Author Archives: A J S

This one got me. Full disclosure: I haven’t opened my Bible or cute advent books in like 6 days. But it’s okay- I hid the elf, so I’m not totally failing. At 1:30pm today, I decided I had three options: Cancel my plans for the night bc I’m overwhelmed and waaaay behind. Close my door-ContinueContinue reading “Advent: Day 18”

Some days have been kinda boring. Some days I enjoy scripture. Some days I just read to get it done. Today was a “check the box” kind of start. The verses that I read were all about preparing for Christmas-getting ready for day 25. I’ve got some sick friends and family right now that aren’tContinueContinue reading “The 10th Day”

I was teaching Sunday School to a group of a dozen high school girls in the middle of the summer. I don’t remember how the conversation got started, but it ended with me changing my “religious views” Facebook profile to JITRFTS. (Jesus is the Reason for the Season) If it would have been 2020, weContinueContinue reading “#JITRFTS”

I listened to a song the other day- “Where are you Christmas?” -from one of my favorite Christmas movies. This particular version was a mom/daughter duet. It kinda got me…bc it was precious…and bc pandemic Christmas kinda sucks. This year marks year five not working for a church- I think. It’s hard. When you spendContinueContinue reading “Where are you freaking Christmas!?”

She comes across the funniest, most appropriate (or not so appropriate) memes I’ve ever seen…which makes her more fun to text with than talk to. She has great taste in Netflix. She hates coffee. I almost got kicked out of Cracker Barrel because of her. She’s quiet…so she sees more. She appreciates sentiment and hasContinueContinue reading “Sobriety: a happy ending”

It’s interesting to me to study the “journey” from conception to eternity. What happens to your body, mind, and spirit is slightly predictable and wildly unique. I think that’s pretty cool. Walking through some of those phases has been a lot different than studying it. The hard parts hurt more than you can expect. SometimesContinueContinue reading “Life Span: End of Life”

April 5th, 2010 journal entry: “God, give me wisdom and discernment. I want to change things up at work, but not if it’s not going to be YOU[r will]. Jenni Johnson.” A few weeks before that, I had asked a stay at home mom to do the unthinkable: apply for a job. I knew sheContinueContinue reading “Paragraphs for my BFF”

November 5th is a special day in our family. It’s the date that Madelyn (our oldest) professed her faith in God for the first time. Since she was so young, it has been important to us to have conversations with her as she develops emotionally/mentally. We want her to think about her past, present, andContinueContinue reading “Madelyn Grace,”

“God, please keep my babies safe.” I’ve whispered that prayer several hundred times. It just kinda comes out when I’m dropping my girls (7 and 9) off at school. It’s not planned…it’s probably not even exactly what I want, but it’s what I ask. (that’s a whole different story) I went all summer without evenContinueContinue reading “Back to school…”

If I could change one thing about children’s ministry, it would be church attendance. Kidmins may be the most un-churched people in the church. Four myths that make us think kidmins aren’t allowed to sit down (in church): The nature of children’s ministry is organized chaos. You don’t get the luxury of an RSVP forContinueContinue reading “Is your Kidmin Un-churched?”