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
Blog
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
Unexpected branches: An invitation into God’s family tree
My mama’s extended family usually meets every two or three years for a reunion in different cities where clusters of our cousins live. After four years of waiting because of the pandemic, this year we gathered in Detroit, Michigan where my mom was born. We weren’t sure how many would actually show up because of high travel costs, canceled flights, [...] Keep Reading
Our Top 10 AAPI Chapter Books
One of my favorite things to do with my own daughters, my nephews, and other little people in my life, is read aloud. As a children's book author and a mama, reading aloud is a special way to share a book with others. I have my own collection of picture books in my library, but in recent years, I've fallen in love with chapter books and middle [...] Keep Reading