The hallway started to feel a little toasty on that December afternoon at the Fresno County Courthouse as forty friends and family packed in for the momentous occasion. The joy in the air was palpable for the official adoption ceremony of my three daughters by my husband Shawn. Shawn and I married seven years ago after my first husband [...] Keep Reading
Top 10 Books I Read in 2022
One of my favorite movie scenes in all of movies is when The Beast gifts Belle the palace library in Disney's "Beauty and the Beast." It's iconic. Every bibliophile's dream, right? Books, glorious books. If you came over to my house, you would discover that books and words are central to our home and decor. I lovingly call my office, the library, [...] Keep Reading
We Can Bear Witness to the Glory of God in Each Other
Each year at the start of the Advent season, I find myself thinking about Mary, the mother of Jesus. This teenage girl was to be a womb for God, the mother of His one and only son. That day when the angel Gabriel came to her, I imagine light refracting in all directions in her humble home in Nazareth. I have three daughters hovering in the [...] Keep Reading
Rejoice Advent Devotional: How strength rises when we wait
Have you ever had to wait a really long time for something? I have to admit that waiting is not my favorite. Whether we are waiting for test results, for our teenager to come home, or for reconciliation to happen with that friend, waiting holds weight. Imagine with me how the prophetess Anna felt about waiting. There are only a few [...] Keep Reading
Learning to trust the Potter and the process
A few months ago, I invited my friend to join me for a pottery class at a new local studio for her birthday present. We both love to try new things and were intrigued by the experience of using a potter’s wheel to create something out of clay. When we arrived at the class, the teacher gave us step-by-step instructions. We each sat down behind a [...] Keep Reading
Fall has fallen! It’s time for Pumpkin Chili
Fall is my favorite season, but since we live in Central California it takes a while for Autumn to arrive. This week our temperatures dipped to the 80s and the evening temperatures were much cooler. I'm declaring it the official start of Fall. I love everything about Fall - the fiery-colored leaves lighting up the branches of the trees, the cooler [...] Keep Reading
