Sunday Worship | Shoreline Church, Austin, TX

Most Sundays I'm at Shoreline Church in Austin, Texas. It's our new home and I'll recommend this community to anyone local to Austin. If you need to get plugged into a church, this is your home.

Directions and Service times are in the link above.

Message me if you visit! I wanna say hi!

Not local? You can watch online at shoreline.net/live

If We Were On A coffee Date | No. 12

If we were on a coffee date, I'd be in my workout clothes. Mostly because I just got new Lulu pants and in short: I'm absolutely in love with everything about them and I wear them all the time and I never want to take them off because it feels like second skin and they keep my legs from jiggling while I run and I love them. 

If we were on a coffee date, Sym would be at home with Ty. Because she needs some heavy duty Daddy time.

If we were on a coffee date, I'd tell you I'm sure excited to start teaching voice lessons again. I have two student right now and they're both adorable. First lesson is Tuesday. What I miss most about teaching voice is watching the "light bulb moments" in the girls eyes. "Oooooh that's how it goes!" 

If we were on a coffee date, I'd ask what you love doing with your spare time. I love hearing people's hobbies and seeing their passion seep through. So many of my friends have hobbies I would never even think of! What's yours?

If we were on a coffee date, we could sit and chat for however long we wanted. Because I won a bet with Ty. I don't remember what it was on but the winner got a full day to themselves. So chat on my dear, chat on.

Refill latte anyone? 

What My Daughter Taught Me About Needing Her Daddy

I packed our bag while my one year old was well into her first nap of the day. 

God, I prayed aloud, can I have an extra measure of grace this weekend? 

I was feeling tired, having just recovered from a 24 hour flu bug and the mere thought of walking through security with my toddler made me want to get back in bed. 

But it came. The grace came in floods and flurries at the right moments. 

I knew this weekend would be tough for Baby Girl Mo, seeing new people and new places. People that knew her and her story, but faces she wouldn't recognize. So I did my best to walk her through who each person was. But "This is 'so and so'," was only good for so long before her little body started pressing further into mine with uncertainty and anxiety. 

I knew her sleep schedule would be off, so I did my best to compensate with extra naps and "down time" away from the crowds and gatherings. 

However, what I never anticipated was how off balanced she became every day we were away from her Daddy. 

With each day that passed, she became more and more emotionally unsettled. There was a sense of fear that overcame her every time I walked out of the room. (A girl's gotta pee at some point!)

Initially, I couldn't figure out what was going on. But on about the third night, Tyson sent us a video of him singing to her and she instantly lit up! She was beaming from ear to ear and giggling through the familiar song she's heard a thousand times.

As the video ended, she turned to me with a look of worry and a whimpering tone to play it again and it hit me. 

She needs her Daddy! She misses his love and affection. She needs to be held by him. There was an ache in her for his presence and she didn't know how to identify it. 

Right now, her sense of balance and security rests largely on the presence and love of her Daddy. 

It occurred to me how very real this need is, not only in my daughter's life, but in mine as well. (And maybe yours too?)

I need my Heavenly Father, everyday or else I get off balanced and unsettled.

I get worrisome and fearful when I cannot remember how strong and safe my Father is. 

There is sometimes an ache in me that I can't identity until I've spent time in the love and song and presence of my heavenly Father. 

There is peace in His presence. There is joy in His presence. There is balance and understanding in His presence. There is freedom in His presence. 

Whatever you need right now, it can be found in His presence. It may not all be tangible, but it's there. The wisdom, the direction, the breath, the life. It's there. 

Sym and I were only gone a total of five days. Not that long. But I'll tell you what, I ain't never taking her away from her Daddy for that long ever again. 

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What do you need right now?

Is there an unidentifiable ache in your soul? 

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My Momma use to write verses on index cards and stick them around my life, my room, my car etc. Here are some verses you can stick around your space to remind you to press into God's presence every moment of everyday. 

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore. 

Psalm 16:11

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and [insistently] require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple. 

Psalm 27:4

Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. 

Joshua 1:9

And behold, I am with you and will keep (watch over you with care, take notice of) you wherever you may go, and I will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done all of which I have told you. 

Genesis 28:15

I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.

John 15:5

I will bless the Lord, Who has given me counsel; yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 

Psalm 16:7-8

Is Break Time an Act of Love?

Break time. 

Break break break time.

Breaking time.

Making a break in time.

For what?

What could possible be so important that we'd need to break the rhythm of time?

Sanity.

Peace.

Balance. 

I'm one of those people who have a hard time finding the self control to actually break my time. Sure I'll sit down to chill, but I'm on my phone or making a list, or thinking about how dirty that computer screen is. 

It's easier for my mind to keep computing and reacting and listing than it is for it to be completely silent. 

Why is that, I wonder. 

Maybe because some how, busyness and ultimate productivity has become an idol in the way I view my world. (Click it to tweet it!)

How much did I get done today? 

How far down my list did I make it?

How many loads did I wash and fold? 

How hard did I exercise and how clean did I eat? 

How happy is my child and did I teach her enough today? 

If the answer to these questions are not average or above, my day feels wasted. 

You too? 

Break time. 

Who has time for breaks? There's stuff to be done!

But no matter how fast or hard or long we work, it'll never be enough. 

If God doesn’t build the house, the builders only build shacks.

If God doesn’t guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap.
It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone.
Don’t you know he enjoys giving rest to those he loves?

(Psalm 127:2)

Our efforts are long-winded unless they are built on the calling of our season. And when they are built on the calling of our season, then rest, amidst the toil, will come straight from heaven above. 

Because He loves us. He said so Himself. 

So does that mean, taking a break from the hustle and bustle is really an act of receiving and accepting love?

Maybe.

Break time. Necessary time. Steadying the heart and soul before it falls off balance.
Break time. Valuable time. Spent on centering and repositioning our mind and emotions.
Break time. Rest time. God given time to breathe in, breathe out, and start again.

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What are you thoughts on break time? 

Worship in the (Temecula) Valley

Excited and honored to be invited home for Worship in the Valley. If you're in Southern Cali and you have Thursday or Friday night free, come worship with us!

Thursday, November 20 | 6:15P
Friday, November 21 | 6:15P

NO CHARGE | But still register so they know you're coming!

Crosspoint Church | 28753 Vía Montezuma | Temecula, CA 92590

Come say hi~

Giving Up Stability...For Now.

The season in Austin just turned overnight. It went from gorgeous days of sunshine and crisp air to windchill and freezing temps. Where are we?!

This California girl is realizing how inadequate her family's wardrobes are. Shopping anyone? 

We're in the busy season of church life: women's conference, Thanksgiving, Christmas, so home cooked meals and daily laundry days are a rarity these days. Who am I kidding, they're pretty rare regardless, but even more so now. Haha.

But I love my family. I love that we are us and we do things our way and it works. It's too easy to compare lifestyles with the families next door (or on Instagram). (Click it to tweet it!) But I am so grateful to have a husband who loves Chic-fil-a and a daughter who laughs just because she's with us. 

It's the small things ya know? 

“It's not hard to decide what you want your life to be about. What's hard, she said, is figuring out what you're willing to give up in order to do the things you really care about.”  

- Shauna Niequist 

Amen. 

Fresh laundry, clean floors, use of our kitchen table and the rhythm of routine are definitely things I want for my family. Someday. However, for the Mo's, in this season, we're giving up the stable stereotypes for the flurry of fast-paced ministry. 

It might change in the next few years to accommodate coming shifts, and I'm okay with that too. 

But for today, we eat out way too much, watch movies late, have Starbucks dates with our one year old, make up loud silly songs about everything and laugh all the time.

It's our normal and I wouldn't change a thing.

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What season are you in? Are you ready for a change or are you rocking it? 

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If you're new to this space, I usually reserve Mom talk for Thursdays. This isn't a mom blog. But I do blog and I am a mom. So naturally, it leaks through. 

Hume Lake with the Band

Have you ever had the chance to watch someone grow up?

Maybe besides your own children?

It's been a weird and joyful journey watching these friends grow up. Some of us are the same age, so we're growing up together, through college and weddings and bands. Some are younger, so we watched them go through pimples, squeaky voices and girlfriends. But this band is one we love very much.

They were some of the toughest to leave when we moved.

You never know, when you uproot from a place you've been grounded for so long, how the distance will effect relationships. It's kind of terrifying. The "what-if's" were overwhelming for me as we said our last goodbyes and drove away.

But that weekend in September, when we all drove and flew various miles to play together once again, was so full of joy and laughter and unity.

The band was back together. Even if just for a weekend.

Distance makes the heart grow fonder, or so they say. Seeing these sweet lives blossom and flourish under the pressure and changes of seasons has been a sheer joy.

I miss them. I love them. Even from a distance.

If We Were On a Coffee Date | No. 11

If we were on a coffee date, it'd have to be now, 7:30PM because my house is sick and I just got them fed, showered, medicated and put to bed.

If we were on a coffee date any earlier, I would have had a fallen bun hanging from my head, lasagna sauce on my white tank top because the spatula freaked out on me during dinner, and a full bladder. Because who has time to take a real potty break?

If we were on a coffee date, we'd be sitting at Starbucks. I really should branch out, but right now I need familiar. (And by familiar I mean Sugar Free Peppermint Mocha. #redcups!) I need to know my drink is going to taste like I expect it to, the bathroom is clean, and the music isn't going to suck. #bobdylantakemehome

If we were on a coffee date, I'd tell you how much I'm grasping to familiar right now. Anything that can become routine, I try and keep it. Working out, nap times, games and pre-school activities, blogging, working...I know when and how they're supposed to happen and I am attempting to keep them there. 

If we were on a coffee date, I'd ask what season of season of life you think you're in. No that's not a typo. I probably know you're a mom, or in your early twenties, married or unmarried, in school or out. I want to know if you're in the exciting part of your season or the terrifying part of your season. Or anything in between. Tell me. 

If we were on a coffee date, I'd be tempted to get another holiday drink and you'd talk me out of it. Because you love me. 

What would you tell me on our coffee date?