Kristen Welch

We are THAT Family

Blog

Hello Monday.

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  • On a whim, I cut six inches off my hair this week.
  • My baby turns 13 today. Thirteen. I think this makes me old (see below).
  • My college girl is home from college. In her printmaking class (she’s an art major;  she carved a huge piece of wood, rolled ink on it and created this print) and framed it for our anniversary (swoon).
  • I am celebrating my 25th anniversary this week.
  • Oh, I also turn 47 years old on Thursday.
  • I’m going on a cruise for a few days with my family to celebrate all of the above…
  • Which means I am also currently overcoming anxiety that often takes the form of claustrophobia.
  • I’m not ashamed to say that medication and the peace of Jesus is making that possible.
  • Today is the last day to order gifts in time for Christmas at Mercy House Global. And it’s FREE SHIPPING on the entire store! Use code at checkout: FREESHIP19
  • But the charitable gift catalog that allows us to support our teen moms and babies will be available to shop until New Year’s.
  • I’m poking my nose back in here later this week to share my 20th podcast episode with you. God showed me something that is carrying me right now. I want it to carry you, too.

There’s No Time Like the Present. Give the Gift of Presence This Christmas

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It was the biggest Christmas poinsettia I'd ever seen. She held it out, blocking my view, filling the space between us. My arms automatically reached out and our hands touched as I received her gift. And even though I couldn't see her face, I knew she was smiling. Because I was, too. It turns out when you show up at the door of a refugee on a regular basis,  your presence is a gift you both get to unwrap because He is also present. We drank strong, hot coffee, and ate the good kind of ... Read More

A Million Welcomes

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Baynatna khubz wa milah It’s an Arabic phrase which translates to say 'there is bread and salt between us'. It means that although there is much strife in the world, there is an enduring bond between people who have sat and shared a meal together. I have a Syrian cookbook that sits open on my kitchen counter that shares this phrase as a title. But I have not only witnessed the truth of this saying from the name of a book— No, I am also living it. For the last several months, I’ve ... Read More

A Baby Changed Everything: A Giving Tuesday Invitation

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I will never forget what the nurse in the maternity ward said to me as she carefully placed my firstborn baby--who was the result of five years of infertility and finally made her appearance a whopping 9 days after her due date -- into my arms. She said, "a baby changes everything." I smiled at her words, but I had no idea what they meant. But she was right. That pink bundle changed my sleeping patterns, schedules, body,  work life and everything in-between. My life has never been the ... Read More

Ep. 19 | Thanks A Lot

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“Mom…mom, hey mom!” My son had said my name 7 times in the last two minutes. I held up a finger, signifying he would wait until I paused in an important conversation with my husband. I continued talking and then-- He said my name—one more time. I should have ignored it, but I had lost my train of thought by that point. Exasperated, I turned around and said loudly, “WHAT, honey?” I think my left eye was twitching. He looked half-scared of my tone, half-relieved it was his turn, “I just ... Read More