The Whole Kristen ca-Doodle

People Won't Know Their Welcome Unless You Say They Are I once told my dear friend, our church secretary at the time, this, when we were discussing open and affirming congregations.  The thing is, if you are part of a group that has been historically held to the periphery of society, or in some way made to feel less than, or been explicitly told that you are an abomination, it would be really hard, it would take extreme bravery and courage to enter any place, but expecially a faith community that didn't go out of her way to offer you a specific welcome.  So, IT DOESN"T MATTER IF YOU WOULD WELCOME THEM ONCE THEY'RE THERE or not!  Leaving a church after three decades and becoming a visitor in others has opened my eyes to how much bravery and courage is involved in visiting new faith communities at all.   So I picked one that displayed obvious welcome.  One that flies a rainbow flag, one that hangs a banner welcoming refugees and immigrants.  I am none ...

Love is to me what smiling is to Buddy the Elf. It is my favorite. And love wins.  Every. Time. The families at my daughters' school who take in multiple foster children and change their lives.   #winning My neighbor's cousin and her wife who adopted a baby boy with Down syndrome, who passed away, and later adopted a sweet baby girl who also has Down syndrome.  #winning My community that binds together every summer to work collectively to put lunches in the hands of children who might otherwise go without . *  #winning My neighbors, who are engaged, and each have a child from a previous relationship, but refuse to let the breakup of those kiddos' parents get in the way of forming their new, modern family, and co-parent like champs .  #winning The aunt and uncle who built a new home considering how it will best welcome their plethora of nieces and nephews.  #winning My sister who lost her mom too soon, but honors her every day in th...