“Are you going to interview me now?” he asked expectantly. My colleague and I had just wrapped some video interviews at the church we were visiting, and had no intention of filming more. Yet I could see something in this man’s eyes—not desperation—an earnestness, a longing to be heard, that made me reconsider. “Sure!” IContinue reading “Everyone has a story”
A backyard tale
Once upon a time, a young couple bought their first home. They had a baby on the way, and a little dog too, and after eight years of apartment living, it was time to move. The home they purchased was in an ideal location–close to work, the airport and public transit. It was just theirContinue reading “A backyard tale”
Adventures in toddlerhood
Hilarious. Frustrating. Joyous. Alarming. Welcome to our adventures in toddlerhood. Ever since our son Jack turned one it seems time–and Jack himself–is in overdrive, slowing only for the occasional skinned knees, tantrums and snuggle sessions with mama or daddy. At 17 months, Jack’s scaling furniture, testing boundaries, chasing the dog and uttering words (“No!” and “Daddy”Continue reading “Adventures in toddlerhood”
Loved, not abandoned
When the ones you love the hardest are suffering and you’re unable to stop it, it’s isolating and terrifying. The pain is sharp and heavy, almost unbearable. I felt like that yesterday. But God showed up for me in a gifted bag of donuts from a new Cambodian friend; in holy conversation with an oldContinue reading “Loved, not abandoned”
Summer mom
“I wanna be one of those summer moms who makes bucket lists and pool trips and spoils dinner with ice cream,” I lament to Jay while putting groceries away on Saturday. I envy the summer moms. I see them strolling the neighborhood in their top knots and tank tops, babies in tow, seemingly schedule- andContinue reading “Summer mom”
Counting the joy
It’s 2:21 a.m. and I’m wide awake, snug in my bed. My toddler son, who is fighting a cough, finally nodded off an hour ago after a never-ending interlude of cuddling, shushing and patting. Eyes squeezed shut, I try and will myself to join him in peaceful slumber. But half a dozen worries crowd myContinue reading “Counting the joy”
Holy attention
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about attention. Lately it feels like everything is scrambling for my attention. Unread emails. Missed text messages. Facebook notifications. Shows to watch. Articles to read. New podcasts to play. The pull of infinite content, waiting to be consumed. Do you feel it too? We have work to do, billsContinue reading “Holy attention”
Spring cleaning
Know what I realized lately? So much of the creative process (and life) is about getting out of your head and following your heart. Noticing your inner critic—who says you can’t make anything original/you’re not talented/you don’t have a story to tell/you can’t finish that project/etc.—and flipping her script. Talking back, then moving ahead. WannaContinue reading “Spring cleaning”
Keep practicing
Writing is a lot like yoga. Want to do crow pose? You have to put in time on the mat before taking flight. So you practice & practice & practice. You come to your mat and put in the work. It takes courage. Discipline. Some days you fall. Some days it seems like you’re neverContinue reading “Keep practicing”
The boy who lived
For so many—myself included—Mother’s Day is complicated. The day I became a mother was … complicated. After hours of labor and an emergency C-section, I almost lost my son. He wasn’t breathing when the doctor delivered him. I kept waiting to hear his cries, but all I heard was silence. Then nurses calling for backup.Continue reading “The boy who lived”
Erin Strybis 