So Many Feels, So Little Words
Every time I sit down to blog, I am at a loss. I have a lot of feels these days and can’t land on one to talk about. I have the happy feels because Beckett is stinkin hilarious these days, like tonight when he waited for upwards of 5 minutes inside a closed box on the front porch for the mailman to “ship him somewhere”. And happy feels that I have a 5 month old linebacker punkin who is made of steel and gummy smiles. And that this handsome fella is our gentle, sneaky-funny main man. Lots of joy. But I also have a serious case of the exhausted feels.…
Changing my Answer
This is a post I wrote recently for our church’s upcoming Renew Weekend, a weekend set aside to support organizations that fight injustice and hunger and loneliness. So why am I sharing it here? Because I love my church, I believe in Renew Weekend, and I want you to join the rebellion in your own city. And also because my child continues to amaze (and humble) me so I look for any and all opportunity to talk about him. My husband and I went to a benefit dinner last week for an organization fighting human trafficking. As I was getting ready, our almost-3-year-old boy came in the bathroom. “Where are…
In the spirit of authenticity…
I had a post written about being authentic/cutting the crap that is spiritual pleasantries and a whole host of other stuff I may get to at a later date. (Because, really, it’s a struggle…especially for Christians. Christian women are the worst. See Vine below for my thoughts on that matter.) Women’s Bible study voice requirement. I love women’s ministry but this makes me die a little inside. https://t.co/0P681yoCBL— Sarah Brooks (@sarahbrooks13) June 10, 2013 [Note: It’s not that Christian women aren’t authentic, because many, many are. It’s just when the voice comes out... I’m skeptical.] But let’s skip the dramatic reading and go to a fun exercise in authenticity everyone should do: Make…
On the past 3 months of crazy.
“Hey I saw you were speaking different places now…what is that about? Apparently I don’t even know what you do for a living.” Funny you should ask. I don’t either. For the past year or so, I’ve really been struggling with finding purpose. Being a mom (and a stay-at-home one, at that) is harder than I imagined in ways I didn’t anticipate. You go from people doting on your big ole baby belly, then on your newborn, then on your infant…aaaand then at some point that kinda wears off. Pretty soon you’re alone at Chick-fil-a with a screamy toddler who just spiked his water cup on the floor in protest,…
Parents: A Follow up Word on Instagram
This is an update to my previous post, Parents: A Word about Instagram. I originally shared this post with my friends over yonder at Patheos. They have a pretty cool site that you should check out. But, now that you’re here, feel free to stick around and see what parents and teens had to say about identity and Instagram. Um. Wow. I had NO idea the last post would hit such a nerve, but I’m so thankful some very important conversations have stemmed from it! Thank you for all of your feedback, comments, suggestions, and shares. It’s humbling, to say the least. A few things: One resounding comment I heard…
Parents: A Word about Instagram
To the parents of middle-schoolers on Instagram: There is so much information out there about internet safety and you should definitely read up on that, but that’s not what I want to talk about. Over the past several months, I’ve been noticing some interesting stuff on Instagram from your kids that I want to share with you.
Here’s the thing about church…
I read an article recently about the Top 10 Reasons our Kids Leave Church. As one of those “20-somethings raised in church”, I resonated with almost every word and have been struggling with a lot of these same issues in my own heart. I haven’t left the church like many of my peers, but I’ve had my doubts about it. I had a conversation a while back with a friend of mine (roughly my age) about how little biblical knowledge we have and how ashamed we feel. Not in a legalistic “I must know the Bible from cover to cover to earn God’s grace”, but in a “I can’t answer…
Seize the Day: Part Dos
2:47 AM. Shut off, brain. I would prefer we be sleeping. Yesterday afternoon was so much better for the Beck…his fever broke, he was playing, talking, smiling on occasion…it was such a glorious sight. He still feels pretty miserable from the ear infection/flu combo, but overall he’s getting so much better already. Plus, the fever is gone. Hallllleeeluujah!! You know, the events from Sunday were terrible, but they weren’t out of the ordinary, unfortunately. Kids get sick and when they do sometimes it gets a little dramatic. Still, I wasn’t quite done being haunted by the first time he had an ambulance spin…now Taylor and I both are a little…
Seize the Day.
I should probably be sleeping while the wee one naps, but let’s be honest…I can’t shut my brain off just yet. Yesterday was easily the most intense Sunday in Brooks’ family record books. At the same time, it was oddly peaceful. For me at least. I’ll explain. Remember when Beckett was 2 days old and he was transported via ambulance and admitted to Cook Children’s for 3 days? Yea, that. Saturday was guys’ day at home, so Taylor and my broham watched Beckett while I showered Candace and her soon-to-be-born baby, Gavyn in another city. When I got home that night, I could tell Beckett had a fever and was…
Drugs, Poverty, and Thankfulness
On Thanksgiving morning, my inlaws, Taylor, Beckett, and I all headed downtown to help out with a community outreach event put on by a local ministry. There was an abundance of food, clothing, haircuts, and nail painting. It was a day to give to the community – specifically the lower income and homeless families in the area. My favorite part of the day? The people putting on this shindig. They were men and women from Outcry in the Barrio, a recovery ministry and program for drug and alcohol addicts. Recovering drug addicts serving homeless families. Helping them pick out shoes. Helping them find the right size shirt for their daughters.…
