Up To The Surface

How New Year’s has become my second Christmas... But not how you’re probably thinking. No, it is not a second major day of gifting and eating turkey with cranberry. In fact, while Christmas Day is one filled with the receiving of trinkets, eating a large amount (including sweets) and sitting around in front of the TV with family... New Year’s for me is almost completely the opposite. For me, the first day of the New Year is about launching into a new trend Of health and discipline. That is not unique; many people take January 1 st as their official day To start going to the gym, go on a diet or at the very least Clean the house after all of the holiday craziness. For me, it’s more than that. It’s also about vision. My faith plays a huge role in it. And planning goes into it, Almost as much as what goes into Christmas shopping, decorating and wrapping. Ever since 2017, January 2 nd has marked the first of 21 days Of a specia...

The mental health day, Part 2 As I was saying earlier, God was using an inconvenient situation to teach me something. Through the baby’s “sickness” I was given an opportunity To pause from my normal routine And take a day for both of us to slow down. And for me to really think. But why was I so eager to think about the future Specifically, about the permanent home I don’t have yet But can still daydream about? Up until now, I haven’t really allowed myself To think about that at all. Sure, I do a good bit of complaining that I’d like A bigger place to live than the two bedroom, one bathroom Condo that I rent now But I haven’t poured much energy into conjuring up This other bigger, better, more permanent living space In all of its glory In my mind’s eye. So why did I start this past week on REALLY imagining this thing? Because of a guest-speaker who came to church In January 2018. You read that correctly. I ...

The Mental Health Day Part 1 What happens when the baby develops some type of allergy Or maybe an intolerance to something That causes tummy troubles Which his daycare prohibits And he gets sent home.... for the rest of the week? First, you leave work early on a Wednesday And take him to the doctor. The doctor says they will run some tests But these things take time. So you go home with no resolve. The daycare said he can’t come back until they can prove It’s not contagious. You go home in tears. Because you don’t know how you’ll work out money And if they will let him come back Or if this is the beginning of a season of poor health... You get told by your boss to calm down And just take Thursday off to be with your son Because your husband has exams all day. You should be relieved to have a break But you go to bed in a turmoil of anxiety. ...And Thursday you wake up in the same turmoil Even though you got decent sleep...