My six year old son recently stumbled upon a miniature notebook. He was delighted to discover that it was brand new, and even more thrilled when I told him he could keep it. He grabbed a red marker and wrote “Henry” on the front. “What are you going to use it for?” I asked him, […]
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Out of Place – April’s Story When Sarah and I first discussed my guest post for her “Out of Place” series back in April, I was excited to share my story because I basically have felt out of place most of my life. I got married relatively young, I live in a home with four […]
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One Sunday not too long ago, our family packed up our canopy tent and our beach chairs and headed out to the park on the bay. Loaded down with our picnic and our fishing gear, we set up near the water while our two boys zoomed around on their scooters. After lunch, my six year […]
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Out of Place – Joy’s Story All that mega-church money, and none of it had reached this little room. Orange plastic chairs tucked under the chipped veneer table, cold and full of static under buzzing fluorescent tubes. This, the pastor had promised from stage on Sunday, is where I would experience life-changing community. I had […]
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One thing we can all agree on is that 2020 has been rough. We are not okay. Each of us is walking this earth carrying our personal share of heartbreak, grief, and disappointment as this year continues to knock us over, wave after wave. Our mental health hangs by a thread as we try to […]
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Out of Place – Shanelle’s Story Mom was a trainer and teacher of the trade. Her long legs moved with grace as her fiery bobbed hair swished around. Her speckled arms could wrap around me for days. If a horse was there, it followed. Students waited for her every word. I used to sit on […]
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My husband, like many men, is not a big fan of shopping. You would never find him at the mall, or wandering into boutique stores in touristy locations. The appeal of walking and talking and browsing the aisles looking at pretty things is completely lost on him. Except if it’s Costco. He loves walking down […]
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Out of Place – Angela’s Story Most of my life I have felt out of place, as if I did not belong. I just thought everyone felt this way. The psychological and spiritual tool of the Enneagram of Personality helped me see that not everyone has this experience. Many of us outliers that often have […]
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Last week marked our third attempt to grow plants in our condo. The first time we tried to grow flowers in the guest room by the window, but there wasn’t enough light. The second time, we tried to grow plants on our porch but the whole thing is always covered in shade. I was barely […]
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Out of Place – Kristina’s Story My son spent his toddler and preschool years rambling around our spacious house and yard in California. Lush, countless mature fruit trees, palm trees, and flowering bushes enfolded our property. We escaped the heat in our backyard pool. My then-husband spent his time at work, and I spent it […]
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Sarah K. Butterfield 