Author: jywatkins
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The Unfinished Lists
At the end of summer, I sat on the living floor with blank printer paper, highlighters, pens, a ruler, and my trusty monthly planner. A new semester of grad school was looming and I knew the only way I was going to be able to accomplish All The Things this fall was to make a plan.…
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Psalm 2: What Does God Control?
7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father. 8 Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.” 10 Therefore,…
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On This Thanksgiving
This Thanksgiving, Chad and I are drove up to Massachusetts to spend the holiday with family. This afternoon, we’ll fill our plates with turkey and stuffing, Brussels sprouts and rolls, and so many other delicious foods. We’ll top the meal off with the sweetness of pie. Around the table, we’ll have Chad’s mom and siblings and…
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A Map and A Glass of Wine
My husband, Chad, is in the wine business. He started his own wine education and consulting company almost three years ago called (Un)Common Grape. He’s written blogs and interviewed people, made videos and podcasts, and poured wine for hundreds of people, telling them stories about wineries and grapes and projects from specific winemakers. We’ve traveled to…
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What Have We Done?: The Election, Part 2
So here we are, in a place many of us didn’t think we would be, hoped we wouldn’t be. And a lot of us are taking this personally. I know we are all tired of the criticism and bickering and hatred being flung around by those of both political parties — and those outside of…
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A Christian & Liberal Goes to Vote: The Election, Part 1
Every Election Day growing up, my parents would meet at Town Hall and vote together. They always made a plan for this. For much of my childhood, my dad worked evenings at the elementary school about a mile from Town Hall, so he would take a break at work and meet my mom after she finished her…
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Of Mists and Stones
A couple years ago, Chad and I visited Brittany, France. I’m over at You Are Here today, writing about the experience we had there. I hope you’ll join me there. We arrive early in the morning, while the mist from the sea is still floating in among the long rows of stones. We can barely…
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The Fullness of Fall
The wind is obstinate today; defiant, testing our limits. It’s slamming half-open doors with a sudden might. It’s trying the patience of dedicated farmer’s market vendors, as they tie their tents to their trucks and weigh down the corners with heavy wares. It’s blowing legions of dead leaves across freshly raked lawns. It’s huffing and…
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Sometimes I Leave the Room
Today, I’m excited to be over at The Mudroom, talking about having hard conversations. I hope you’ll join me there. I can’t take it. I walk outside and text my husband to see when he would be back to pick me up. “Leaving now,” he writes. Soon, then. Thankfully. I don’t want to feel this…
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Psalm 1: We Don’t Live in Eden
1 Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; 2 but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. 3 They are like trees planted by streams of water, which…
jamie y. watkins 