Pressing Pause to Shift Gears

Inevitable. The days change, the seasons change, the minutes change, the people change...Change surrounds us like the gravity ride at your local fair, spinning faster and faster with every passing second. (Man I hate those things.)

I write about change a lot. (See? See? See?) To me, change feels fickle and wishy washy, but I've come to terms with the fact that it is part of life. No, scratch that. It's a big huge ever present part of life.

But no matter how hard we fight to make it stop, it never will. So we embrace it, as it comes and as it goes.

Embracing change is what this next season of life is going to be for me and you. And by me + you, I mean our relationship. This space, this place we communicate, dream, and share stories of joy and fear and loss, it will change, little by little and I'm going to be honest, I'm having a really hard time with it.

There are friendships made because of this blog that would've never had a fighting chance otherwise. There are stories told in these pages that I would've never had enough bravery to share with you face to face.

I want it to stay the same. I want us to stay the same. Our relationship, our friendship, our weird jokes and shenanigans.

But it's time to do something I've put off for a little too long. It's time to shift gears and begin writing, exploring, and seeking answers in areas I may not be as at ease with.

Part of me hasn't changed this space for fear of losing a part of myself I've grown comfortable with. I love writing about things that come naturally or that I already do in my everyday life. Though some posts were written out of necessity or even with fear, for the most part I write what I love here.

That won't change, entirely, but the new direction of this space will be more discovery and require more studying and thoughtfulness on my part. Maybe yours too.

So what does that mean exactly Julianna? So glad you asked.

It means for the rest of May and June, I will be working to rebrand, refocus, and revive juliannamorlet.com. No new content will post until after that, but the old stuff will be here for old times sake. 

Get the Facts

Will you keep your same title? 

The Girl that Sings came from a very specific season in my life. I was at a large(r) church in my hometown and would get approached by people who didn't know my name, so they'd usually divert to some form of "Hey, you're the girl that sings." Yes! That's was me :) Though I will still be singing and women in worship will be a huge topic here, I thought it was time to move forward and dream a little bigger.

Will you write on the same topics?

I can't tell you fully yet, but juliannamorlet.com will address very specific parts and ask very controversial questions about the Christian Faith, Women in Worship, Motherhood, and Inspiring the Next Generation. These may seem broad, but I know my experience and expertise (or lack there of) will touch on distinct aspects of each of them. Stay tuned, it may not be what you're expecting.

Same look and feel? 

Who doesn't like to be fashionable and in style?

Will navigation be more user friendly?

It will be a lot simpler and easier to maneuver through posts. Right now, I have hundreds of posts with silly tags and topics that I will no longer write about in the future due to the new direction. There will be 4-6 distinct topics I'll focus on and all posts will fall under those categories.

How often will you post?

4-5 times a week.

Are you still singing? 

Absolutely. I lead worship with Ty at our home church plant, Antioch LA. Leading worship will always be a part of my life, unless they force me out. Ps. If you're ever in the Los Angeles area on a Sunday morning, please come say hi! Just email me :)

Also, we just finished our lullaby album (eek!), Oh Symphony, to be released on iTunes June 23! You can stay updated on that via Twitter, Instagram (@juliannamorlet) or FB.

Will you still be traveling to lead worship and speak?

Yes! I am taking a maternity break in June & July while we ready and get acquainted with Baby Girl Mo, but starting mid-August, I will be taking speaking inquiries through Spring 2014. (Got a women's event you need a speaker/worship leader for? Email me. Hear speaking & worship styles here.)

Are you going to become a Mom Blogger? 

In short yes. And no. I have decided that I love blogging because I want to meet people just like me and "me" is going through motherhood. I will blog about certain aspects and challenges and joys of motherhood however, I will not overwhelm this space with photos and videos and quotes from my children, because I know motherhood isn't a season every reader is going through (and I don't have a whole lot to say about it yet).

Mom posts will be reserved for once a week. Probably Thursdays. #ithink

Are you going to blog about when Baby Girl Mo arrives? 

Yes! Eventually :) To be one of the first to know about the little monkey, follow me on Twitter, Facebook and/or Instagram (@juliannamorlet).

Will you still collaborate with other peeps?

Mhmm! My favorite posts are the ones written by other people. haha. As topics and questions come up, if I know or hear of someone's expertise in that area, I will always ask them to write. Collaboration has proven to be quite powerful here.

Will old posts still be available? 

The ones that fit into the simpler categories will. All other foofy stuff will be deleted.

When will the new site be up? 

Sometime in July.

Will you let us know when it's up? 

Of course! I'll post it through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and the Subscribers list. So take your pick! (or take all :)

Got more questions? Tweet (@juliannamorlet) or Facebook them (facebook.com/juliannamorlet) and you betcha I'll answer as many as I can.

Until then, I hope the start to your Summer is as beautiful (or handsome) as you are.

Love,

Julianna

original photo via

What Did We Talk about Before This Baby?

Seems like the last couple weeks, this baby has consumed our every conversation.

"Babe, feel my belly, I think that's a Braxton Hicks."
"What do you think she'll look like? Brown hair yea?"
"Dude, she's gonna have your monkey nose and my giant forehead..."
"What if she's a rebel?" 
"Shoot we need to get her room ready!"
"Is my belly button popped out yet?"
"We need this crib, and this rocking chair, and these too!" (Says Ty in the middle of Babies R Us)

It's true. She has consumed us. There's a part of me that feels bad, maybe even a little guilty, that our life as we knew it is now over. I loved our life. More than anything. It was good, it was loving, it was free, it was, wonderful. An absolute wonderful life.

When I saw moms walking down the street with strollers I'd smile and go about my business. Now I crane as far as my neck will let me (without being creepy of course) to see what brand it is because it holds her diaper bag and her purse.

When we'd go to restaurants, we didn't mind the fuss of hungry toddlers in the tables next to us. But now, we both look at each other with fear, what are we going to do if Baby Girl Mo does that?! Tyson's answer usually is some joke that has to do with vodka.

I knew it would happen, we would cross over, but I thought it happens when she gets here. Boy was I sorely mistaken.

But you know what? It's amazing. It's amazing that this little person we've never met has us more in love with each other and life than ever before.


What about you? Did your first baby conversations switch over before you thought they would?
Will we ever NOT talk about it? :) 

3 Thoughts on Repeat this Mother's Day

My heart is full this morning, reflecting on the heritage and journey God has brought us through so far. And I don't mean "us" like just me and Ty. I mean "us" as in our families, grandparents and all. The Hallworth + Morlet lineage has weathered many storms thus far and to see where God has allowed Ty and I to be is, well, a bit overwhelming.

I knew this Mother's Day would be different than the last. How could it not be? This morning, it seems as though even my internal alarm clock decided to change it up. The pregnant girl who wakes up between 9:30 and 10:00 each morning, sprung out of bed at 6:30 to the sound of birds warming up their tiny vocal chords as if they were readying for some sort of anthem.

As I (almost) skipped to the kitchen, unpeeled my banana, I had these three thoughts on repeat:

1. I love my mom.
Not like, awe how sweet, I love my mom. But more like, I could never do life without this spit-fire woman in my life. I need her. She brings so wisdom and grace (and sometimes a kick in the butt) to every situation. She is irreplaceable to me. Irreplaceable.

2. I want to be like her. 
Some girls may cringe at the though of being anything remotely like their own moms. But if I could choose one thing about my momma that has shaped me the most, as a women and a soon-to-be-mother, it would be her vulnerability through imperfection.  My mom isn't perfect and she's made a lot of bonehead mistakes in her life, but she never tried to hide them. She never attempted to set a false standard of perfection for her family. She lives her life based on grace alone because she knows, oh she knows, it's vitality. I want to do that.

3. I am a mother.
This killed me. Even now I weep, because as a woman named Hannah prayed year in and year out for the promise of a child, I prayed for this baby girl snuggled so tightly in my womb. All I've said to her for the past two hours is, "You're here baby girl. You're finally here and I love you so much."

365 days ago I knew life would be different; but not this wonderful, magical, surreal kind of different.

The birds singing outside have settled into a rhythmic song of chirp & coo's, having no idea their music is the soundtrack for the celebration that is happening in this weary heart.

A Quick Note to Pastors on Mother's Day

Dear Pastors, 

This weekend is a very special one for most of your congregation. But there may be a small (yet larger than you think) group of women who will sit in your pews and chairs, in silent pain. 

I've always seen Mother's day as a regular holiday everyone celebrates with moms and grams and over priced Marie Callendar's Pot Pie. Until last year. My husband and I struggled through two miscarriages and words like "sorrow, loss, or grief" don't even begin to cover it. But the insight that has come out of that season has been irreplaceable. 

From the Job Song, to women I've been able to meet and pray healing over and weep with and relate with, it has been a season, not of joy by any means, but of sweet and subtle redemption. That season has begun to redeem itself and for that I am grateful.

So why am I writing you?

Because as you stand on a platform and celebrate the amazing feat and journey of motherhood with the women attending your services, remember those who will never experience that, no matter how much they grasp for it.

No one should be ashamed of being a mother or celebrating mothers. That's just ridiculous. Motherhood is an amazing journey that changes the world. Life is life and it is worthy of celebration.

But please know, there will be women in the seats of your church services that may not show up because the emotional, physical, and even spiritual pain of this day will be too much.

And if they do, they deserve to be celebrated, even in prayer, as well. Your graciousness and love on them will mean the world. I promise. 

Sincerely,

Julianna Morlet, a mother of miscarriage

More on my experience through Mother's Day & Miscarriage :

- Seeing Mother's Day From the Other Side

- I Will Never Forget the Other Side of Motherhood

Dear Friend, You're Ashamed

Dear Friend,

You are scared. You are fearful. You feel shame and guilt and anger. You feel mistreated and betrayed by those who made a commitment of trust, friendship and care to you and your family.

And that's okay. Your feelings, they're valid. More than valid.

You're doing the best you can, and despite what they may say my dear, that is good enough.

I know there are many who wish they could fight this battle for you. We want to ride in on our white horses and slash all misconception, speculation, judgement and fear from the equation of your life. We want to comfort and protect the exposed parts of you and bandage up the wounds caused by those who were supposed to be your family of sorts.

But we can't. It kills us that we can't. We can't because we know God is revving up to what some might call a breakthrough. You are a liaison for change, a representative of grace. And my sweet friend, your family is going to change this world.

So count it joy, my sister, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.* Don't confuse this one however, with happiness for the pain. Don't count the trial joy, for there is nothing joyous about the heartbreak you are experiencing. The joy comes only from the aftermath we know it will produce and from Whom we know will produce it. 

And let steadfastness, or perseverance, have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.* You are being made like Christ, for though He suffered much, He did so because we, His Church, His people, were worth it. 

You will experience rest again. (Matthew 11:28-29) 
Your girl will feel joy again. (Psalm 30:5)
Your family will see redemption and wholeness. (Romans 3:24-26)

That is a promise given to you by an almighty God. He's never broken a promise to His people and He won't start now. 

Love,

Julianna

*James 1:1-3

Original photo  credit to Daria Dorofeeva