people who have pushed past Post Traumatic Stress Disorder to... Read more
Did you know that despite being in a recession, holiday spending is on the rise? Over a third of Americans will spend almost $800 this season on gifts, and the average American shopper will spend $107 on themselves. (statistics courtesy of Mashable) We even have a NAME for the day we go bat-crap crazy on our Visa’s: Black Friday. And because one day wasn’t enough we go for another round of damage online during Cyber Monday. Yet, Americans are generous people.... Read more
I am reading -and loving- R. York Moore’s newest book, Making All Things New: God’s Dream For Global Justice. Because York is my current mentor, married to one of my very bestest friends, my former InterVarsity staff worker & the one who led me to Christ and discipled me, it seemed fitting to mention that outright. Also, he gave me an advanced copy to read and affiliate links are included. Full disclosure is really sort of a thing nowadays, eh? Okay, now... Read more
Everyday Black Matters
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