My mother and my oldest daughter are teachers. Some of my clearest childhood memories live in the quiet rhythm of late afternoons—collating, stapling, sorting. I can still see my mom walking through the door, a worn blue denim tote on one shoulder and a plastic crate...
We live in a cul-de-sac, in a neighborhood full of kids playing outside and families walking their dogs. It reminds me of the street I grew up on—kids playing the newest version of four square and stepping aside when a car passes by, dogs strolling by with their...
On January 3rd, I gave Riley permission to play at a friend's house. I rarely give him a specific time to be home, but that day, I asked that he be home by 2pm. I looked out the window a few minutes past 2pm and saw Riley and his friend walking back to our house. I...
Surrender. In the classic fashion of how I seem to repeat the Word of the Year, He has laid the word "Surrender" on my heart once again. Somehow I've managed to pick up almost every worry I laid down at His feet. It feels a little different this time. Last year, I...
Dad pulled up to the wedding dress store. "Is this the place?", he asked. "This is it, dad. I'm sorry. I just would really like your opinon." Mom had helped me explain that I had found a dress - but I didn't love it. It was fine. It was beautiful, actually. But I...
When Julia was born, I couldn't stop laughing. I was overcome with so much joy and there was nothing I could do to stop laughing! The next time I experienced that feeling was at the Steubenville Conference when I was healed during Adoration. I began to wonder if i...
Julia's wedding is two weeks away. I'm not sure how we got here so quickly, but here we are! This summer, we went down to Mom and Dad's house. Julia had asked if she could try on my wedding dress - if I still had it. I knew we had sealed it, and I thought it was in...
Confession on a Wednesday night. Driving down the two-lane road on the way to church, I asked the Holy Spirit to be with us as we drove to reconciliation. My children in the backseat groaned and moaned, peppering me with the usual questions and comments: "Why?" and...
Alarm sounds. Roll to the left. Grab phone. Turn off the alarm. And.... Scroll. This had become my morning routine. Slowly, I had stopped getting out of bed, waking my children, and making breakfast. As they got older, their independence was a gift to my free time. I...
My dear Kelly, Your birthday card is sitting on the table in the entryway; a pale pink envelope waiting to be mailed. (2018 - Kelly and her beautiful mama). You turned 60 and celebrated in Santa Barbara with friends and family. I decided to wait to mail it until you...