We’ve had major highs, breakthroughs, wins and worship in the last few weeks - at the same time as debilitating exhaustion, strain and pain. And there’s been some plain old medium stuff.

We cut back on things we didn’t have space for - like blog writing, cooking big dinners, and some late night international meetings. We learned new things - like how to high school, the maximum physical capacities of our people, and how to find God’s sweetness in the medium things. Activities pulled us further apart, but intentionality brought us closer than ever.

Chris just started a new sermon series on Big Faith. It’s a great time to jump in. One of my favorite parts was when he told a story about David (my virtual personal trainer) interrupting our training session to get Chris on the screen and tell him, “Chris, you are not allowed to believe that God is not in control.” Chris just looked at David and said, “You know what. You’re right. I’m going to go think about that.” And then we went back to burpees.

We are so thankful to be a part of a living, breathing, moving, praying, praising Body of Christ! Southpoint Church, we believe in you, and we love you. We love doing life with you!

The only world my 22-month old knows is one where his whole family is at home most of the time. He’s had a small, safe, and secure life. His world is absolutely unraveling as his big brother starts high school.

We have all stood at the edge of the cliff of debilitating fear, frustration or breakdown - or are there now. Whether it’s overworked, overwhelmed, exhaustion, sickness, depression, anxiety, eating disorder, addiction, negative thoughts, bitterness, financial strain, or something else… LOOK UP, AND LOOK OUT.

Here is a very up close and personal article I wrote for Help Club for Moms. It’s a look inside the typically unblogged, un-glamorous realities of daily life. It’s geared toward moms for the ministry, but there’s some real truth and real talk for everyone!

I’m posting this blog a day early because I AM SO EXCITED! I’m learning how to podcast!

Help Club for Moms has an inspiring and relevant podcast that makes it easy for busy moms to understand God’s Word in practical, encouraging ways. Our God is outside of time and space, and now we can reach the ends of the earth with His Good News! You have to be excited about that!

"He has done this so that every person would long for God, feel their way to him, and find him-for he is the God who is easy to discover! It is through him that we live and function and have our identity..." Acts 17:27-28a TPT

It’s easy to talk about “technology fatigue” and issues with church, work and life happening virtually. I’m so proud of my man for pushing boundaries and breaking through barriers. Although he’s currently preaching to an empty room and a camera, he’s calling people into the family of Christ. He’s inviting people to salvation and preaching with passion and power. And it works! Even virtually, people are coming to Christ and being discipled into a deeper relationship with Him!

Benjamin has been socially distanced for 11 of his (almost) 22 months of life. For HALF of his life, he has only interacted with masked adults. We tested the waters at a very small, absolutely wonderful play school for two mornings this week to help him socialize and unlatch from his mama jsut a smidge. (But please, only a smidge.)

I tried to write you a blog about 89 times. Eventually I just sat down on the floor with my kids, and told you what I had to say on video. Today it’s a vlog! If you have about 8 and a 1/2 minutes to spare, check this out!

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV

South Africa is back on lockdown, and it’s easy to turn attention toward what we cannot do according to restrictions. But, you know what’s so cool… We can still pray together! This week, I had an opportunity to host a live, international prayer event with Help Club for Moms. Moms from around the world came together to hear encouragement from God’s Word and to pray together. It was so powerful, I realized that our church could still access the power of corporate prayer together. The prayer ministry I’ve been so excited to start… is starting! We don’t need to meet together physically to pray together. God’s power is here. No walls required!

Yesterday was supposed to be Lifa’s first day of high school. South Africa is still on nationwide lockdown, so his much-anticipated high school debut has been postponed.

Our teenage social butterfly is stuck at home with an absolutely crazy toddler and a mom who is still not operating at full speed post-Covid. He has no devices to distract him, and we are spending A LOT of time together. It’s the Lifa and Benjamin show all day, every day. And it’s such a good show.

We did it! We did it! We did it! All 3 of those “We did it’s” count because here’s what we did:

1. We packed up an entire house, moved, and unpacked it all over again...

2. WHILE Chris worked 18 hour days to get things in order for church online, and I was kickstarting our new virtual Help Club Bible study…

3. WHILE Benjamin and I had COVID.

“You can’t give God your heart and keep your body for yourself” Elisabeth Elliott

A friend recently asked me, “If your children were taking care of themselves the way you do, would you be happy?” Mic drop. How would you answer that, mama? Ten years ago, my answer would have been very different than it is today!

Happy New Year from the Ladd family! News seems more extreme than ever on the global scale. Thanks for taking a moment to zoom in to our little corner of the world. We have much to share with you, and we can do it with pictures and bullet points! Here’s some noteworthy news from us. HINT: Hang in till the end or skip ahead: The last part is the best!

‘Tis the season for celebration! Greetings from the Ladd house! We are hanging Christmas lights and learning the names of Jesus. (Also learning what sound turkeys and elephants make.) We haven't bought a single Christmas gift, but we are marking milestones like it’s our day job over here. We are very aware of Christ in the center of our lives right now and are soaking that in.

Thank you for praying for us after I wrote this blog. I didn’t leave Home Affairs that day with the miracle piece of paper I was hoping for, but I did leave with a miraculous peace. Here’s a quick article I wrote for the Help Club for Moms about it. Three days later, I’m still consumed by joy and peace. It just took one exhausted encounter with God, and I truly feel like I’ve been forever changed.

Take that, devil.

This was not the miracle story I intended to share with you today. (Another great reason to extend miracle week!) But there’s a real-time reason I chose this story to share with you - and even post it a day early. This is a testimony and an invitation. Both of our boys need birth certificates still. This has many implications on our everyday lives, as well as the big picture….

We’re reaching back into the archives today! I originally published this story on November 5, 2012. This Thanksgiving season and this talk about giving made me think of it again.

There’s just nothing like watching a miracle unfold in your very own hands. The awe, wonder and supernatural power of a miracle breaks off chains, swings locked doors wide open, and makes the impossible possible in your life. If you happen to be low on faith or hope this holiday season, borrow some of mine. These aren’t empty calories. They are real, filling, and there are plenty of leftovers! Enjoy the read!