Savoring Rest
I have a complicated relationship with rest. In a season of burnout on the field, I was weary in mind, soul, and body. I didn’t know how to ask for help or explain why I was struggling. Leadership pushed me to get to work and “get out there more.” The message I internalized then was, […]
Table Moments: Awkward and Sacred
Can you imagine if a group of us got together and started sharing our food stories? You’ve probably been in this scenario. There’s nothing like the one-upping of global workers when it comes to the wild things we’ve eaten and the awkward situations we’ve found ourselves in around a table. I vividly remember the moment […]
Pilgrimage
I discovered the tradition of Lent in the midst of reentry turmoil. Having grown up in denominations that didn’t practice it, Lent was entirely new to me, but the clear structure—forty days—and the history of it felt like a haven in the chaos. When I felt disconnected and alone, this practice connected me to countless […]
The Sweetness of Now
I wanted a big word for the year: thrive, success, even flourish, but baby number four was on the way. I now know that the physical and mental toll of having a newborn is not something to take lightly. I traveled too soon with my first and second born, nursing my daughter in the back […]
From Bitter to Sweet
There was a steady hum coming from the large machine nestled up to the outside wall of our house. Just like that, our front porch had become a thrown-together ice cream shop. My husband and our two Ugandan interns were deep into their experimenting, using our blue plastic table as an outdoor kitchen. Making, remaking, […]
This Month’s Theme: Savor
To savor something is to pause, to linger, to pay attention. It’s an intentional act of noticing and receiving. In the whirlwind of cross-cultural life, savoring can feel like a luxury—or even a challenge when circumstances press in. Yet, God invites us to savor his goodness, not just in the moments of delight but even […]
A Message to My Girls
Hi Friends. I know it might seem presumptuous to pen a letter on God’s behalf but my hope is you will hear His wooing and bring Him glory by noticing and enjoying the good gifts He has for you today.—Patty My holy and set apart Beloved, I chose you. Yes, you. I tenderly counted the […]
Pigeon Loaf, God, and Me
The day I ate pigeon loaf I tried very hard to not taste it. It really was a gigantic slab of meatloaf, entirely made out of the meat from a pigeon. That just shouldn’t be a thing. The goal was simply to get it down my throat in front of my smiling host who looked […]
Learning to Savor
Savor the moment Enjoy the journey Stop and smell the roses Capture the fluffy moments These are simple phrases that are not always so simple to live out in our day-to-day lives. I find myself in a season of constant change, transition and growth. We are home on furlough, living stateside for only one year. […]
The Grove Prompt: Savor
When’s the last time you savored something? A delight so delicious, fascinating, or nourishing to your body or soul that you sunk deep in its richness and enjoyed it to the fullest? If it’s been awhile, slow down and pay attention to what’s around you. It’s often simple pleasures that bring joy and delight when […]