I had my all time favorite teacher in the fourth grade. Miss Mizrahi. She was smart, kind, and challenging. I learned how to debate in her class. She gave us free rein to say what we believed and to defend our arguments with passion and courage. My friend Samuel also came from a Christian family,…
Our wants change over the years, don’t they? Life changes us, children change us, marriage changes us. We wake up one day and realize that what we wanted twenty years ago, or even five years ago is different now. The grand hopes we had as young people in our early twenties setting out on life…
Hey there darling girl, It’s me, an older version of you. A much curvier, softened version of you. Gravity at its finest. I’ve been thinking about you these past few days. You lost your job at the church, a job you loved. You’re ashamed and afraid, wondering if you are enough. You’ve also got a…
Twelve years ago my role changed at the church I was working at. I had been working as a College Director and because of reorganization and the birth of my daughter, I found my name wiped off the staff roster. I had a baby and then I didn’t have a job at the church. There…
I grew up going to a small Presbyterian church with a red carpet that went down the middle of the sanctuary, old wooden benches with puke yellow cushions, and beautiful navy blue hardback hymnals. My family started attending church when I was two years old because a neighbor lady invited my mom to a Friday…
intention |inˈten(t)SH(ə)n| noun1 a thing intended; an aim or plan: she was full of good intentions | [ with infinitive ] : At the beginning of each yoga class, the instructor has the students put their hands to heart center and set their intention for the class. The first few months that I went to yoga this annoyed me. I felt like saying, “My intention is…
Today, I went onto my Facebook site and changed my name. Tina Osterhouse. It’s the name I had all my life, the name I was born with, my dad’s name, my family name. I was proud to be Tina Bustamante for sixteen years and will always feel a deep love and admiration, and a certain affinity with…
I’ve been insatiably interested in God since I was small a kid. I used to invite Jesus into my heart on a near daily basis, with great pomp and dramatic contrition whilst sitting on the toilet, children’s Holy Bible in hand, and skinny chicken-legs dangling. I’d pray the most dramatic prayers begging for salvation. I’ve been…
Lindsey Mead of A Design So Vast does a piece each month she titles, Things I Love Lately. I look forward to these posts because I get book ideas and articles to read, she promotes people’s blogs from time to time, shares what her kids are reading. It’s so helpful and fun to be part…
I’m in the middle of waiting for a bunch of different things. It drives me crazy. I’m waiting on an agent who is reading my most recent novel. It’s the longest, most risky thing I’ve ever done. I feel committed to the process, but the waiting is such a challenge. Will he want to represent…
