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Democratic Republic of Congo

** Democratic Republic of Congo**

Congo Journey Part I
Congo Journey Part II
Congo: That’s Why I’m Doing It
Congo: Way Beyond Kony
You Can’t Save the Children By Liking a Facebook Status
Congo: When Helping Hurts
Radical: Being There Matters
T ough Mudder: Can You Spare $5? (Sending the kids to school)
Orphanology
Half the Sky: Be the Change
Congo: The Day I Met Ben Affleck (Again)
Congo: Let’s Do This (2013)

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The Secret Lives of Unsuspecting Female Binge Drinkers
Do I Have a Drinking Problem?
When Younger Kids Get Baptized: 9 Things I Told My Son
Parenting Tiny Disciples: A Sacred Calling for Moms
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Yesterday, I participated in a ceremony to honor 168 “unclaimed” people who had passed away in Indiana.

It happens all the time, men and women who die alone without anyone to love or honor them in death.

I had the privilege of reading some of their names in a ceremony to celebrate their lives.

As I read each name, seeing birth and death dates as well, I considered all that was contained between those two dates.

...I imagined their mothers naming them
...sending them off to Kindergarten
...A first kiss
...High school graduation
...Falling in love
...Holding their first babies
...Watching them grow up...

What joy or despair did they feel in this life? Many of the birthdates were in the 1930s, 40s and 50s.

These people lived long lives, yet no one was there to hold their hands when life ended.

They had names like Tressie, Dennis, Marcus, Giovanna James and Doc Jr. Their lives mattered.

I see this as a sad result of modern culture—things like families moving apart, more estrangement, smaller families, less extended family, and more reliance on the government or someone else to care for family members.

It’s no one’s fault, but awareness is key.

...Nobody imagines dying alone.
...No one imagines their remains will lay in a storage container at a funeral facility for years on end or dumped into a dirt grave with not even a marker of recognition.

And we won’t want that for them.

He Knows Your Name, as an organization, does the holy work of reminding us all that EVERY SINGLE PERSON is created and known by God.

From the smallest baby who miscarried in the womb at 5 weeks to the centurion who dies alone in a hospital bed.

Our value is not dependent on who loves us, and every person deserves dignity and honor at the end of their life, whether in the womb or a nursing home.

This “trend” of unclaimed bodies — which is happening EVERYWHERE across the country.

…Mortality was apparent. God’s reality was present. And the most important things were illuminated for me.

Full post on @substack & the @wish8news @kylarusselltv report.

This is the message. I’ll keep preaching it. I love you.

I have all the things — books, podcasts, stories, tactics and tips — in my personally curated resource guide for those who want a better relationship with alcohol (or hope to quit!).

Sign up the get the resources at SobrietyCurious.com

#soberchristian #sobriety #sobermom #christianmom #christianliving #sobrietyjourney #sobrietyforwomen #soberlife #sobercurious

Your own healing is the greatest message of hope for others.”

Because people don’t really believe it can be done until they see you do it.

Then, they can finally believe it’s possible for them too.

God uses our stories to trigger hope and healing in those around us.

Don’t think for one second that every second of your life doesn’t have divine meaning.

As a Christian, you are a saint, a beloved Child of God, one that He uses for His good and glory.

The more we heal and share that process, the more others heal. It’s organic.

In this, God reveals His power and eternal hope and healing emerge from the darkness.

#sobermom #christianmom #soberwriter #sobrietyjourney #sobercurious #soberchristian #artistsway #enneagram4 #writer #creativerecovery #recoveryjourney

❤️First day of 2nd & K
💜Last day of 2nd & K

Holy crap these first day/last day trends are rough! How do they look so much older is less than 9 months?!

Today is bittersweet, as we are leaving Lantern Road Elementary, our local public school that has been a blessing the past 3 years.

We’ve had excellent teachers, made sweet friends and felt this school is still one of the good ones.

However, we have made the decision to move to a classical, Christian school, Coram Deo (means “In the Presence of God.”)

After researching the classical model (many homeschooling curriculums are based in classical teaching), I am throughly convinced it is the best way for children to learn.

I have so much to say about it, but will save that for another time. Regardless, I’m thankful for our experience at public school and grateful we are able to choose this new school based on what we think is best for our kids.

In all honest, I think ALL schools should be classical and I hope we can see a wild resurgence!

Okay, we’re off to summer memories before 3rd and 1st grade in August!

Fifteen years ago, I sat in a moonlit room behind a locked door with a bottle of Peach Schnapps at my feet and a Bible on my desk, Googling “How to quit drinking.” It felt like watching an X-rated movie in secret or hoping a doorbell-ringing visitor wouldn’t see I was home.

I could not be found out because someone might make me stop drinking. And that couldn’t be anyone’s choice but mine.

A search result for AA surfaced, and another for a British women’s sobriety group. I clicked on the latter, but the website was clunky and hard to navigate. I tried searching for local AA meetings, but I was years away from the desperation it would take to walk into one of those rooms.

Alcoholism felt like a man’s problem because that was the only way I knew it. In family members, in friends of my Dad, in movies, and on TV. AA was started by men and for men.

Women were the ones who were supposed to keep the men in check. They started the temperance movement and barely had time to drink, keeping the kids and house and their jobs in order.

…Johnny Cash in “Walk the Line”

…Michael Keaton in “Clean and Sober”

…Nicholas Cage in “Leaving Las Vegas.”

I devoured these movies, savoring a sense of connection to the characters’ lack of control around alcohol. Did anyone else around me get it? I didn’t know.

👉👉 Full post in Substack. Check mine highlights for link.

#sober #soberwomen #soberaf #soberlife #soberliving #sobercurious #sobermom #sobermovement #soberchristian #soberchristianmom #sobrietyjourney #sobrietyforwomen #sobrietyrocks

If you could have dinner with anyone in the world, who would it be?

Abby: You!

I don’t deserve this girl.

Just savoring. Holding tight. Soaking up this time.

I’m not going to lie: I’m scared of the changes that come with big kid life.

Not scared of “bad” things, but of different things…of everything changing.

I can’t even get into it because I don’t want to get emotional, but my thoughts about it have increased a lot lately!

For now, Im living *in* it and just squeezing them a lot.

It’s weird…for so many years all I wanted was to be a Mom. I had dreams about being pregnant for years, imagined it and longed for it.

To be on the other side completely feels almost sad. I dreamed the other night I was pregnant. It was the same amazing feeling in the dream as before, but I know it isn’t going to happen this time…for real.

I don’t take anything for granted, not one thing, but it’s strange to grieve what you did get and won’t get again.

It’s strange to be so incredibly happy and blessed, but wish you were younger and able to do it again and again.

Motherhood is emotional wreckage that keeps rebuilding into something beautiful every season. I’ve seen it and believe it as we move through the years.

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