WRITING

Matt Mooney

Matt Mooney

Somebody See Me

Matt & Ginny start the second half of season 1 with a seemingly simply question: What is a good life? An entire episode focused on the life of a man known as Bulldog– told through the eyes of his brother, Chris Wheeler. It is a journey of Chris beginning to see a person who was there all along. You can learn more about Chris & Lindsey Wheeler as well as learn more about Lindsey’s book Sacred Tears at bottleoftears.com. Produced by Matthew Lyle MooneyMusic provided by Musicbed & Blue Dot Sessions.Sound effects provided by creators Freesound.org

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we are not our talents

In the age of television talent shows galore, our hosts attend one that manages to flip the narrative of what a talent show is & could be. Chelsea, Jordan & Claire want to sing at the bEfriend talent show hosted by 99 Balloons, but to do so they will have to overcome their fear of what others will think of them. In addition, Jamie shares a story of when celebrating someone with a disability is actually demeaning. Listen along as we contrast these two stories and are challenged to treat persons with disability as individuals instead of as a monolithic…

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we are not our bodies. Part 2.

Matthew Lyle & Ginny Mooney continue the discussion of healing and the church by delving into the lives of their friends with disability who do not want to be healed, cured or fixed. When they stumble upon an article, written by Madeleine Ryan, entitled Dear Parents: Your Child with Autism is Perfect it is though they are reading everything they have lived with their own daughter. Madeleine describes her journey throughout life and why the changes she desires have nothing to do with her autism. You can find out more about Madeleine and her newly released first novel- A Room…

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we are not our bodies. Part 1

When the loss of a child becomes a nationwide, prayer movement to #wakeupolive what does it say about the church and its relationship to healing? to suffering? In the first part of a two-part series discussing healing & the church, Matthew Lyle Mooney along with his wife, Ginny Mooney, set out to discuss the awkward relationship the current Christian culture has with disability. Along the way, they talk with author KJ Ramsey & friend, Emeka NNaka, who help challenge the cultural norms that exist around disability. Music & sound provided by Musicbed, Blue Dot Sessions & Freesound.org Script available at…

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summer

Summer is here.  At 5, 6 and 8 we got rascals riding bikes and swimming at a skill level whereby we are not in constant stress.  I told Ginny sometime some summer not long ago that I was done going to pools.  With 3 that cannot swim alone, I can only act like I’m listening to whatever adult is talking to me, my head drawing a repeated triangle from locating the 3 bobbing heads while I simultaneously feign my best impression of the laid back dad & try not to tell this person what an idiot they are for trying…

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weekends with rascals

I’ve worked hard to develop a new habit of carving out Monday mornings to sit and think and pray and grasp for some semblance of sanity before I cannonball into the week that will eat my lunch if I let it.  It’s a rebellious act of counter-intuition as weekends are supposed to be the very thing that serves us this way.  Now, I love my weekends at home and all- but it’s not a peaceful-cup-of-coffee-type of experience currently. If I had to measure, I would say it packs about the same rest as being chased by a pack of wolves….

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The Surface Dialogue Guidebook

We’ve reached that point in these beloved Ozarks where we’re just all waiting around for the good weather.  We get all four seasons here; just enough of winter to know we don’t want to move north; which we needed no help knowin’.  Being bone-tired of Ole Man Winter being a hanger-on is all you’re allowed to talk about- other than the razorback basketball revival- in these parts; whether it be the gal sacking your groceries or the college hipster handing you $4 coffee, so goes the surface dialogue guidebook.  It’s unwritten but just as real as the holy book itself…

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shifting gears

I often look at my backside in the mirror. I move quickly past the place that you imagined I was seeking and find the splotchy spot just above the bend of my right leg.  It’s my biggest scar- remnants of days I spent riding my Honda 80 dirt bike for hours on end along the hill behind my house where within a 3-minute ride Arkansas turned into Oklahoma. Often times I would lug the unstarted motorcycle to the top of a certain steep drop off in order to mount the red machine, point it downhill and coast until max speed;…

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striving for a secret

Check it out, Ginny & Lena are in the current edition of National Geographic.  A while back, a wonderful photographer followed our family around for a few days in order to capture photos illustrative of an article on brain development…fascinating article and wonderful pictures (we think).               _____________________________________ If you have been around me much, it does not take long to learn of certain things that come along as a part of the package- tethered to the molecules that combine to make me: At 37, I am still unable to grow any semblance of…

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from Fergie to Ferguson

Against my better judgment, Ginny convinced me last Monday to sit beside her and watch the American Music Awards.  I begrudgingly complied- mainly due to the fact that I love her and if she invites me to sit close to her, I do it- every time.  I’m a sucker that way, but that doesn’t mean I don’t moan on and on about the drivel that she makes me watch. Ginny admittedly loves television.  She loves awards shows.  Loves reality tv.  She once made me watch the Bachelor; she seemed happy.  I put my foot down and told her I would…

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rEcess comes to town

By Matt Mooney | May 11, 2010

Over time, we have had folks inquire about how they might get more information on how to start a rEcess in their community.  If you have contacted me wanting this information , please e-mail me at info@99balloons.org OR if you haven’t but would like some information please let me know. We will be conducting some…

wagon

By Matt Mooney | May 9, 2010

Gin & I just bought a new car (Subaru Outback); we didn’t go with the Sienna, but after seeing this, maybe we should have.  This is brilliant on so many levels. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql-N3F1FhW4[/youtube]

the turning of a page

By Matt Mooney | May 6, 2010

Anders is 99 days today.  This demarcation obviously carries weight in our home.  Do we celebrate or do we cry?  Well, as seems always to be the case, probably both- honestly. The page is turned today whereby we are no longer able to contextualize Anders’ life in terms of Eliot’s.  Having been able to do…

nyc recap

By Matt Mooney | May 2, 2010

We arrived home on Thursday night. I have been laying low and feeling sick every since. Many bring back mugs and others shirts, but I brought back the swine flu- although I suddenly prefer the more professional label of H1N1; makes me sound less like someone out rolling around in slop. Anyway, I am fine,…

NYC iphone photos

By Matt Mooney | April 26, 2010

NYC with rascals in tow

By Matt Mooney | April 24, 2010

Recently, Ginny & I have taken to referring to Hazel & Anders as, “the rascals”- you’ll notice there is no “little” in there, and that is no mistake.  We all leave tomorrow (Sunday) headed to Manhattan.  We’re thrilled that our friend, Becky, is joining us on the trip- although none are quite as happy as…

the circus comes to town

By Matt Mooney | April 17, 2010

Anders is laughing & cooing; continuing in his easygoing and charming ways.  He’s even allowed his mom and dad to sleep 7 continuous hours a few times- a feat his sister did not manage to pull off until around 8 months. Speaking of, Hazel is busy making teeth.  They look gargantuan in her 18-month mouth. …

even if

By Matt Mooney | April 17, 2010

Way too long ago, I referenced a post that I was wanting to get around to.  I have received a few inquiries in relation to sharing our story that hover around a particular question that I believe many have when they hear us speak as we do, or write as we do, or live as…

round here…

By Matt Mooney | April 10, 2010

This weekend, Ginny & Anders have headed off to a women’s retreat with our church.  I am headed to pick up Hazel for a weekend together; she spent the night with her grandparents, so I could help with last night’s rEcess.  I am sure our time together will include many puzzled pleas for “mommy”, but…

easter

By Matt Mooney | April 4, 2010

Ginny & I were talking last night about how wonderful Easter is to us now.  I guess it always was or, at least, always should have been; however, there is no denying that the commemoration of the cross and resurrection pulses through our veins and into our heart as never before.  It is not a…