Let me tell you about the morning I learned how God can reveal wisdom and truth even through the moments that make us want to spit out our coffee. I was curled into my oversized family room couch with my Bible open and milk swirled into my steaming coffee beside me. I was in the midst of my daily date with God, a stolen but savored mess of minutes that I’ve chosen to give to him first ... View Post
That Time I Stalked Lisa Harper…
I shouldn't brag about this, but I have some experience as a stalker. As a teenager my friends and I would do "drive-bys" together: driving past the places where our crushes were, with the hopes of catching a glimpse. I was never ashamed. Until once we were caught - by MY crush. It was embarrassing. But I got over it. (He was THAT cute!) That tradition died in high school. Until this past weekend. ... View Post
How to Survive Pregnancy Loss as a Couple
How can you and your spouse survive the grief and loss of a pregnancy as a couple? Here is what I learned. I lost my first baby only hours after I’d first heard the thump-thump of his heart during an ultrasound. Just six weeks along, our baby was all heart and yolk sac. When my body expelled that blip of baby I was alone. I remember the confusion of the pain, the cramping I thought was a ... View Post
Bring Your Light to the Fight
My seven-year-old is a natural athlete. Whatever he attempts, he does well. And Avry wanted to learn to surf like the kids on YouTube. My husband is a radical cheerleader when it comes to his children, and so he bought a thick, short surfboard. Avry carried the board down to the surf, full of excitement, certain he'd look like those young surfers on YouTube in just a matter of moments. He strutted ... View Post
Be the First
Do you sometimes feel invisible? Have you stood in the hallway of church, work or a social event and felt your heart harden as women walk right past? Have you seen a friend and suddenly you feel like you're both strangers? Have you ever felt like if it weren't you reaching out, you'd never be invited to anything? Have you wondered why you're like teflon for friendships? I have thought and felt ... View Post
Faith to Pray (When You’re Not Sure Your Have It)
I gave birth to the most perfect, pink barrel-chested baby almost nine years ago. The doctor called me a rock star for lasting past 9 CM for my epidural. (Natural child birthers and other Wonder Womans, please give this win to me.) Four months later I dropped him off at daycare and kissed that precious face goodbye, walking into the drizzle of a gray April morning. The next time I saw my son he ... View Post
Breathing Lessons: Hope When You’ve Lost It
Last night my seven-year-old son, Avry, couldn’t find his breathing medicine (his inhaler and spacer). It’s a daily struggle for him, even though we’ve given him his own container for it and a storage place in the family room. But he’s seven, and sometimes he’s acts like it. By losing things. We were late for bed so I added a few comments like, “How can I trust you if you can’t take care of it?” ... View Post
Summer Reading Worth Savoring
My favorite summer sport has already been reading poolside. Sometimes when I’m feeling especially sporty, I’ll toss in a quick dip into the cool blue water, but typically I stay tethered to a towel-covered lounge chair. My cardio is page turning. And with these books, I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough. If you’re following me on Facebook or on Instagram, you know I read a lot. And a good book ... View Post
The Summer of Sadness: A Hope for the Brokenhearted
Sometimes, in the midst of what should be holiday joy, we feel bound up by sadness. And scrolling through social media to see giant red, white, and blue hair bows; coordinating family portraits; and smiles bright like fireworks can make us feel as though our toes are sifting through ashes instead of beaches. If that is you, friend, I have been there. As I’m immersed in writing my memoir about ... View Post