Just A Mom from Ohio

COFFEE. Coffee. Coffee. Remember the blog I wrote, The Best Part of Waking Up ? I think there is a common thread among moms and people in general about coffee. Its a big deal, isn't it. Why is that? If you take a look at your Instagram feed or even the end isles of a Target, you should recall seeing some shirt or mug with a phrase about coffee on it.  I've been contemplating this specific blog topic for a couple of years now. I wasn't sure how to write it when I was still daily consuming my coffee. That is until a couple of weeks ago. But before I get into that, let me share more of my heart's desire in this message.  For these years, I have been noticing the marketing of coffee and aware of my own love of coffee, I wondered if it had become an idol my life. Could I or would I willingly give up coffee? And if I couldn't give up coffee, what did that mean to me? Morning time is commonly suggested to be the time to do the thing that you need to do the most. Its ...

Lonely?  Tired?  Not happy with your physical health? Ummm. Yea, that's me. Can you relate? Often in the car, I'm tuned into Moody Radio and I thoroughly enjoy the variety of programming and conversations that come on. Today, I heard a topic on loneliness and one of the callers spoke about his personal experience of feeling alone and his attempts to reach out with a church. The author of the featured resource mentioned finding a safe space to talk and that might be a Christian counselor. I also am a fan of seeking a safe space to process and especially appreciate the Christian counseling option. But, that also sparks my desire to write this little blog.  DON'T GIVE UP! Getting help requires a lot of effort. I think the author speaking mentioned it takes about 8 to 10 years for a person to seek help for mental heath and to compare that with something physical like cancer. Yikes! That is way too long to suffer and go on without a proper care plan. We really need to get rid...

For 2021 my word of the year is " Jesus ".  My daughter and I were talking about my word of the year board from last year and together we came up with my new word. I usually choose a feeling word or an action but when she said Jesus, it felt perfect. And on this 3rd day of the new year, I feel confirmation that it is indeed the word and person I need to focus on.  My words in past years have included: surrender, release, content, and stand. During those years, my antenna we're up and I paid extra attention to any mention of those topics. My intention with my 2021 word is to strip away any gimmicks or facades and get to know Jesus better.  In 2020, I watched the first season of The Chosen . That show helped me look at Jesus, to humanize Jesus for me. It is hard to remember sometimes how Jesus is both fully God and fully man. I so enjoyed making connections about Jesus' relationship with the disciples, especially Peter. It was encouraging to vis...

Are you a coffee drinker? If so, then you may be like many of us that go straight to the coffee pot at the beginning of each morning,  first thing. With kids in the house, coffee may not be an immediate option but it is high on my priority to at least brew it. That first sip or two is so relaxing and I don't even know why. It seems to be a habit. I drink a lot of decaf and I still like it. I crave it. Some coffee just smells so good. Its all good if you need to go get a nice hot cup of jo right now. My happy go lucky son has been begging for my coffee lately, it puts him in rare form. He was literally climbing and hanging on the edge of the counter. He wanted that drink and I don't think he knew why either, other than the straw and that it was mine. Is it a little odd that the first thing many of us put into our bodies is this brown, hot liquid, perhaps muddied with cream and sugar? What if instead I woke up and ingested something spiritual before anything else? Gr...