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Jen Bradbury
Jul 17 · 5 min read

On being done

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

This week's prompt: Done.

Sobbing During The Faith Goodbye

My boss, Joe, walked me up to my office at the end of a long Sunday. It was a good...

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#youth pastor #Prayer #Community #toddlers #church #Jesus #faith formation #grief

Jen Bradbury
Jul 16 · 5 min read

Review: Inspired by Rachel Held Evans

Filed in Book Review

According to author Rachel Held Evans, “Those who say having a childlike faith means not asking questions haven’t met too many children.”

What I love about that sentiment – and about Rachel in general – is that she embraces questions of all...

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#discussion #church #scripture #toddlers #books

Jen Bradbury
Apr 06 · 5 min read

Playing Church

“Let’s play church,” said my two-year old daughter, Hope. She then proceeded to seat my husband and I, hand out songbooks, and push two ottomans in our living room together to form a makeshift altar.

“I’ll be Pastor Wende,” she said,...

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#church #toddlers #Jesus #liturgy #faith formation

Jen Bradbury
Dec 14 · 5 min read

Making Jesus accessible

“I have to go get my guys!” my two-year old daughter, Hope, told me as I began reading the Christmas story to her during our morning devotion. A few minutes later she returned with her Fisher Price nativity set and proceeded to act out the...

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#Jesus gap #Rwanda #toddlers #youth pastor #Jesus #parenting #faith formation

Jen Bradbury
Oct 31 · 5 min read

Review: God Gave Us Family by Lisa Tawn Bergren

Filed in Book Review

Much to my delight, my daughter, Hope, loves to read. We read in the morning, in the afternoon, and before bed. The other day, we even caught her reading while she was trying to go potty.

This girl likes books – a fact that couldn’t make me...

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#toddlers #parenting #books

Jen Bradbury
Oct 25 · 5 min read

Do you need me?

“Mama, do you need me?” my 2-year old daughter, Hope, cried from the living room.

The truth is, I didn’t.

When Hope cried out to me, I was cooking dinner – making homemade mac & cheese out of squash. I had two boiling pans on the stove and the...

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#toddlers #student leadership #parenting #culture of welcome #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Oct 13 · 5 min read

Review: Loving My Actual Christmas by Alexandra Kuykendall

Christmas has always stressed me out. That stress has only worsened since I became a mom.

For that reason, I was intrigued by Alexandra Kuykendall’s Loving My Actual Christmas: An Experiment in Relishing the Season. In this book, Alexandra sets...

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#hope #toddlers #love #motherhood #parenting

Jen Bradbury
Oct 04 · 5 min read

Whatever happened to Corduroy's Lisa?

I have faint memories of reading Corduroy as a child.

So, when someone gave us Corduroy at my daughter’s baby shower, I was delighted, eager to share the adorable bear with the missing button with my daughter.

What I didn’t remember from my...

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#toddlers #racism #parenting #books

Jen Bradbury
Sep 22 · 5 min read

Review: Whole by Steve Wiens

Filed in Book Review

The last six weeks have been challenging.

The transition at my church continues to be difficult.

My daughter started preschool and while she’s thriving, adapting our schedules has been rough for all of us.

Multiple people in my husband’s family...

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#church #scripture #toddlers #books

Jen Bradbury
Jul 12 · 5 min read

Play toys, Mama!

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

This week's prompt: Play.

Play Puzzles

“Hope-girl, what do you want to do today?” I ask my two-year-old daughter.

Her lips...

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#toddlers #play #God #motherhood #parenting #books

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Latest Posts

  • On being done
  • Review: Inspired by Rachel Held Evans
  • Playing Church
  • Making Jesus accessible
  • Review: God Gave Us Family by Lisa Tawn Bergren
  • Do you need me?
  • Review: Loving My Actual Christmas by Alexandra Kuykendall
  • Whatever happened to Corduroy's Lisa?
  • Review: Whole by Steve Wiens
  • Play toys, Mama!

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