My sister had twins in January and I had the opportunity to meet my nephews a few weekends ago. I went to Nashville with the mindset that I was going there to help, to relieve some of the pressure that having two newborns brings. I think I did that but…I’m still recovering. That shit was … Continue reading
Author Archives: welderbeth
Tidying Up: Faith Edition
If you haven’t watched Marie Kondo’s Tidying Up on Netflix, well, you need to. Actually, know thyself. It will either inspire you and make you soar on the wings of eagles or make you want to sit in your closet on a pile of garbage and cry your eyes out. I binge-watched it on New … Continue reading
Dear Niece: Here’s What’s Coming
Hey F.A.S, You and I haven’t hung out much yet; you’ve been busy being an infant and I’ve been busy taking children to the hospital. Well, there was that one time when I baby sat you but you mostly screamed and I mostly wore noise-cancelling headphones. We didn’t get to chat. I did get to … Continue reading
Great Guest. Reasonably Clean: A Travel Blog
“When are we ever going to use this?” I remember thinking that about Greek mythology stories. Now, remember this was high school Beth and I was likely wearing my too-tight shirt that had tie-dye JESUS FREAK emblazoned across my chest and I found pagan theology distasteful. I probably even judgmentally snuck my pocket Bible out … Continue reading
Rock Steady: A Tribute
What do you get for a woman who has everything? Or perhaps more accurately, who often doesn’t know what she needs because she’s too busy advocating for grandkids at hospitals, cleaning dishes, ironing Band concert clothes, or cleaning under the fridge? Well, she likes rocks. I was purchasing recycling bags at our local city hall … Continue reading
Sermon: Communal Lament and Modern Sackcloth
My friend Sarah and I preached on Lamentations 4 on Sunday. You can listen to it here. Here’s a written excerpt from my conclusion: People of privilege, I interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to give you good news. God does miraculous things in the midst of suffering and we do not have to be left … Continue reading
Fix It, Jesus
“What was I thinking?” I thought as I stared forlornly into the mirror. I should have known better than to impulsively stop at the hair salon directly adjacent to the Tom Thumb, still clutching my bag of avocados. I was hoping for a cute haircut before I left on my 10th anniversary weekend trip. Instead, … Continue reading
Tear Gas: A Litany
I wondered if the American church was like well-mannered nice-talkers, sitting in a living room sipping coffee, talking about choir practice,while the world burns down outside our windows. While the richest people on earth pray to get richer, the rest of the world begs for intervention with their faces pressed to the window, watching … Continue reading
Embodied
There is something deeply, soul-quenchingly satisfying about feeling the air on my face, the wind in my hair. I don’t know why. I’m not particularly a daredevil but I’ve ridden mopeds, open air jeeps, and these little electric razor scooters and I love every second of it. Alex and I recently got a chance to … Continue reading
Aged
Last week, I stopped by a liquor store to pick up some vodka for homemade vanilla that we’re making for Christmas gifts. I stood in front of the giant wall of clear liquid that (literally) all looks the same, completely flummoxed. I’m not sure the employee appreciated my question as to whether the “cheapie vodka” … Continue reading