Stories connect us to one another, and I believe those connections are important; thus, this dino-esque blog.

I also believe it's okay to love dinosaurs while also wanting to eventually become a pastor, and both of these things are indeed significant parts of my own story. It might seem like a fairly odd combination, but I think God can handle it (Lord knows God has dealt with me and my...er...uniqueness? for quite some time).

I know it's been important in the past for ministerial leaders to put on a sort of façade that is meant to convince those under their care that they are always have the answers, that they always have it all together, that they never get tired, that they never experience any emotions other than happiness and contentment; I, however, am here to openly state that I will not be that pastor.

Our pastor recently shared a memory from an earlier part of his life with us that has made my insistence to be open and honest with people that much more focal for my ministry. He shared with us that there was a time when he felt as though he wasn't--for lack of a better way to phrase it--being the best he could be for God. "I let God down," he explained to a friend at the time, to which that friend replied,

"I hate to tell you this, but you were never holding God up to begin with."

What a powerful and truthful reminder! We are not called to be perfect. We are not called to be do-gooders. We are called to love God and love others to the very best of our ability.

As I want to get to know friends, parishioners, and members of the community for who they truly are, I think it's important to faith growth for all parties involved if I show my imperfections. And trust me, there are quite a few. But that is a part of my story for another day.

My goal with this blog is to look at everyday situations through a theological lens and provide hope in situations where it is not so easy to locate the light while also bringing to light conditions and areas of brokenness in the world that I didn't really pay attention to prior to arriving to Delaware, Ohio to attend seminary.

There will be days of sharing joy and comedy, and there will also be days of sharing pain--whether my own or that of others who would benefit from our knowledge, compassion and prayers. I am so excited to finally have worked up the courage to start this thing, and I thank you in advance to those who are just crazy enough to follow along. It is with thanks to God, my husband, family, and friends that I am better able to understand and know God everyday, and I am so grateful (as a fairly extroverted person) to have a space to think out loud about what God's presence in our lives and in this world means in the present moment. Thanks for stopping by, and until next time....

Wishing you dinosaur dreams & spiritual things to awaken your "happy" and to awaken your soul