Minot Monday is made possible through a partnership with BeLOCAL Minot. Today I’m sharing the five Minot basics for newcomers I share with all the newbies I meet. For more tips, lists and information on living like a local be sure to follow BeLOCAL.
Five Minot Basics I Tell Everyone
Happy Minot Monday, everyone! I’ve had this conversation loads of times. Over coffee, cookies, or a walk in the park, I talk to someone new in town. In my best effort to help them settle in (without overwhelming them with my love of Minot) I rattle off these five basics. These are the five starting points I give everyone who asks me how to start settling in to life in Minot.
Get a Library Card
The Minot Public Library is a gem. It’s not just about borrowing books, it’s about community. Sure, go borrow books—but also take part in book clubs, children’s story time, and board game get togethers. Borrow tools if you’re new and need to work on your house. Borrow games and play them with your neighbors. Use the giant printer to create art for your walls.
I’ve met friends in town simply through attending library programs. I cannot say enough good things. If you’re new in town—get a library card.
Eat at Elevation
There are lots of great places to eat in Minot. However, I always tell new-in-towners to eat at Elevation. It’s just far enough out of town to feel away, just fancy enough to feel special and the scenery is pretty enough to take your mind off being in Minot. (Because, sometimes you need to feel like you are someplace besides a small town in northern North Dakota.)
Client error: `GET https://graph.facebook.com/v10.0/instagram_oembed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fp%2FCQOj6Lgsvpi%2F&access_token=EAAG5hzKyxakBAHYJCNXlyvTU42tR3F7MkzciW0rJC2SDx3GIKvqX3f1i5RTZBfSMNaAYcPMZBZABpvGiOfwOyaKyCBlZAPp496cgloa5JtqnQ7qjgnhZBmm1Am9DiuJK6tfa7IH73mdMvREMj80RhTX1PxGlNEHhV4BaiKqeHwgZDZD` resulted in a `400 Bad Request` response:
{"error":{"message":"The requested resource does not exist","type":"OAuthException","code":24,"error_subcode":2207045,"i (truncated…)
Utilize the Parks Department
I always tell newcomers to go outside when they can. There will be chunks of time in the year that being outside is not safe. Our parks department works so hard and comes up with great ideas year round.
In cool weather, watch for events like the pumpkin walk, movies at Maysa Arena or use the Fun Zone (which is a complete jewel and free!) Follow the Parks Dept for updates and fun ideas.
I cannot stress this enough: Minot has a lot going on. Like, way more than most other places we’ve called home. Also, activities are inexpensive, when compared to bigger cities or other places we’ve lived. I recommend scanning the Minot events calendar once a week to keep a pulse on what’s coming up. Also follow BeLocal and Visit Minot for announcements. This will help you dive into fun downtown and around town.
Find a Cause
Minot is a unique place where you have the capacity to do a lot of good. If you see something that can be improved, the community is very receptive to new ideas for making this a more enjoyable place to live. Find a cause to get behind. Once you are invested, you’ll start to really feel ownership—like this is your town…which, of course, it is.
One More Thing…I Need a Favor
Recently, I started penning sample chapters for a memoir detailing my experience with mental health crisis as a Christian and military spouse. YOUR help will get the book published. The easiest way is click “FOLLOW” on Instagram or sign up for my monthly newsletter via email (below). Your support demonstrates interest in this story and these words of hope.
Above all, thank you for being here and for your support. It’s an honor to share my testimony with you and I’m excited to see the great things God does through your journey.
Let’s talk about depression, anxiety and Christians for a sec. In this quick read, I’ll give you 8 powerful truths I’ve learned (the hard way) for depressed Christians
Memories of struggling against anxiety, overwhelming sadness, fear and self loathing reach back as far as I can remember. I was raised in a loving, church-going family. My parents gave me a wonderful life. I understood the plan of Salvation at 7 and believed Jesus was my Savior. At 12 I gave my heart to Christ with a more mature understanding of what following Him meant.
After that, I fell more deeply in love with Jesus every day and through every season. But still, the fear and sadness crippled me sometimes. Still, I blamed myself for things that went wrong, things that cause me hurt, things that thwarted my ambitions, and all the other things that were out of my control. As a result, my shoulders ached from carrying the burden of my own emotions—and taking on too much responsibility for the emotions of others.
I prayed, I went to church, I professed Jesus with my heart and my lips. Still, the anxiety came and went. Still, depression cyclically set up camp in my heart. Things weren’t right.
Why Are So Many Christians Anxious and Depressed?
In January 2015 I was in the heart of a mental health crisis. Panic set in most nights. Racing, intrusive thoughts pushed their way into my mind, preventing the rest I needed so badly. One of the scariest thoughts that came to mind over and over is this one:
“You fail at everything. Even Salvation. If you’d done Salvation right, this wouldn’t be happening.”
Friend, I can’t tell you why I struggled so deeply. I can’t give you an easy fix. Shortly after those panicky nights in 2015 full healing began to take place. I’ve spent the years since retraining my brain to think differently, to sort out lies and live outside of the anxiety/depression cycle. There’s hope, there’s healing. However, I’ve spent time wondering “why me?” and “why do so many Christians experience anxiety and depression?”
I don’t have the answer now, and I probably never will. But here are some hard-won truths I can share with you.
Truths About Depression, For Christians
Experiencing depression and anxiety as a Christian doesn’t mean your faith is broken. It doesn’t mean you aren’t faithful. It doesn’t mean your salvation isn’t intact. It doesn’t mean you prayed wrong. It doesn’t mean you’ve done Christianity wrong. It doesn’t mean God is punishing you. It doesn’t mean God “designed” or “destined” you for sadness. It doesn’t mean God isn’t good.
It means we have a very bad enemy who aims to thwart the Kingdom of Christ by inflicting isolation and sadness upon those who bear witness to His relational nature and unstoppable joy.
Do your best to get to the root of what is causing your fear and sadness. Talk to a counselor. Uproot lies. Get a clear understanding of God’s character.
We’ll never have all the answers, but we will always have all the Hope. Never forget that the God of the Bible, is at His core, a God of Hope.
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Recently, I started penning sample chapters for a memoir detailing my experience with mental health crisis as a Christian and military spouse. YOUR help will get the book published. Your support demonstrates interest in this story and these words of hope.
Please take a moment to join me on Instagram, Facebook and via email (sign up below). Above all, thank you for being here and for your support. It’s an honor to share my testimony with you and excited to see the great things God does through your journey.
In January, Derek came home with the unexpected news that he’d been assigned to an upcoming deployment. For me, momentum had been building steadily with my writing goals and I’d finally said, “Yes,” to God’s prompting to start penning a long-form memoir about my experience with mental health crisis. In that moment in the kitchen, after the boys were in bed and my hand was on the blender, preparing to mix my nightly protein shake, everything came to a halt.
Now instead of feeling creative and ready to move forward toward the things I believed God had clearly set in front of me—I was frozen. As if I was unknowingly playing freeze tag, this moment was my tag, causing me to stop midstride.
Have you ever had a moment like that?
My entire focus shifted. We planned for months apart. Seven, to be exact. Uneasiness and uncertainty welled up inside every time I thought about doing life without my husband for “most of a year.”
Writing is always a welcome outlet for me, but when military assignments, especially deployments, are in the picture, the best policy is silence. Unable to fully disclose was what happening in our home and in my heart, I wrote vaguely about anxiety and emotions. The headspace once open for writing, book proposals, and dreaming up creative endeavors was crowded out with dreaming up reasonable consequences for a defiant three year old and ways to convince an infant to sleep all night.
Hemmed in by daily responsibility, fatigue and operational security measures, I felt claustrophobic. Stuck. Lodged between the need for silence and the desire to share my heart transparently.
Finding Freedom Within Hard Circumstances
I had an image of a dog pulling on a taut tether in my mind. I was frustrated to be restrained in my pursuits. However, as in all difficult seasons, growth happened and peace grew once I stopped straining against the circumstances. Like the frustrated dog, when I stopped snapping my jaws at things beyond my leash, my throat relaxed and I could breathe again.
I wasn’t off the tether, I wasn’t unstuck—but I was able to thrive in the space I was given at the time. I was able to see the unique beauty and opportunity within these circumstances. God is a kind, responsiblemaster. The tether He gives us is always long enough for the space we’re in at the time.
I loosened my grip on the things I thought I’d accomplish in these months and allowed myself to be happy amid the daily grind of wiping faces and preparing PB&Js. It wasn’t a perfect practice. Many days I was overwhelmed and cranky because I remembered that I was stuck in some respects. But mostly, we were okay.
Moving Forward Again
Now, I’m coming down from a season of heightened awareness. The kind that comes from being vigilant for two. My mind is shaking loose. I’m becoming unstuck, dislodged. As a person recently stuck, here’s my advice:
Circumstances can leave you stuck, really stuck, but circumstances are faithful to change and you’ll move forward again. When you are stuck in one way, growth will be forced in another way. Find a way to weather the circumstances you’re in, even enjoy them. Eventually, the growth that stalled will move forward again.
Why the Deployment Ended Early and Why I Would Have Been Okay, Even if it Didn’t.
PS—for anyone wondering how seven months apart turned into four, it went something like this. Shortly after Derek left, President Biden announced all troops would be out of Afghanistan by September 11. That would reduce our time apart to six months.
One day in early June Derek mentioned the possibility of an even earlier return. Then, in late June, just days before I would travel to Indiana with the boys he told me his homecoming was imminent. We’d be back together after only four months apart. I was surprised that I wasn’t overwhelmed with giddy relief. Instead, I felt excitement, but also a deep confidence that we’d be okay if he really didn’t return for a few more months. This was puzzling at first, but ultimately a sign of growth, hard fought, well earned.
More Positivity and Encouragment
Let’s get to know each other. Join me on Instagram and Facebook where we can connect more deeply. I’d love to hear from you. Don’t forget to sign up for emails, so you can access freebies and never miss a post.
Minot Monday is made possible through a partnership with BeLOCAL Minot. Today I’m exploring ten great coffee and breakfast places in Minot. For more tips, lists and information on living like a local be sure to follow BeLOCAL.
Happy Minot Monday, everyone! If you follow me over on Instagram, you may know that my mom is in town for an extended visit: eight weeks! While she’s in town, we’ve instated what we’re referring to as “Bakery Day.” Each Saturday, we’re visiting a different bakery, coffee shop, or breakfast joint in town. Yes, I know they aren’t all “bakeries,” but to call it something else was just wasn’t as catchy.
Today I’ll try to hit a couple flies with a single swat, so to speak. Some of my top questions about life in Minot include: where are good places to get breakfast/coffee, things to do, what to do with visitors. This list hits all of those.
The following ten great coffee and breakfast places in Minot are not the only places. For us, criteria for a Bakery Day stop include:
Must have coffee–not necessarily espresso drinks
There must be something for Gideon (3 YO) will eat/drink too
Must have room enough for me to bring my littles along
These are the places on the “tour” I’m taking my mom on. (In no particular order.) I hope they’ll inspire you to get out, try a new place and enjoy Minot this summer.
PSB is a great stop any time, and especially great if you’ve got a visitor in town. It’s location makes it easy to pop over to Main Street and show off our quaint downtown to your family and friends. They’ve got good space, so you can find a table and sit. PSB is especially kid friendly, because they’ve got a kids’ corner set up with a play garden, farmers’ market and coffee shop.
The coffee is good, but as the name implies, the bread is even better. I’ve never gone wrong with a their toasts or cinnamon rolls.
Minot’s Daily Bread has a tricky parking lot, but it’s always worth it. I love the crepes (especially the Midwestern) and the scones. The coffee is also top notch. On weekdays it’s easy to find a seat and there is usually space for my crew at a table by the windows. On weekends, try to get there before 10 to avoid a rush.
Ebeneezer’s is nearly always overlooked as a place for breakfast and coffee. I’ll let you in on a secret though, they’ve got my favorite pancakes in town. If you’re into pancakes, this is the place to grab a quick and cheap breakfast. It’s family friendly and because the whole breakfast thing is a bit of a secret, mornings are usually pretty quiet.
Bearscat is Minot’s only true donut shop. The donuts are delightful (I’m particularly fond of their old fashioned) and there are lots to choose from, even if you aren’t an early riser. The coffee is pretty standard (drip coffee and espresso style drinks from a machine), but it goes down smooth next to a sweet donut.
Indoor seating has been limited during COVID, but in regular times there are a few small tables inside. It’s not the most spacious place in town, but still worth it for the donuts.
This one is new, even to me. Blissful Bee is inside Green Thumb Greenhouse and is open for its first season starting this spring. There isn’t ample seating, but you don’t need to sit to drink coffee or a smoothie. I’m excited to try this one and wander around the gorgeous greenhouse.
You know I love Schatz. If you’re doing a breakfast tour, its a must-stop for me. The coffee is typical diner brew–but the breakfast menu is over the top. I’m a huge fan of the hash brown combo. There usually isn’t a wait for tables, but weekends are busy–especially after church on Sunday.
The Foundry Coffee Co is one of my favorite places to grab coffee and sit for a quiet chat. I love their coffee, I love the staff, and I especially love the quiet, open space. It’s easy to bring the littles–there is even enough room for the stroller. While the Foundry is only open twice a month on weekends, the coffee shop is open daily.
Elevation is my favorite restaurant in Minot. While they don’t do brunch daily, it’s completely worth stopping in for brunch on the weekend (especially for a special occasion like Mother’s Day.) The caramel roll is delightful–but it’s huge so be prepared to split it!
I love buying ground coffee for my own home from Bean and Bagel. I love their flavored roasts that much. As far as drip coffee goes, this is my favorite in town. And obviously the bagels are great too.
Dining in at Bean and Bagel is especially appealing to me because their “back room” has open, living room style seating which is perfect for a stroller and a little one who has trouble sitting at a table for extended lengths of time.
Charlie’s will give you all the small town diner feels. The staff is so nice, the food is so good. You’ll never be sorry with anything off the breakfast menu. It’s a little tight and it can be crowded (for good reason), but if you’re looking for a good breakfast Charlie’s won’t steer you wrong.
If you are doing a bakery tour, you’d be remiss not to stop to Cookies For You for a frosted sugar cookie and a cup of coffee. They’ve got a small breakfast menu and a variety of drinks–but who says cookies for breakfast isn’t a good idea?
I’ve never been there when it’s packed with folks dining in, so you can usually find a good seat.
Minot Monday is made possible through a partnership with BeLOCAL Minot. BeLOCAL is a guide to finding your groove and living like a local in our community. Check out the publication here, and be sure to follow them on Instagram.
It’s no secret that Minot has a negative reputation, especially in the military community. I hear jokes all the time, I see articles ranking Minot among the “worst assignments” in the Air Force. Odd looks when I tell others we love it here and it’s one of our favorite assignments are regular for me.
Let others spout their nonsense and negativity. I’ll speak truth to you. You can trust me not to sugarcoat the winter weather or the ticks. No location can be completely perfect, right? Yet, all that aside–I love life in Minot. And I’ll never stop declaring that. We like it so much we asked to come back. Today I’m sharing five reasons to love life in Minot.
1. Everything is Close
At the top of my reasons to love life in Minot is that, in town everything is nearby. I never find myself making a choice between activities due to commute time. I’m rarely late, even with two little boys in tow. We can leave the house “late” and still arrive nearly on time to nearly any place in town.
Shopping? Ten minute drive. Park? 10 minute walk. Friends? 5-10 minutes by foot or car. Library? Five minute drive. Hardware store? 15 minute drive. Zoo? Ten minute drive. Church? Five minute drive.
After living in Minot for years, I’ve been completely spoiled by the convenience.
2. There’s A Lot Going On
I’ll be the first to admit that Minot is not a tourist destination. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot happening. Of all the places we’ve lived, Minot consistently has the most happening. There’s always something to do or some event we’re interested in attending–you just need to be proactive about looking into what’s happening.
The city of Minot tries incredibly hard to provide a high quality of life for residents. New events and new ideas are constantly welcomed, which leads to a community that almost always has something fun going on.
Keep tabs on what’s going on by watching the calendar of events at
Speaking of community happenings, another one of my reasons to love life in Minot is that events are so affordable. Minot offers lots of free events year round (like the fun zone for kids, community concerts, arts in the park, Christmas in the park, weekly story times, and loads of events hosted by the parks department.) Events that aren’t free are (in my opinion) shockingly affordable.
We’ve lived in many different cities across America, and enjoying community events here is easier than anywhere else because most of them require such a low cost.
Rarely am I forced to choose between two events I’d really like to attend because of cost. Should we go to the zoo or the pool this week? The cost is low enough we can do both. Eyeing date night at summer theater, but also want to take the kids to the a zoo class? We can do both.
4. Minot is the Perfect Place to Try Something New
All the reasons I’ve listed above play into this reason: Minot is the perfect place to try something new. Things are close, there’s lots going on, things are affordable–so learn something new or try something you’ve never heard of.
When we moved to Minot the first time, I was amazed at how accessible is was to try new things. Since living here I’ve taken up square dancing, playing the accordion and curling; I’ve taken classes in glass blowing and fusing, wheel thrown pottery and a variety of other smaller crafts. I’ve got my eye on learning the art of rosemaling and furthering my skill on the pottery wheel (both things I’ll be able to do in the coming year.)
I’ve taken Gideon (now three years old) to brass band concerts, plays, recitals, zoo classes, a hockey game, skating performance, music class, a you pick garden and countless story times. This weekend he’ll go to his first powwow, this summer he’ll participate in tee ball for the first time. If there’s something he is interested in or asked about chances are I can find a way to introduce him to it here in Minot (and most likely, it won’t break our bank.)
5. The Community is Unique
I always tell newcomers to Minot, “Anything can happen here.” This really is a unique place. If you are proactive about enjoying what the community has to offer, you’ll find this to be a magical place. The people are quirky and nice and eager to see others invested and thriving here. Small businesses root for each other and collaborate. Residents are happy to share their experience, skill and resources.
Of all the things we love about Minot, this is the thing I love most, but also the hardest to describe. It’s an intangible quality of knowing someone nearly everywhere you go–or being one acquaintance away from basically anyone in town. It’s that Hallmark-movie-meets-small-town-sitcom feeling I get when I’m at a pancake breakfast or walking Main Street at Christmastime.
It’s hard to explain, but you’ll have to take my word for it. If you give Minot a chance, you’ll love it here.
Happy Minot Monday! Minot’s hallmark subzero temps are here at last. So today I’m offering 10 tips for living in extreme cold. Minot Monday is made possible through a partnership with BeLOCAL Minot. BeLOCAL is a guide to thriving in our town. Read the publication and follow them on socials for tips, tricks and events happening in Minot.
If you are new to Minot–or reading this because you are planning a move to Practically Canada in the near future–here are my two cents about living in extreme cold.
First of all–at a certain point, cold is cold. I honestly can’t tell a big difference between a 10˚ day and a -10˚ day. It’s cold. You’re not going to be hanging around outside for long periods. Cold is cold. Don’t get stressed about the number on the thermometer.
Second, I think there’s something magically refreshing about being exposed to extremely cold air. It’s a zip you’ll only understand once you’ve felt an arctic chill on your cheeks. If you can allow yourself to enjoy it (think small, like a finely made espresso in a tiny cup), living in extreme cold can bring you clarity, wake you up, stop a toddler tantrum in its tracks…Just remember, treat the cold like an espresso–tiny and powerful. Don’t loiter. That’s dangerous.
Hopefully that gives you a little encouragement. But if you still want more, here are 10 simple things I do when the extreme cold temps hit our region.
1. Shut Some Vents
It may seem counterintuitive, but this is one of my favorite cold-weather hacks for indoor comfort. When the temps outside drop, help your furnace focus on heating the areas of your home you use most by closing some supply vents. Doing so will force warm air into the rooms you’re using. For example, close the vents in the guest room and close the door. That heat will be forced into other rooms and keep the house warmer.
For us, we always close a few vents on the first floor at night, to force the extra heat upstairs into our bedrooms while we sleep.
2. Change Your Furnace Filter
Help your furnace work effectively by giving it a fresh filter. Even if it’s now quite due for a swap, this will help with heating.
3. Turn on Your Circulating Fan
If your furnace/thermostat has a “fan on” option, turn it on. The circulating fan will keep air moving in the house and help stabilize the temperature–instead of letting the air completely cool between times that the furnace is running. Doing so will make a difference, and it uses little energy.
4. Scoot the Beds
If your bed (or your kids’ beds) are against an exterior wall, consider scooting it away from the wall. If you’ve got great insulation you can skip this–but staying away from walls and windows will keep you more comfortable while you sleep.
5. Moisturize
During extremely cold days remember to moisturize. Run humidifiers if you’ve got them. Be intentional about putting lotion on your hands (my favorite is Eucerin.) Put on lip balm before you head outside. If your littles have sensitive skin, put vaseline on their cheeks to prevent them from getting chapped.
6. Remember Your Jewelry
Extreme cold can hurt and crack soft stones (like opals). If you regularly wear one, give it an oiling (rub it with olive oil) and put it away until spring.
You’ll also be lotioning more often, so I like to limit the rings I wear so they don’t get gunked up.
7. Plan Extra Time to Get Out of the House
Getting anywhere takes longer when the air outside is extremely cold. You can’t cut corners on getting coats and winter gear on–so you’ll need more time than usual. Add padding to your schedule.
And speaking of things that you’ll need to do upon leaving…
8. Cover Exposed Skin
When heading outside, cover as much skin as possible. The cold can be biting. Don’t leave without a hat over your ears and gloves on your hands. (Check out my ultimate winter gear guide for tips on purchasing cold weather clothes and gear.) I don’t wear a scarf, except on the coldest days–the wind on your neck can be brutal.
9. Let the Car Warm Up
Your car may not need to actually “get warm” to be driveable, but during subzero days you’ll want to let it warm up for your own comfort. This is something I typically skip…until the temp drops below zero.
And speaking of the car…
10. Help Your Car Start
Park your car a garage if you can. Extremely cold temps can cause your starter to freeze or malfunction. Keep jumper cables handy in case you can’t get it going.
For more positivity and intentional living…
I love teaching others to flip the narrative on negative thinking (including living in Minot) and see God’s goodness in all circumstances. I’d love to have you hang out with me on Instagram and Facebook so we can get to know each other better!
Let’s talk about feeling anxiety again after overcoming anxiety.
We got some hard news last week.
In fact it’s the kind of news that is “triggering” for me. Five years ago it would have plunged me into a full panic attack followed by inability to eat, anger, and a dark depression that froze me from carrying out basic daily tasks.
Although I now think of myself as “healed from anxiety and depression,” there is still a corner of my mind that is fearful it will return. Sometimes I’m afraid things will fall completely apart again. And if it does, how will I ever recover?
If you’ve ever dealt with ongoing depression or anxiety you may relate. When I lived with chronic cycles of anxiety and depression I didn’t know when the next lapse would come. When would the news arrive that would plunge me underwater? How long would it last? Would I survive? Would my marriage survive? How many things would fall apart in the meantime?
So, when the news came and met me in my kitchen while I was mid-blend on my nightly smoothie—I felt some fear. I felt an icy cold flash shutter down my body. I felt my heartrate pick up. My mind ran wild with a million thoughts—too fast to capture one and pin it down.
And all the while, I heard my mind whispering, “Is this it? Is this the moment that proves there really is no healing? You are anxious. If you’ve found healing you shouldn’t be anxious.”
After a few minutes, which felt much longer, I realized I wasn’t succumbing. No, this wasn’t a relapse—or the moment that proves healing doesn’t exist. It was a moment that proves that anxiety, sadness, overwhelm, and fear are part of the human experience.
“It was a moment that proves anxiety, sadness and overwhelm are part of the human experience.”
Let me lay some hard-learned truths on you:
If you’ve battled anxiety, depression, self-loathing or any kind of plaguing negativity—healing does exist and it is possible. This is not a cycle you need to live in forever.
Bad news will come knocking. There’s no way to live a life filled with only easy, happy moments.
Living above anxiety doesn’t mean never feel anxious again. It means you’re able to experience anxiety, process it and return to equilibrium and rational thought in a reasonable timeframe.
When something triggers you, it is possible to take your thoughts captive. Your mind works for you—you are its master, not a slave to runaway thoughts.
When something triggers you, you are allowed to grieve through the sadness and anxiety. Being healed from anxiety doesn’t mean you aren’t allowed to feel those emotions.
You are allowed to grieve. If you are feeling anxiety again, even after overcoming anxiety–you aren’t broken.
The truth about grieving is that it is proactive, productive and comes to an end.
Here’s how things progressed for me: I didn’t magically feel instantly better. I didn’t get it figured out. My mind continued to race. My stomach felt sick. I didn’t drink my smoothie. I cried and questioned and mourned that I couldn’t create a quick solution. The night was restless. My eyes were puffy in the morning. Tears started up again over the coffee maker. All the while my heart was crying out in groans only the Holy Spirit could interpret—because I wasn’t even sure how to pray. Eventually I pulled myself together through most of the day. But then the tears started again over dinner.
Days passed. Slowly things got easier, more clear. The shock wore off and anxiety hadn’t swallowed me up. Nothing was fixed, but Derek and I were united in prayer and making an intentional choice to trust God. To stand on the Truth that He can bring blessing and redemption from awful circumstances. We’ve seen Him do it before and we believe He can do it again.
I can’t tell you how this particular season is going to resolve. But this is a testimony that you are allowed to feel anxious, even after overcoming anxiety.
Formore encouragement, testimony and applicable techniques and tips for a positive, intentional life, join me on Instagram and Facebook!
Here’s some of the most helpful + encouraging parenting advice I’ve ever gotten. In fact, it may be the best parenting advice I ever got.
“Becoming a parent doesn’t mean stopping. It doesn’t mean putting the work God asks of you on hold. It’s not God’s way of telling you to hold off on ministry and using your gifts until your kids are sleeping through the night, in school, potty trained…fill in the blank.
“Becoming a parent in an opportunity to welcome a child into your life’s ministry. To continue to do the work of God—and let your children in on the joy of serving and loving God + others.”
These words were spoken from a pulpit years before I became a mom. But I still remember it vividly as a moment when the lie that children are a burden, not a blessing began to crumble. I used to live in fear that my dreams would never come to fruition if I was a mom. That is simply not true.
What is true is that after I became a mom, the things my heart naturally craved started coming closer. When I had all the time in the world, I was unable zero in on what gifts needed my attention most. I chased after jobs that came easy, but never felt quite right. The work paid, but I always ended up frustrated that my “real” gifts were sidelined. The things I dreamed of never got closer—even though on paper it looked like I had everything I needed to “go for it.”
“After I became a mom, I was able to hone the skill of prioritizing.”
After I became a mom, I honed the skill of prioritizing. Having a baby in one arm meant that I needed to let go of all the “filler” jobs and skills that were awkward to hold—even with both arms. Suddenly my other arm was open to embrace the things that God had actually equipped me to do. I needed to be picky when saying “yes.” I became bolder about walking toward the things I am naturally inclined to do. For me, it’s writing, speaking, teaching, telling stories. For you, it’s probably something different.
I started to see firsthand that the work I was naturally gifted for didn’t need to stop because I had kids in my home; this was an opportunity to welcome them into ministry with me.
This was an opportunity to set an example of praying through how my time should be used, confidently stating the skills I excel at, and showing how God wires us all uniquely for Kingdom work. By allowing my boys to apprentice in this work, I pray that they’ll grow into confident men of God—who can identify their natural gifts and put them to use.
I think back to that statement from a pulpit I haven’t seen in years almost daily as I work on the things God has called me to. So most days you’ll find me in our “office” sitting at this tiny table working as much as I can alongside my best helper and apprentice. Sure, there are tasks I reserve for quiet moments when no little fingers are around to “help” type—but I cherish the moments we spend side by side, each working on our projects. I hope he always remembers that he was included and an important part of the ministry of our family. That he was welcomed into our callings. Never the reason we hit pause on working for the Kingdom of Christ.
A Word to the Not-Moms
Now, a word to those of you without littles in the home. Listen to me. Being a mom is not the key to being more effective for the Kingdom. Don’t get hung up on that. Instead, learn from my mistake of believing that there will be a better time “someday.” Run from the lie that you need to pursue money, or someone else’s definition of success, or even your own ideal of success. You are uniquely created to do unique work. Be confident about your gifts and start praying today for courage to use them to their full potential. This is a practice I’m still working on, and would be honored to have you striving alongside me.
Renew your zeal for the Bible with three days of exclusive devotionals! Interesting and relevant writings and reflection questions will remind you why the Word of God is so awesome. You'll learn a lot and you'll leave excited to know God more and grow deeper in your faith.
Your kick-start is on the way!
You've always dreamed of reading the Bible in chronological order. Now you can!
Getting my printable PDF plan is easy. It's not fancy, but it does fold easily into a bookmark, so you can keep it close by and easily see what's coming next. I hope you find it as useful as I do.
**Remember to check your PROMOTIONS FOLDER. Even if your confirmation comes to your normal inbox, the actual download may come to that pesky promotions folder instead!**
