Stories & Updates
Where are You?
The first question God asked after sin wasn’t:
“What did you do?”
It was:
“Where are you?”
Not information.
Invitation.
That changes everything about how I parent.
Because if I want honesty from my child, I have to create safety for it.
Not shame.
Not fear.
Not distance.
✨ New post: Where Are You?
Biblical parenting starts with relationship.
Why are You Here
I had a moment recently where my toddler was completely melting down—and nothing made sense.
He had food. A clean diaper. Attention.
And then someone asked, “Where is his cup?”
That was it. He was just thirsty.
It reminded me of Elijah in 1 Kings 19. After a huge spiritual victory, he ran, collapsed, and asked God to let him die.
God didn’t correct him first.
He let him sleep.
He fed him.
He restored him.
Only then did He ask, “What are you doing here?”
That’s been sitting with me.
Sometimes our children don’t need discipline first—they need stability.
I wrote more about this in Why Are You Here?—a reflection on how God parents with both grace and accountability.
Why is Your Face Downcast?
Motherhood has taught me something surprising:
Sometimes, the best parenting… doesn’t “work.”
In Genesis 4, God noticed Cain before he sinned.
He asked questions. He offered guidance. He gave a way out.
And Cain still chose wrong.
That changes how I see my role as a mom.
I’m not responsible for perfect outcomes.
I’m responsible for faithful presence.
Even in the cookie aisle meltdowns. 😉
✨ New blog: Why Is Your Face Downcast?
A look at how God parents—and what that means for us.
The Questions That Shape Us
Something new is beginning at Umbwella’s Stand.
For the past year, we’ve been telling the story of how we’ve seen God move. Now, we’re stepping into the next part of the vision—raising up the next generation.
This May, we’re launching a five-part series, “The Questions God Asks,” written by my daughter, Austi. Together, we’ll explore how God parents His children—and how His example shapes the way we guide, disciple, and love those He’s entrusted to us.
Because the truth is… we are all missionaries.
And it starts right where we are.
Join us as we begin this journey. 💛
That changes how I see my role as a mom.
I’m not responsible for perfect outcomes.
I’m responsible for faithful presence.
Even in the cookie aisle meltdowns. 😉
✨ New blog: Why Is Your Face Downcast?
A look at how God parents—and what that means for us.
Extraction Day
“It’s Extraction Day. No one gets left behind.”
I thought I was just flying home.
But there was a battle in the air.
Intercessors awakened at 4:30 a.m.
Dreams meant to intimidate.
Healing the enemy tried to reclaim.
God was faithful.
New on the blog: Extraction Day
Quiet Moments
In a quiet moment overlooking the bay in South Africa, five simple words changed everything: “You don’t have to fear.” A reflection on spiritual battles, belief, and unshakable truth.
Blessed Are the Unoffended
A young mom reflects on loneliness, faith, and God’s work in the wilderness. A vulnerable story of learning to trust the Lord when seasons don’t look as expected.
Training for Gold
What the Olympics teach us about faith, discipline, and joy. A reflection on spiritual training, perseverance, and focusing on Jesus.
When God Told Me To Burn A Suitcase
I've spent years learning to hear from God — and years repenting of the mindset that said I had earned the right to. On a missionary trip to South Africa, everything I had been trained for collided with something I didn't see coming: a demonic curse placed on a suitcase, a fire that shocked even a guy who grew up around fires, and photos that moved an entire prayer community halfway around the world to tears. I didn't go looking for a spiritual warfare encounter. I went looking for obedience. This is what happened — and what God confirmed every step of the way.
When God Asks for Our Yes | Raising The Next Generation Through Everyday Yeses
Have you ever felt God calling you to do something that made no sense? This is the story of how we moved across the country on faith alone—and discovered what surrender really looks like.
Reflecting On The Assassination of Charlie Kirk
Explore some of my reflections on the assasination of Charlie Kirk.
Finding Freedom In Slavery To Christ
What does it really mean to be free in Christ? What does it mean for our lives today? What are we freed from? What are we freed for? Discover all of this and more by reading this week’s blog!
A Constant Pivot
From Cape Town to Malawi, Kenya, and beyond, this journey was full of beauty, hardship, unexpected pivots, and God’s unmistakable hand at work. What began as a mission to encourage and deliver care packages to missionaries across Africa quickly collided with a world in crisis—the onset of a global pandemic. Yet even in canceled flights, last-minute changes, and feelings of failure, God’s provision and timing became undeniably clear.
A Light on a Hilltop
✨ “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14)
Not long ago, I visited families serving as missionaries in North Africa—places where being known as a Christian can be dangerous. What I witnessed changed me: children growing up on mission, parents fasting and praying weekly for their nation, and small gatherings where communion became a lifeline of faith.
Their courage reminded me that no matter the darkness, God’s light shines through His people. 🌍✝️
👉 Discover their stories, and see how you can be part of encouraging and supporting missionaries today.
📖 Click the photo to read more!
Who Are You Discipling?
Being a missionary isn’t just for those who cross oceans — it’s for every believer, right where God has placed them. From your children to your coworkers, from your neighborhood to the nations, the Great Commission is your mission. Discover how to live it out every day — in love, in grace, and in the power of the Holy Spirit.