Bumper Stickers of the Christian Writers Conference

I have spent this past week in Someplace Beautiful, USA at a Christian Writers Conference. Blessings have been pouring down. I have felt drenched as a writer from the blessings: interactions with fellow writers, editors, agents; insights on the Christian publishing industry; the beauty of creation here. As a little marker of my time here, I’ve “collected” some of the bumper stickers I have seen around the conference center. Bumper stickers are such a big-small thing, are they not? In a small space, we can convey a big message. As a petite person with a mousey voice, I appreciate the … Continue Reading →

Photo on 2013-04-30 at 10.18

Three

In the past year you have: – swum in Lake Lure – learned to bomb down a hill on a balance bike – understood what it means to lose an animal much beloved – become a full-time big boy potty user. – become a complete Rock City junkie – overcome some serious separation anxiety – made good pals at the gym – visited Savannah, GA – made an imprint as the younger sibling who knocks big sister’s things down on the regular – continued to be our giggle-prone guy – sustained a train obsession although you could do without the … Continue Reading →

Singular Angelina

I don’t think anyone would argue that Angelina Jolie is a singular woman. Her strikingly unique features, her seering expressions, her groundbreaking humanitarianism. Angelina Jolie–is there any other? photo credit: NYT But in light of her revelation of her double mastectomy to prevent breast cancer given her rare genetic background, I want to echo this again: Angelina Jolie is a singular woman. The procedure she elected to have took tremendous courage. It also took specialists and significant time and a loving companion, the support of family and friends. Angelina Jolie speaks of the procedure as “a scene out of a … Continue Reading →

Anything better

In a more recent episode of “Mad Men,” Betty Draper pauses before carving into her Weight Watchers Thanksgiving dinner. Her son reminds her to say what she is thankful for. She says, “I’m thankful that I have everything I want…and that no one else has anything better.” It’s a reflection of her character, a grown-up princess, and perhaps of America at the time. It is not enough to be grateful just for what we have, but the benchmark of gratitude is drawn in comparison to what others have. At least what we know that they have. True, in the mid-1960s … Continue Reading →

Running my guts out

Every six months or so, I take up running again, which in this curvy petite body looks like this: For a month, I reappreciate running and all of its benefits, and for at least a couple of those weeks of running, I do not totally feel as though both my lungs are going to collapse and I am not going to have some kind of reverse-intestinal upchuck fiesta on the track. Running is a great outlet for stress but I do not live in a body that can endure running on the regular. My long history of pounding out Irish … Continue Reading →

tatebiker

Growing Pains

Baby Girl was complaining recently about some pains in her joints, I couldn’t tell you the name of the joints, maybe I should consult the hip bone’s connected to the…song. The poor girl seemed legitimately hurting as she pointed to where her little legs met her little hips and I gave her a little hip-noogie to dull the ache. My brother used to get growing pains in his legs, my baby brother who stands 6 feet tall. I told Baby Girl that she might be getting growing pains, and why would the girl who has grown two clothes sizes in … Continue Reading →

Great Gatsby

Dear High School Sophomores, The Great Gatsby dam is about to break and the waters of excess are going to flood every aspect of our culture. This means nothing to you now while you are Snapchatting away on the phone that you pulled out of your Coach wristlet. But a few drafts of that five paragraph essay later and you’ll know what I mean. Or will you? Because, in addition to having the powers of the internet machine, you get to consult Leonardo di Caprio “for research purposes.” Versus Kendra Stanton circa 1996 who had Mrs. L. Bluhm as a … Continue Reading →

Walking

How do you walk through the sadness, in literal steps pressing forward when the force of this heavy sadness seems to be pushing you back with each pressing step? The pain is there and it is inconvenient and messy and it would not pack away with a simple aphorism would not be mitigated by information or proximity or even a simple prayer. This week we walk with our pain still close still as sure as Martin’s brown eyes peering out at us We will count our victories not at finish lines but when we turn corners and greet neighbors when … Continue Reading →

Show Your Real: Kendra

Was that the sound of you just gasping because you had JUST told the lady on the bus (the one with the leopard-print neck brace) that you were DYING to know how Kendra spent her day? I thought that was you! Well, lucky for all our loyal readers here at kendraspondence, Kendra invited herself to the party going on over at Bowdenisms and will be sharing her real, that is, providing the true itinerary of a typical day in her shoes. ***Morning*** Most mornings I am up by 6:45 a.m. In the months when it is not dark out, I … Continue Reading →

10 Lessons from Ira Glass at the Tivoli, CHA

1.) I missed the memo that hipster glasses + checked shirt were requisite audience uniform. #missedthememo 2.) Beginning a live show in total darkness save for the glow of an iPad and the sound of Ira Glass’ voice? Makes my mind go crazy, crazy places. #YESnoYESnoYESisaidNO 3.) Ira Glass did not rock the cliched skinny tie. #radiotakesthestage 4.) Ira Glass’ parents wanted him to be a doctor and could barely forgive him for his non-pursuit of med school well into his thirties. #salary=agex1000 5.) Turns out the story structure championed by TAL is the same one Jesus used #sermonswork 6.) … Continue Reading →