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2022 books & things life in alaska

January 9, 2022


There is a need inside of all of us, whether we admit it or not, to know and be known. We’ve all been saying it for years, online and off. I wish I could be more vulnerable. I value authenticity in others. I just want the real thing, whatever it is.

I agree and yes, this is a human condition conversation for the ages. But this, this is also how I feel about the weather.

I want to wear a sweater during actual sweater weather. I want to sweat in July. I want a holiday’s temperature to authentically (and aesthetically!) match its theme. I want my environment to be real with me. So if we’re gonna have winter, let’s have winter. Bring it.

I can’t put this book down; I want to send it to everyone I know. It specifically addresses cold weather, but in it I’ve found a compelling argument for a seasonal mindset year-round. There is something deeply moving, deeply empowering about letting Mother Earth take the lead and choosing to dance to the rhythms she sets for us. Our ancestors were right.

I truly, truly love it here. Alaska is now my home and I already feel connected to her, in my gut and in my bones. She is unapologetically herself. She gives me exactly the weather she’s got to give. I know where I stand with her; I am getting to know her and vice versa. I love that. Knee-deep in the snow with my daughters and dogs is exactly how I want to watch a January sunrise.

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books & things COVID-19 five things on a friday life lately politics & leadership racial reconciliation

Five things on a Friday: the links I send these days.

No matter where we live, or who our friends are, our conversations tend to drift to the same topics these days, don’t they? Here are the articles I’ve been keeping in my phone’s notes app, due to my repeated have you seen this or funny you should mention that conversations.

  1. The Unlikely Connection Between Wellness Influencers and the Pro-Trump Rioters, Cosmopolitan. This was the first time I heard the phrase pastel QAnon, and good gracious, does it hit the nail on the head. I’ve already written on this, but I’m now comfortable enough to say that I was radicalized years ago by the natural family community online. I still have much fondness for the community and the science behind natural wellness, but this article hit home. The author did a great job linking topics that have felt chaotically connected over the last year. How on earth does a pandemic relate to race in America, and how are those two things connected to election fraud? Watch and see. This piece was wild, but clarifying.
  2. Under the Influence podcast, Jo Piazza. Whenever I share this series with a friend, I use the same words to describe how it makes me feel – exposed, seen, convicted, relieved, rescued. Having spent the last fifteen years on the internet, I have both watched and participated in influencer culture online. I’ve seen it benefit and bless, and I’ve seen it corrupt and destroy. The internet seems to be one of the only vices in life where the danger is scientifically proven and widely accepted, and yet we seem to continue on our merry way. I appreciate Jo’s approach because she offers no clear answers, and she maintains her love for social media throughout her journey.
  3. The Roman Road from Insurrection, Russell Moore. I hesitate to use phrases like spiritual father, or giant of the faith, but Russell is a hero. He has repeatedly walked the tightrope between divided groups, trying to lead well and point to Jesus. He has worked for years at the center of perhaps the most inflammatory denomination in the Christian faith, refusing to walk away and also refusing to stay quiet. His piece on the January insurrection was one I referred to often, as I grieved and lamented and asked the same questions over and over. How did we get here? How do we move forward? Dr. Moore’s words help answer both of these for me.
  4. The Spiritual Problem at the Heart of Christian Vaccine Refusal, David French. Along with stark and discouraging statistics about the white evangelical role in anti-vaccine messaging, David does an excellent job of educating the reader on the complex, and often sinister, layers beneath this wave of Christian refusal of COVID-19 vaccination. I don’t trust the research really means I’m choosing to trust a different voice. There is also a clear call to gentle and patient communication with folks on the other side of the table. Nobody ever changed their mind by being bullied or berated. Speaking of trusted voices, David is certainly one. I appreciate his moderate and straightforward approach to covering hot-button issues, especially as they relate to his/my people – the Church.
  5. Christian Nationalism & the Good Life, The Holy Post podcast + Derwin Gray. More great content from brave-but-gentle people I trust. The guest on this episode is my former pastor, and who doesn’t want to listen to a podcast from a former VeggieTales creator and star? I learned a lot about both the roots and the fruit of today’s iteration of white nationalism. The bad news is that it’s been doing its best to destroy for hundreds of years, and it’s become normal and even celebrated through modern Church leaders and politicians. The good news is that we’re able to call it out and combat it using Scripture and thought leaders like these experts. I’m grateful.
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books & things

How to Do Nothing – a book review

It took me the entire summer to finish it, but How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell is everything I hoped it would be and more. I underlined something on practically every page. Jenny is a talented artist and writer, a passionate college professor, and an avid bird watcher. A native to Silicon Valley and the hustle and bustle of California city life, Jenny has made a counter-cultural shift toward resisting the attention economy the internet built for us. She uses social media and participates in online dialogue, but she does so with care and intention. She reminds readers that we were never made to sustain an internet-fast pace when it comes to thought and discourse and progress. The communities we build online tend to be engineered toward our preference, too, so we miss out on diversity of thought. Jenny calls this a “context-collapsed crowd.” It’s also our neighbors that are most likely to help us in time of need and vice versa, and they are therefore deserving of our investment.

How to Do Nothing makes a case for removing oneself from the chaotic noise of life, both online and off, and replacing it with an attention toward our physical environment. She discusses everything from ancestral lands to topography to civil rights protests and political debate. It’s quite heady and cerebral, which is why it took me so long to get through. But I’m SO GLAD I DID. I bought it on a whim – the title and its beautiful cover seemed like a great quarantine read. It ended up being the most timely book I might have ever read. Jenny had no way of knowing about Covid-19 or George Floyd, but she writes about these kinds of topics (even conspiracy theories like #pizzagate!) in a way that feels like she could see the future.

This book convicted me to become more mindful of the moment I’m in, while still engaging in hard-but-necessary topics. She calls this a “refusal-in-place,” in that we can take ourselves out of the rat race while still participating in society effectively. Jenny also challenged me to notice the people and (animals!) in my immediate surroundings, and to learn the history of my neighborhood. Lastly, her words made me feel less crazy about the internet – the echo chambers, the algorithms, the division, and the giant social experiment we’re living in. The internet is a modern marvel, and it carries much potential, but it’s not perfect. Additionally, the companies that build and maintain our social networks are surely not innocent, nor do they have our best interests at heart. Anyway, I highly highly highly recommend How to Do Nothing! And now, a few titillating excerpts for your enjoyment.

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books & things community life lately the whole & simple gospel

when I write for others: Ember

Occasionally, I get to write for magazines, newsletters, blogs, and everything in between. It’s neat to go back and read my words from another time. There’s always room for grace and growth and a smile or head nod. It was an honor to be asked to try something new for a recent women’s gathering in my city. I said yes, thinking I’d read something from Every Moment Holy (highly recommend, by the way). But my husband encouraged me to write my own, and the leadership team blessed me to do so. Below is the liturgy I delivered for our May event. See you in August?

Sometimes, it’s hard to sing of the goodness of God. There’s a lot going out there. And in here. Sometimes, our breath feels better spent elsewhere. Sometimes, it’s hard to sing of the goodness of God.

And still… God remains good. He cannot be anything else.
God is faithful in that He is good. And His goodness comes after us….
For no reason at all, other than the Savior of the world takes great delight in us.

And so, we sing. Not for His sake. The Creator does not need reminding of what He’s created.

No. We sing to remember. We sing to fight. We sing to rally our hearts to the sounds of His promises… That He will never leave us. That He will never forsake us. That whether we turn to the right or to the left, we will hear a voice behind us saying, This is the way. Walk in it.

For the woman out there there searching for a water that will never leave her thirsty again, here is Who I know.

I know a God who named the stars and numbered the hairs on my head. I know a Jesus who who died on a cross and walked out of a grave with my name on his lips. I know a Holy Spirit who allows me to feel the full weight of my sin, so that I may experience the full measure of His grace.

For the woman out there searching for a water that will never leave her thirsty again, here is Who I worship.

I worship a God who loved me enough to rescue me… not just from hell, but from my myself. I worship a Jesus who exchanged death for life on my behalf, so that my yoke is now easy and my burden light. I worship a Holy Spirit who whispers sweet somethings in my ear when things get dark, and I feel alone and afraid.

For the woman out there searching for a water that will never leave her thirsty again, here is Who I serve.

I serve a God who gave me a new name, a forever family, and an incredible inheritance. I serve a Jesus who set me free to treat every person I meet as if they bear the image of His dad. I serve a Holy Spirit who directs my steps so that each breath, the magical and the mundane, becomes worship.

To the woman who thirsts, you’re invited. So come. Come and see the man who told me everything I ever did and loved me anyway. Follow me, as I follow Him tonight.

Together, may we fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Together, may we make Him our best thought; His presence, our light. Together, may we remember that the work is the Holy Spirit’s. It has always been His. Together, may we rest in the Father’s lap and remind ourselves that to worry is to rebel against our new nature as daughters of the King. And the King’s kids don’t worry.

On behalf of this broken and busted and still beloved world, the Spirit and the Bride say come. Let the woman who hears say come. Let the woman who is thirsty come. Let her take the free gift of the water of life.

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when I write for others: Restoration House

Occasionally, I get to write for magazines, newsletters, blogs, and everything in between. It’s neat to go back and read my words from another time. There’s always room for grace and growth and a smile or head nod. Here’s a fun interview I did with Kennesha Buycks in February 2019. Find the original here.

Tell us the story of your home. (go as deep or stay as superficial as you want with these) To you, what sets it ap1. Tell us the story of your home. (go as deep or stay as superficial as you want with these) To you, what sets it apart or makes it unique aside from the fact that you and your family are the ones who live in it.

 My husband and I scooped up our dream home near our hometown several years back. It’s got farmhouse vibes and was built in 1890. It sits on a few acres and we’re living the dream with some chickens and a rope swing. We’re not in a position financially to remodel the entire thing, but it’s fun to work on one room at a time and really make it our own.

How would you describe your personal home style?

If I had to name my aesthetic, it would be, “You’d never know six kids grew up here.” The walls and couches are white, and the toys are tucked away. I keep a pretty minimalist and tidy home. I find it brings a sense of serenity and security to the chaos that tends to accompany large families with full lives.

What is your favorite space in your home and why? 

Probably my bedroom! It’s free of technology and pictures and the bed is comfortable. I also love the spot on my couch where I read my Bible most mornings. The sun creeps in and the whole world feels ripe with possibility when I’m sitting there, reading and sipping my iced coffee.

If you could share one thing about yourself with readers that you’ve perhaps never shared publicly or via social media, what would it be? 

Gosh, that’s hard! I’ve been online since dial-up internet! I will say people are often surprised to find that I’m an introvert, because I stay pretty bubbly on social media. I love being around people but I feel most charged up after a few hours alone. I can power through an entire book on Audible in a single day if you’ll let me!

What was life like for you growing up in your childhood home?

I had a glorious childhood. My little brother and I talk about this all of the time. We spent our formative years in a small neighborhood with a pool and tennis courts, the kind of neighborhood where you could bicycle everywhere and stay out after dark. My childhood bedroom was a fun space, too, one that my parents did their best to personalize for me. My favorite bedroom setup had pale yellow walls and sky-blue bedding with clouds on it. I went through a zebra phase later, too.

What does home mean to you? What do you want others to feel when they enter/spend time in your home? 

 Home means peace. No matter the location, no matter how many times home must change, I always want my family and guests to feel a sense of peace. Jesus lives in our home and I want folks to really experience him just from hanging out with us at home.

Proudest DIY?

 I guess I’d have to say our chicken coop, which my grandfather designed and helped us build. Or maybe the floating bookshelves that I dreamed up and my husband installed in less than an hour! There’s a pattern here… I dream of beautiful things, and the men I love make them come true for me.

Do you think you’ve learned to embrace your story? Your home? Why or why not? Explain. 

Great questions! I’d say I’ve learned to embrace my story. I’m quite comfortable with my past and present, and expectant for my future. It is far more difficult to be content with my home. We’re working with a bare bones kitchen and bathrooms, for example, and I struggle with the notion of my kids outgrowing the space before it ever fully feels like ours. What helps, though, is seeing photos and memories made in the house as is, knowing that my family is content here and it’s okay if we never get the floors redone or a real shower installed.

If there was one piece of advice that you could give to others as to how to embrace their home and their story, what would that sound like? 

Clear the clutter! For real. Your kids will survive with less toys. Your kitchen can handle fewer dishes. Your closet won’t miss the clothes you never wear anyway. Pick one room at a time, and clear the clutter. I’ve found that having less things in my home actually makes it feel bigger, cleaner, and readier to host. Not only that, but having less to clean up or worry about gives me more time and space to focus on the things that matter.

How does what you do currently in your professional life/ministry tie into this idea that home is “more than just a place we live” and that it holds much more of a redemptive and restorative power than we may currently embrace culturally? 

I work in healthcare, as a hospice nurse. My husband works, in vocational ministry as a worship pastor. In a sense, we both pour ourselves out for a living. Home is place where we fill back up. Home is where we start our days, side by side on the couch in our Bibles. Home is where we reflect and reset, so we can refresh the world we meet when we walk out of its doors.

books & things politics & leadership the whole & simple gospel

Racial reconciliation book list

We’ve got two eyes, two ears, and only one mouth. I believe it’s for a reason. As a white woman who desires to be an ally to my Black community, I feel that it is crucially important to watch and learn first. You’ve got to assess a situation and take notice before you can help. Here’s what I’ve read so far, in no particular order. I’ll continue to add to this list, and I’m always open to suggestions!

{written 1/2017; edited 5/2020}

Disunity in Christ, Christena Cleveland

Between the World and Me, Ta-Nehisi Coates

Same Kind of Different as Me, Ron Hall

Go Set a Watchman, Harper Lee

To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee

Brown Girl Dreaming, Jacqueline Woodson

By Any Means Necessary, Malcom X

The Warmth of Other Suns, Isabel Wilkerson

The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas

On the Come Up, Angie Thomas

I’m Still Here, Austin Channing Brown

The Third Option, Miles McPherson

The Color of Compromise, Jemar Tisby

White Awake, Daniel Hill

White Fragility, Robin DiAngelo

Be The Bridge, Latasha Morrison

The HD Leader, Derwin Gray

Just Mercy, Bryan Stevenson

So You Want to Talk About Race, Ijeoma Oluo

Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?, Beverly Daniel Tatum