Christ, Coffee, and Cornfields

 God definitely knew what He was doing when he blessed us with Baby 3 being born in October. It's given us the gift of a new baby throughout Advent and Christmas. It has really forced me to slow down during a time when everything around me is loud and busy.  Nowadays, Americans seem to think that women bounce back a few weeks after giving birth and are up to their normal speed of life shortly thereafter. For most women I know, myself included, that is not the case. Not only is my body still not back to pre-pregnancy caliber, I'm taking care of a young baby along with two other children. And it's the holiday season. I. Am. Tired.  To be fair, I have substantially more energy and movement potential than I did while pregnant. In that regard, I want to be able to do more. And I do. On the other hand, I'm in the throes of postpartum brain fog, so my ability to focus has been less than stellar. One point where I have been able to put focus on, however, is being still.  ...

This is a post I've been thinking about writing for literally years at this point, but haven't until now. Partly because I think about it at inopportune times, partly because I didn't feel like I had enough information for it, partly because I'm either busy or lazy, partly because truthfully I'm still not entirely sure what I think of this subject. But anyways, welcome back to the blog; it has been a while! One hill I'll always fight on is that there is to be ABSOLUTELY NO CHRISTMAS MUSIC BEFORE THANKSGIVING. Just. No.  Poor Thanksgiving is like the middle child of holidays, getting blown over in favor of Halloween and Christmas. I think it's incredibly important to give each season its due, and to do our best to enter into each season while it's here, but that's a topic for another day. On that note, though, I will admit that I really struggle with where Christmas/holiday music belongs in the celebration timeline. The more conservative Catholic in m...

 The truth doesn't discriminate. The truth is the truth, no matter if you disagree or don't like it. Right is right and wrong is wrong.  Truth is under attack, now more than ever. This is especially true in the Western World, particularly in America. There are some things that are true and always will be, no matter what anyone says or how anyone feels about it.  The Lord is in control, always. And every single one of us is going to answer to Him when we die. Jesus Christ is the One True King. Girls are girls and boys are boys. Sex belongs between one man and one woman in the covenant of marriage. Sex is meant primarily for procreation, but also serves as a bonding agent between the partakers of the act. Sin and evil are part of this world. Sinning is a choice, and we all sin. Thankfully, God always offers forgiveness for those who are truly repentant. Every human being is made in the image and likeness of God. Every single person is deserving of love and respect. ...

   The holiday season is here, which means that many of us will be attending family gatherings of some kind. With lots of people together under one roof, there will more than likely be differences of opinions, which is totally fine! The thing is, not everyone knows how to disagree well. I don't claim to be an expert in the area of debate, but there are some general rules of etiquette that everyone should probably be reminded of if you plan to discuss anything remotely controversial. Remember your relationship. At the end of the day, you're still family. Yeah, squabbles happen, but you can't escape family; they'll always be in your life. Keep it clean. A cardinal rule of debate is to keep personal jabs off the table. It's one thing to throw in a harmless joke or to tease someone, but if you want to have a productive conversation, leave hurtful comments out of it. To booze or not to booze? This is one where you really need to know yourself and your counterpart. If alc...

  This will probably offend some people...you have been warned.   The USA is the greatest country in the world; that is a fact, not an opinion. Obviously we haven't always done everything perfectly, but out of every country that is or was we are by far the best. We are incredibly blessed to live here, and Memorial Day is the solemn holiday where we remember that the freedom we enjoy comes at a price.    Many people don't realize that Memorial Day is technically reserved for remembering military service members who died while serving.  Current military members and military veterans each have their own day where they are honored (Armed Forces Day and Veteran's Day, respectively). Don't get me wrong, obviously those who serve and have served deserve our respect every day of the year. Memorial Day is different, though. In fact, it's my understanding that many of people who were/are in the military prefer to not be recognized today because they have personally experi...

   National Marriage Week is nearly over, and I haven't posted anything....oops. That's not to say I haven't thought about it, though. It's hard to sum up the great blessing that is marriage, but I'll give it a shot. Jordan and I have been married for over 3 years, and boy have we had quite the adventure already!   Unlike the national average, we got married pretty young. I was only 20, and he was 24. Chalk that up to growing up in the Midwest, having strong faith lives, or immediately knowing that marriage was our future together, but we did it. While being young and married has come with its own challenges, it was definitely the right decision for us. We're of the viewpoint that if you know you've found the one to share your life with, and you've discerned this, why wait? We wanted to start our adventure together as soon as we could. At the end of 2017, on a frigid December day (much like today, in fact), Jordan and I entered the Sacrament together and...

  This has been a tough week; I won't lie to you. One of our friends passed away completely unexpectedly, it was my uncle's 15 year death anniversary, and our country reached lows that no American could possibly be okay with. My Type A/mom/anxiety brain has been in overdrive, so naturally I haven't slept very well. You could say that 2021 is not off to a great start when you look at all that's been happening.     It's caused me to do some real soul searching, especially the death of our friend. We shouldn't have had 2 friends our age die in as many years, but here we are. My uncle should have just celebrated his 60th birthday with us, but he's gone, too. Honestly, I'm having a hard time even writing this because I just can't pin my thoughts down. They keep ping ponging around, jumping from subject to subject. There is a common theme, though, and it's one that has been coming up even before this week.     Focus on the right things.   ...

   Writing is going to be a bit more of a challenge now that I have a little person trying to type along with me! I'm going to try to be more consistent about getting new content out, though. Writing is an outlet for me, and I also view it as a type of ministry. It's a way for me to be up front and personal with y'all even if we're miles apart or we don't text each other on a regular basis.    My mom had me pick a word for 2021 on a word generator  the other day, and oddly enough the word was "write." It's been on my heart to start writing again, but with my new job and our first holiday with Mel, I kept forgetting or putting it off. It's really easy to just plop down with my phone or watch TV instead of doing something more beneficial, and it makes me feel crappy. I guess it's a sort of New Years' resolution. I don't love the idea of "new year, new me," though. I'm not changing just because the year is now 2021, and I...

   It's been a hot minute since I've written anything....becoming a parent warps your sense of time, I tell ya what! These past few months have been nothing short of magical, though. Being a mom is something I've wanted and prayed for for basically my entire life, and so far it has exceeded my expectations. It helps that our daughter is basically a perfect baby and Jordan is the best husband and dad ever, but still. I know that many women have a difficult time being new moms, and I do not take my experience for granted in the slightest. This is basically going to be a quick rundown of what I've gone through since I last wrote, so snuggle in and enjoy!   First of all, the last month or so of my pregnancy was very uncomfortable. My nausea/vomiting resurrected itself (I don't want Chinese food for a veeeerrrryyyy long time now) and I felt like an elephant. I also had constant Braxton Hicks, which was fine except I was basically psyching myself out every few days, think...

  I don't really know how to even open up a post like this. Frankly, it isn't something that should need to be written but here we are. I would say to blame all of the past couple days of crazy on severe cabin fever from Corona, but we have seen scenes like this before. A person with dark skin is killed by cops or a non dark skinned person and everyone loses their minds.   That is not to make light of the situation. George Floyd was killed in a violent manner by a cop. He should still be alive. I hope his soul rests in peace and that his family finds healing. But the fact that it immediately  became a political stunt to further the "cops are racist, and America is racist" dialogue is incredibly sickening, because it just so happens that he was black and the cop was white. I would even argue that it is disrespectful to Mr. Floyd and his family. It cheapens his death to a statistic, his life to the color of his skin. It's another headline that will go away soon,...

  That's something I never thought I'd be able to say. That I was pregnant during a worldwide pandemic. I'm 34 weeks along as I write this, and am ready to meet our daughter whenever she decides to make her appearance on the outside. Currently, she seems quite comfortable continuing to explore my uterus. Her favorite things to do are headbutt my cervix and kick box everywhere else. That's okay; it reminds me that I have a healthy and active baby. It's the safest place for her to be right now. My pregnancy overall has been pretty smooth, but COVID has created many emotional challenges that I was not expecting to deal with. Obviously, at the end of the day the only thing that matters is that Jordan and I have a healthy little girl. We know that. But the awe and wonder of the first pregnancy, preparing for a child that we are blessed to have even been able to conceive, definitely has been overshadowed by all of the social distancing and fear of the virus.   I was about...

  Lots of people are metaphorically running around like chickens with their heads cut off now that the whole social distancing thing is becoming so widespread and unavoidable. Frankly, I'm not too bothered by it because I didn't really go out much to begin with. But I know many of you have kids at home who normally aren't or your work has been called off or you may have been exposed so you're under quarantine. There is also the reality of American life being dominated by screens, and it will be quite easy to stay glued to them while we're all stuck at home. I'm writing this post to help break up the monotony, and hopefully assist you in making memories during this unique time. Make movies a treat. I know how easy it is to use a movie to quiet the kids or distract ourselves. But for now, movies will be a good bargaining tool for getting your kids to finish their school, and give them something to look forward to. Designate one or two nights per week as movie ni...

  Jordan and I ventured out with our little miracle into the snow this morning to see the movie "I Still Believe." There were all of 10 people in the theater so I'm not concerned about getting sick. For those who don't know, "I Still Believe" is a movie about Jeremy Camp and his first wife's love story, how he became so well known, and how God worked through it all. Jordan and I have always loved Jeremy Camp, so when I heard the movie was coming out we made plans to see it. We both enjoyed it, and of course I cried. I would have even if I wasn't pregnant. I would say that it may not be nearly as enjoyable to a person who doesn't care for Jeremy Camp, though. Then again, it may be more powerful; I don't know. Either way, I would recommend seeing it. The most striking undertone, in my opinion, was how well they portrayed them living out their marital vows. Jeremy truly laid his life down for his wife, Melissa. It was beautiful. Marriage in it...

 **This article is purely opinion, NOT medical advice. Please see the CDC website or contact your health care provider for any questions or concerns.**   With cases of the coronavirus, (COVID-19 for short) now in South Dakota, I figured I would write up a little something to help everyone survive the outbreak. While the COVID-19 situation is certainly serious, it isn't nearly what the media is making it out to be.    Social distancing may seem like overkill, but it is a very good idea. The whole goal is to slow the spread of the infection in order to keep our hospitals from hitting capacity.  "If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms: Fever over 100? Cough? Shortness of breath? [Sore throat?] Have you been to South Korea, Japan, China, Italy, or Iran, or been exposed to someone with COVID-19? Call your facility before entering. Do not visit family in a health care facility while sick."        - "Message for the General...

   So Kobe Bryant passed away yesterday, along with his daughter and the rest of the passengers on the helicopter that crashed. Understandably, everyone who hears about it is shaken up. He was only 41 years old and his daughter just 13. Very young to be dead. Please pray for them and their families. It definitely made me start thinking about my own mortality and that of my family.   I won't lie; I was never much of a fan of Kobe. Until yesterday, all I knew about him was that he was a really good baller and he cheated on his wife once. I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I judged the heck out of him for that. After his death hit the news, there were some articles that detailed his reversion to the Catholic faith and how he used his wealth and fame to help others. I was totally floored by that, and quite ashamed of myself. He clearly found the mercy of God and embraced it to the fullest. I went to Confession before Mass yesterday, so His mercy was very fresh in my life, a...

  Today is a very important day in US history. It is the anniversary of the US Supreme Court's biggest mistake. Today marks 47 years that our country has allowed abortion to be legal. Today, we remember the over 50 million babies that have lost their lives.   Today is a day that lives in infamy.   Why does that matter? Why be so passionate about something that restricts "a woman's right to choose?" Why mourn the lives of beings whom nobody ever even met? Why stand outside of a Planned Parenthood or the US Capitol building in the freezing cold to pray or silently hold a sign?   Because every life matters. That's why.   Abortion is the greatest evil of our time. To claim that amongst all of the other bad things we are surrounded by may seem like quite a jump, but it isn't. There is no other evil that so systemically destroys the most innocent of all God's creation the way abortion does. There is no other evil that lies and exploits the vulnerable the...

  One thing I actually want to change in 2020 is writing more frequently. I'm not really one for New Year's resolutions because if we're being technical, every day starts a new year depending on how you look at it. That's not really the point of this, though. To begin, I want to let you in on a little secret...I really struggle to keep my mind in check. Not super surprising given my mental health challenges and now my pregnancy hormones, but yeah my mind is a major challenge. Unfortunately, I think that's something many of you can relate to. You know something, but your mind makes you doubt yourself and it becomes a never ending battle. This is especially obvious when it comes to self image and betterment.   The goal of everyone, whether they know it or not, is to be the best version of themselves. This translates into becoming a saint and getting to Heaven with Jesus. When we get to the Big House, we are the most perfect version of ourselves. And the only humans ...

  Jordan and I just celebrated our 2 year wedding anniversary. In some ways it feels like we've been married forever because of all we have walked through together, and in other ways it feels like we've only been married a short while because it has just been so wonderful! We are finally expecting our first child, so that has been a big milestone this year. Jordan left the business of paid ministry, which has also been quite a change for both of us. It had been years where either of us was not in active church ministry, but that doesn't mean God is finished with us. Not even close.   Today has been one of those days where Jordan and I have been apart by choice. In that regard, I just mean it hasn't really been due to prior commitments like work or appointments. Things have just come up where we are not together. In a perfect world, we'd be able to do everything together. But we aren't in a perfect world, and that's okay. It has given me a lot of time to sl...

  Not gonna lie, my faith life has been pretty stagnant lately. It's probably due to a lot of things, but mostly I've just been lazy and not prioritizing correctly. Unsurprisingly, it feels like my life has been a huge crap show over the last month or so. It hasn't really, but I have felt totally out of control...almost as though I'm drowning and can't seem to get up for enough air. I've felt trapped.   There are so many ways to describe what Jesus has done for us and what being a Christian defines us as. These analogies and descriptions can be more impactful depending on the person hearing them and what is going on in their life. Lately, the idea of "rescue" and being "set free" have been speaking to me. The whole idea of capture and rescue and bondage and freedom have become somewhat romanticized in culture. For example, so often in shows, books, and movies, a woman may get kidnapped or trapped in some way and the man comes to her rescue ...

  Let's start with a true story:   Once upon a time, a young girl was told by her parents that she should start to pray for her future husband. They told her that if she was called to marriage, it was important that she start praying for him now because Satan hates marriage. And so, for many years the girl prayed. She prayed that her future husband would follow the Lord, that he would pursue holiness, and that their marriage would be strong and centered on God. During that time, she also started to write letters to him. She didn't know whether or not he even existed, but those letters were an act of faith that God had someone He was preparing for her. Through all of the schoolgirl crushes, loneliness, and failed relationships, she prayed.   And then, one day, he came along. She continued to pray all through their courtship. Now, though, she had a face to the man she'd had on her heart for so long. Soon, they were happily married.  The girl, now a woman, still...