Why I'm not a Manicured Mommy

I haven't had polished nails in approximately 7 1/2 years. Initially, it was because with a newborn, there was no way of knowing when I'd have a chunk of time to let the polish dry properly.

These days, it's because a lot of kid activities and services aren't exactly manicure friendly.

Case in point, these nails. Saturday evening I had a few hours after everyone was asleep to fiddle around with polish.

Two days later, I helped at VBS. And this is what an hour or so of opening pudding cups will do to relatively freshly painted nails.

Next week I'm going to a conference where "a basic manicure" is recommended for the speaker evaluation sessions. I wrestle with the concept because I don't want to add one more bit of pressure to my life. (And frankly, I'm not sure when I'm supposed to get them 'manicured' between preparing myself to go and preparing everyone else for me to be gone.)

But beyond that, it feels a little disingenuous to me to take on a "sharp" haircut and manicured nails when my days really pass in ponytails and unadorned nails. Where's the line between "good hygiene" and over-doing?

If I show up to speak at a MOPS group (where many women are glad to get out of the house in an outfit without spots of spit-up and their hair blow-dried instead of 'wash and wear') perfectly pressed, with every hair in place and my nails properly manicured, do I become a little less relatable?

For this conference, I'll probably comply and try to have my nails look nice for the occasion.

But as soon as I get home, I'll go back to naked nails. I don't want to be the kind of mom who doesn't want to open the pudding cups because it will mess up my manicure.

Getting a Facelift

Wow! I can't believe it's been 4 months since I originally posted this! I really AM in the midst of getting a new design up--I'm thinking (hoping?) it should be any day. 

No, not my face. (Although some might not think it a
bad idea.)

Do you ever avoid spending time in a room in your home just because you're tired of how it looks? Rather than being inspiring and uplifting, it's de-motivating?

Sadly, that's how I've been feeling about my blog for a while. I think it's bordering on pitiful that I avoid coming here to post new thoughts in part because I just don't want to look at it.

So, I'm going to do something about that and spruce things up (hopefully very soon). I hope to end up with a space we all enjoying visiting more often.
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Bloom where you're NOT planted--5 Minutes for Faith

If you've stopped by during the past year or two, you may have gathered that I've been in a bit of a desert for a while. I try not to let circumstances dictate my well-being (or not), but sometimes it's hard to keep the unwelcome realities of life from displacing my internal contentment.

Not long ago though, I got a new perspective of how to get through those periods when it seems like I don't have access to the things that refresh my spirit and I feel like the drought is going to get the best of me.


I wrote about it at 5 Minutes for Faith today. Stop by and see the beautiful re-design (and I promise, mine is coming here soon too!) and see what I learned about blooming where I'm not planted.

Beating Summer Boredom without Busting the Budget--Internet Cafe

Can you hear it? It started out softly; a whisper of whining floating on the breeze through the open windows of countless homes across North America. 

Now that we've officially passed the picnics and pyrotechnics of Independence Day, the whisper is turning to a full-fledged wail. And soon, if a plan isn't implemented, neighborhoods near and far will echo with one cry, "I'M BORED!!!"

But all is not lost. There is still time to redeem the summer and your sanity. I've got 15 tips to help you and your kids enjoy the rest of the summer rather than endure it. Follow me over to Internet Cafe today to check out my suggestions and share your own.

Together we can give our kids a summer they'll be proud to talk about this fall when they're asked to write their first, "What I Did on My Summer Vacation," essay.

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Sometimes a Question isn't about the Answer

"When is it going to rain here again?" my 7 year old asked. At the official start of summer, the truth is that we might not see rain until November.

I followed my curiousity and asked him, "Do you want it to rain again or not?"

"I do," he replied.

"Why do you want it to rain?"

"I like the sound the cars make when they drive through the deep puddles."

I never would have guessed that would be the reason behind the question. It led to a nice discussion about missing the northwest.

It was a good reminder that it's important not to get so caught up in answering the question that I miss the real concern behind it.

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Redefining "Worship"

Can you 'worship' without music?

I don't mean when you're at the ocean appreciating God's majesty in His creation. Or having an intense quiet time where God speaks so clearly through His word.

Can you sit in church and "worship" if there's no music?

No organ prelude. No hymns. No choruses. No special offeratory.

I know some people who can't. People who wish the sermon was a 15 minute devotion so we could all get back to singing. Well, if we were honest, they'd really rather have no speaking aside from the narrative between songs.

Recently, our church took a music 'fast.' I have a lot of respect for leaders who are willing to take something as entrenched and 'important' as music and take it completely out of the service in recognition that its importance and place has gotten out of whack.

Pastor gave the congregation homework of coming to the service on Sunday with something to share. If you're part of a standard, conservative-type church, there isn't much opportunity to stand from your seat and speak to the entire fellowship. Yet that's what was going on in the earliest churches.

So where we'd normally have been "led" (or entertained) in song, people throughout the church rose to share a word that was meaningful to them this week by means of encouraging the body through their "Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs." It was different, but it was a huge blessing.

I'm not one to pitch the baby out with the bathwater, so I don't think we need to leave the piano vacant and the mic's turned off for good. But it was refreshing to be reminded that we are all to minister to one another, not just show up to watch the "professionals" do it.

What would you think if you showed up to church on a Sunday morning and there was no music? If the pastor asked you to minister to your fellow church-members by sharing something meaningful God showed you this week, would you have anything to say? What one aspect of church would you be unwilling to give up?


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