Can we all just agree that Thanksgiving this year is a little ... odd?  From governors restricting the amount of family members allowed to meet under one roof, to virtual family dinners, to the cancellation of Thanksgiving week church conferences, to travel bans, to ... you get it.  Traditions are being reworked, plans are being held loosely, and most people are throwing up their Christmas decorations, ready to see this year end and a new (maybe more hopeful?) year begin. Amidst the...

Recently I have been taking an absurd amount of walks with my two daughters.  With a five-year-old and a two-year-old, these walks have become crucial for our quarantine entertainment.   I spend the majority of these walks in between the two of them.  My older daughter Ruby lags behind sniffing every flower, picking up every shiny rock, and making wishes on dandelions as she ever so slowly and painstakingly blows each piece of white fluff.   Two-year-old Selah, strapped...

My daughter fell recently and got a big scrape on her skin.  It was bleeding, and the skin was ripped and tender.  With tears streaming down her face she asked me how long it would take to get better.  I told her the pain should go away soon, but her skin would look different for a while as it healed.  The tears intensified as she said, “look different? But I love the skin I’m in!” Her sweet little comment reverberates differently in my ears today.  I just watched another video of a black...

Easter this year feels different.  So different.  I have sewed masks instead of ruffled dresses.  I have scheduled a crew of ten people to come to our physical church, instead of asking the entire choir to wake up extra early for a pre-service rehearsal.  Our family of four will probably eat leftovers for Easter dinner instead of a big meal with 20 family members because 1) social distancing and 2) there is SO MUCH COOKING in quarantine!?! My spirit has been buoyed by all...