Yea, Citizen by Jon Guerra always makes me cry, i had it on REPEAT awhile ago. I just finished The Wisdom of our Bodies not long ago, and it was a great book. On the whole, bodies thing. Also, Joy Clarcksons Aggressively Happy book talks about Elijah (pro tip for being happy in the real world: eat. Take naps. Have a cup of tea. Etc) loved it. Maybe God is trying to tell me something??
I have always bounced between long and short hair. I went super short after my first child. Short hair makes me feel bouncy and fun. Long hair makes me feel like a Jane austen heroine.
A Jane Austen heroine lol. I love that. I recently found pictures of myself around age 4 with the very haircut i'm considering...and maybe I'm chasing something of my inner child with this chop?
The Wisdom of our Bodies is making its way up on my TBR list. I've heard such good things. Eat / Take Naps / Have a Cup of Tea forever!
Jon Guerra's music got me through the end of 2020 and all of 2021. He describes his music as devotional, and that's exactly what it is. Also, Only Murders is the binge-worthiest show. Also also, that last meme totally caught me off guard in the best way 🤣
Hi music is giving me so much hope right now. I'm curious - do you think Only Murders will be back for season 3?! ("blind with rage" - the anthem of toddlers everywhere!)
Okay, this is all SO delightful, relatable, and timely! What you said about the nap time wake up/superstition thing is exactly on par with where I'm at with my 20 month old rn. And also the herculean effort of purchasing/inventorying spring clothes for both children. I needed a reminder that God sees me and cares for me in this work. Thank you, Elizabeth! (Also, guess what! We also have the same orange and white striped puke towel. #solidarity) lol
Wow. So many things to say! Just listened to Citizen.. really beautiful. Are you friends with the folks at POY!? fan-girling over here that your salad is on their side. i will be making it!!
as always your words on God’s image seeping into our motherhood are just so encouraging and beautiful. the humor, realness, and depth of your writing - good stuff.
I’ve done a hair chop a few times and I never regret it!! You literally feel lights. I also am not a products or blow drying girl - you just find what works. Do itttt. On polar plunge - I’ve just started 30 seconds of turning water to cold at end of shower. baby steps... 🤓
I'm so glad these words were meaningful to you! Thank you for your kindness! I do know Lindsay of Pinch of Yum from way, way back in my own food blogging days. I have the distinct privilege of being in a dinner club with her, and she is every bit as kind and real and fun as she seems! Let me know what you think of the salad!
I'm also super low-maintenance when it comes to my hair, which is why the long hair / messy bun 99% of the time has served me well.
Holy work = all of them are settled in bed... and then the door creaks open ("Moommm?"). Love this essay. Thanks for bringing theology and large text portions of the Old Testament and vomit all together into one place.
LOL. Maybe that should be on the back flap of my book..."Theology, the Old Testament, and Vomit in One Place." I love it!
Those after-bedtime calls for momming are next level. Now that my kids are older, I'm trying to introduce them to the idea that I've "punched out" for the day...but mostly it's just a joke between my husband and I because the kids definitely do not care yet :)
For real! It is an after-hours kind of job. Your post was a really good reminder for me about the point of it all - it does echo divine love, and it is truly holy work. And good luck convincing the marketing/ designing powers that be to put the word "vomit" anywhere on the cover of your book, but I'd commend it as a gutsy move! Thanks for what you do :).
The designing powers would not approve...I think you're right :) I'm so glad you were encouraged. It helps me in those after-hours moments to remember the bigger picture for sure. xo!
Yes... I remember one conversation with my doctor after my worst bout of PPD. In order for our health share to cover the cost of the visit, the superbjll couldn’t have any mental health codes. She laughed and sort of rolled her eyes and said something to the effect of “mental health is physical health.” Just her attitude of, “of course the body and brain are all YOU and we have to care for them both” was so healing and also such a paradigm shift. I think so many of us who grew up in evangelicalism practiced a type of functional Gnosticism for most of our lives. Spirit = good, body = bad. When really our bodies matter so much to God! He had one! But yes. It’s still something I’m trying wrap my head around too.
functional Gnosticism - yes! That is a realization I've come to in the past year, and it's been so good to unlearn. I love it when health care providers work with you to trick the insurance companies, but it's all so silly...how our society considers brain and body separate entities.
😭😭😭 "We see here how God cares for our spirits THROUGH our bodies, the importance of honoring our bodies’ many needs, the holy work of caring for our feeble bodies." So much goodness, friend.
Chopping all my hair off in a fit of passion feels so good! I never regret it. It’s a catharsis. I do it once or twice a year. I read somewhere one time that the Egyptians used to shave all the hair off their bodies as a sign of mourning when a loved one died and that’s when I realized it’s ok to take the grief of existence out on something that can grow back. I love what you said about God caring for our spirits through our bodies. He is so good. 💛
Catharsis! I love that. "I realized it's ok to take the grief of existence out on something that can grow back." WHEW! (*immediately requests 5 books from the library on ancient grief and hair customs.*) So interesting!
Oh my goodness, Elizabeth. (Fellow Orphaned Believers reading group member here.) I just relate so much to this whole thing, every single word. Caring for the children, all the minutiae, the dinners labeled “gross,” the counters full of Tylenol, the urine soaked sheets, that finicky first baby, the divine in the (un)holy mundanity. It’s beautiful and it makes me f’ing crazy. Thank you for the encouragement, the reminder that this work is good, and that I’m not alone. I’m excited to follow your work. Also, chopping off your hair is excellent. I loved it. But the growing out stage and the $$ for maintaining it short are not. :)
I'm so glad you found encouragement in these words, and I'm so happy to connect with a fellow Orphaned Believer :) This work IS good, and you are NOT alone. Ooh boy...the $ for maintenance. I've been cutting my own (long, straight, easy) hair since the start of the pandemic, and I'm definitely having some feels about the idea of paying for my hair again!
Yea, Citizen by Jon Guerra always makes me cry, i had it on REPEAT awhile ago. I just finished The Wisdom of our Bodies not long ago, and it was a great book. On the whole, bodies thing. Also, Joy Clarcksons Aggressively Happy book talks about Elijah (pro tip for being happy in the real world: eat. Take naps. Have a cup of tea. Etc) loved it. Maybe God is trying to tell me something??
I have always bounced between long and short hair. I went super short after my first child. Short hair makes me feel bouncy and fun. Long hair makes me feel like a Jane austen heroine.
A Jane Austen heroine lol. I love that. I recently found pictures of myself around age 4 with the very haircut i'm considering...and maybe I'm chasing something of my inner child with this chop?
The Wisdom of our Bodies is making its way up on my TBR list. I've heard such good things. Eat / Take Naps / Have a Cup of Tea forever!
Jon Guerra's music got me through the end of 2020 and all of 2021. He describes his music as devotional, and that's exactly what it is. Also, Only Murders is the binge-worthiest show. Also also, that last meme totally caught me off guard in the best way 🤣
Hi music is giving me so much hope right now. I'm curious - do you think Only Murders will be back for season 3?! ("blind with rage" - the anthem of toddlers everywhere!)
I think they will!!
Okay, this is all SO delightful, relatable, and timely! What you said about the nap time wake up/superstition thing is exactly on par with where I'm at with my 20 month old rn. And also the herculean effort of purchasing/inventorying spring clothes for both children. I needed a reminder that God sees me and cares for me in this work. Thank you, Elizabeth! (Also, guess what! We also have the same orange and white striped puke towel. #solidarity) lol
Solidarity indeed! I'm so glad I'm not the only one letting superstition guide my parenting. It it worked once...
God does see us in this work! xo!
Wow. So many things to say! Just listened to Citizen.. really beautiful. Are you friends with the folks at POY!? fan-girling over here that your salad is on their side. i will be making it!!
as always your words on God’s image seeping into our motherhood are just so encouraging and beautiful. the humor, realness, and depth of your writing - good stuff.
I’ve done a hair chop a few times and I never regret it!! You literally feel lights. I also am not a products or blow drying girl - you just find what works. Do itttt. On polar plunge - I’ve just started 30 seconds of turning water to cold at end of shower. baby steps... 🤓
I'm so glad these words were meaningful to you! Thank you for your kindness! I do know Lindsay of Pinch of Yum from way, way back in my own food blogging days. I have the distinct privilege of being in a dinner club with her, and she is every bit as kind and real and fun as she seems! Let me know what you think of the salad!
I'm also super low-maintenance when it comes to my hair, which is why the long hair / messy bun 99% of the time has served me well.
Hooray for baby steps!
Haven’t gotten to the salad yet, but on my list! So cool that you are friends with Lindsay. Big POY fan. Thanks for the reply ☺️
Holy work = all of them are settled in bed... and then the door creaks open ("Moommm?"). Love this essay. Thanks for bringing theology and large text portions of the Old Testament and vomit all together into one place.
LOL. Maybe that should be on the back flap of my book..."Theology, the Old Testament, and Vomit in One Place." I love it!
Those after-bedtime calls for momming are next level. Now that my kids are older, I'm trying to introduce them to the idea that I've "punched out" for the day...but mostly it's just a joke between my husband and I because the kids definitely do not care yet :)
For real! It is an after-hours kind of job. Your post was a really good reminder for me about the point of it all - it does echo divine love, and it is truly holy work. And good luck convincing the marketing/ designing powers that be to put the word "vomit" anywhere on the cover of your book, but I'd commend it as a gutsy move! Thanks for what you do :).
The designing powers would not approve...I think you're right :) I'm so glad you were encouraged. It helps me in those after-hours moments to remember the bigger picture for sure. xo!
Yes... I remember one conversation with my doctor after my worst bout of PPD. In order for our health share to cover the cost of the visit, the superbjll couldn’t have any mental health codes. She laughed and sort of rolled her eyes and said something to the effect of “mental health is physical health.” Just her attitude of, “of course the body and brain are all YOU and we have to care for them both” was so healing and also such a paradigm shift. I think so many of us who grew up in evangelicalism practiced a type of functional Gnosticism for most of our lives. Spirit = good, body = bad. When really our bodies matter so much to God! He had one! But yes. It’s still something I’m trying wrap my head around too.
functional Gnosticism - yes! That is a realization I've come to in the past year, and it's been so good to unlearn. I love it when health care providers work with you to trick the insurance companies, but it's all so silly...how our society considers brain and body separate entities.
😭😭😭 "We see here how God cares for our spirits THROUGH our bodies, the importance of honoring our bodies’ many needs, the holy work of caring for our feeble bodies." So much goodness, friend.
Thank you, Marina! This is like the main lesson I've been trying to learn for the last 6 years.
Chopping all my hair off in a fit of passion feels so good! I never regret it. It’s a catharsis. I do it once or twice a year. I read somewhere one time that the Egyptians used to shave all the hair off their bodies as a sign of mourning when a loved one died and that’s when I realized it’s ok to take the grief of existence out on something that can grow back. I love what you said about God caring for our spirits through our bodies. He is so good. 💛
Catharsis! I love that. "I realized it's ok to take the grief of existence out on something that can grow back." WHEW! (*immediately requests 5 books from the library on ancient grief and hair customs.*) So interesting!
Oh my goodness, Elizabeth. (Fellow Orphaned Believers reading group member here.) I just relate so much to this whole thing, every single word. Caring for the children, all the minutiae, the dinners labeled “gross,” the counters full of Tylenol, the urine soaked sheets, that finicky first baby, the divine in the (un)holy mundanity. It’s beautiful and it makes me f’ing crazy. Thank you for the encouragement, the reminder that this work is good, and that I’m not alone. I’m excited to follow your work. Also, chopping off your hair is excellent. I loved it. But the growing out stage and the $$ for maintaining it short are not. :)
I'm so glad you found encouragement in these words, and I'm so happy to connect with a fellow Orphaned Believer :) This work IS good, and you are NOT alone. Ooh boy...the $ for maintenance. I've been cutting my own (long, straight, easy) hair since the start of the pandemic, and I'm definitely having some feels about the idea of paying for my hair again!