“I am grateful to be present.” These were the words Jen said at a Bible study meeting we shared last fall. We were taking turns in the circle, sharing highs and lows of the week. The words from her were few – but so powerful. The rest of us babbled on – it was lovely to look at fall leaves out the window and feel the crispness in the air, and talk about the joy of...

Jen used to wear a plain silver ring that simply said, “Free.”  She wore it because it reminded her of who she was and her eternal promise.  God had also given her the ‘name’ of “Free” years ago in a time of deep prayer and reflection.  It pointed to truth.  It was centering. Ironically enough, the girls and I found the ring while...

Hey, Babe. Today, it’s been 6 months.  I can hardly believe it. It feels like mere hours ago that we were last smiling and talking.  And then, like a gentle breeze, you were gone.  It still feels surreal.  That fragility has been breathtaking and, like the breeze, difficult to grasp. I find comfort in still hearing your voice when I ask my frequent questions....

Meet Frankie.  He is a mythical creature that is a combination of bunny rabbit, moose, newborn giraffe, rainbow and fruit stand – or so says the imagination of my eight year old daughter.  He was born Friday morning following hours of oven and hot glue labor. He can only balance upright with millimeter precision placement and no nearby movement – or...

It was well over 90 degrees, with a blazing hot sun, and a festive mariachi band nearby.  Well … throw in an amazing bride & groom, a gorgeous old chapel, all of the college friends and a few beverages to boot.  This had been circled five times over in bold red on our calendars for months in advance.  We were in San Antonio in July 2019 to party like it...

I’ve been feeling anxious these days.  And I’m thankful for that.  The anxiety itself is not fruitful, but it can be an excellent prompt. Whereas December was a month for family time and adventure, January has been a month to reset our home base and try out our new norms.  I’ve been blessed with time away from work, but now is the time to return and put our new...