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Jen Bradbury
Sep 14 · 5 min read

Really just the same

Today, I'm linking up with Kate Motaung's Five Minute Friday. The rules: Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.

This week's prompt: Same.

Five Minute Friday 4 300x300

You and I, we're different.

I was born in the United States. You...

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#refugee #war #babies #parenting

Jen Bradbury
Aug 28 · 5 min read

To my daughter on her baptism

Sweet Girl -

This is the week of your baptism, an event which is a big deal to your dad and I.

Baptism is a strange thing for us... Something we both have some baggage with.

Our parents had each of us baptized when we were babies. Me at your...

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#church #baptism #babies #mentor #Jesus #scripture #Prayer #justice #confirmation #Community #grace #worship #crucifixion #evangelism

Jen Bradbury
Aug 03 · 5 min read

The visibility problem

Playing Piano In Worship

In junior high, I began accompanying my school's weekly chapel service on the piano. It was a way for me to use my gifts to serve and glorify God even as an introverted kid. It was also what made hours of practicing the piano start to feel worth...

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#church #maternity leave #introvert #music #babies #youth ministry #worship

Jen Bradbury
Jul 23 · 5 min read

The Maternity Leave Sabbatical

Maternity Leave

Eight weeks ago, I had a baby girl, Hope.

My pregnancy was wrought with all kinds of trouble and fear.

As a female youth worker, one of my early fears was how my church would react to the news.

I hoped it would be unashamedly excited for me,...

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#babies #pregnancy #miscarriage #youth ministry #Women #brave #Missions #breastfeeding #c-section #Prayer #maternity leave #gratitude #parenting #church

Jen Bradbury
Jul 07 · 5 min read

What I'm Into (June, 2015 Edition)

Reading:

Fiction:

Truthfully, I imagined I'd be reading much more during my maternity leave than I actually am. Between my exhaustion and a steady-stream of visitors, I only read three fiction books this month: The Bright Side Of Disaster...

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#What I'm Into #babies #books #TV #movies #The Youth Cartel #Jesus gap #Jesus

Jen Bradbury
Jun 23 · 5 min read

Permission to call 24-7

Over the years, I've sat in a number of counseling workshops and classes. Inevitably at such places, we talk about the importance of establishing boundaries with the teens we serve as youth pastors. As part of this, trainers often suggest that you...

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#counseling #crisis #boundaries #babies #breastfeeding #parenting #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Jun 19 · 5 min read

Review: Surprised by Motherhood by Lisa-Jo Baker

Filed in Book Review

As a young child, I much preferred playing with stuffed animals to playing house with dolls. As I grew older, I had far more dreams related to careers than motherhood. It took my husband several years to convince me that parenthood was something...

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#miscarriage #babies #parenting #books

Jen Bradbury
Jun 09 · 5 min read

What youth workers can learn from Grey's Anatomy about prayer

As I've been breastfeeding, I've been binge watching Grey's Anatomy. I recently watched an episode in Season 5 in which Addison's brother, Archer, has worms in his brain – something that's clearly a very serious condition. In an attempt to save...

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#TV #youth ministry #Prayer #discussion #Jesus #atonement #breastfeeding #babies #retreats

Jen Bradbury
Jun 02 · 5 min read

What I'm Into (May, 2015 Edition)

Reading:

Fiction:

I read three fiction books during April: Nora Roberts' The Liar, which was certainly not my favorite of her mysteries; David Baldacci's The Memory Man, which was fantastic; and Lisa Scottoline's Every Fifteen Minutes, ...

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#books #movies #TV #What I'm Into #hope #mentor #miscarriage #gratitude #ALS #babies #c-section

Jen Bradbury
Jun 01 · 5 min read

Baby Blue Eyes

Today, I'm linking up with Kate Motaung's Five Minute Friday. The rules: Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.

This week's prompt: Blue. 

Five Minute Friday 4 300x300

The first time I gazed into your blue eyes I was still on the...

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#Five Minute Friday #pregnancy #love #c-section #babies #parenting

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Tags

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Latest Posts

  • Really just the same
  • To my daughter on her baptism
  • The visibility problem
  • The Maternity Leave Sabbatical
  • What I'm Into (June, 2015 Edition)
  • Permission to call 24-7
  • Review: Surprised by Motherhood by Lisa-Jo Baker
  • What youth workers can learn from Grey's Anatomy about prayer
  • What I'm Into (May, 2015 Edition)
  • Baby Blue Eyes

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