Pam and I are both writers who are part of a group called Hopewriters. We met in person several years ago at the World Conference for the American Association of Christian Counselors. I sat in on her workshop and listened intently as she shared her story and suggestions on how to help widows navigate grief. I resonated with so many of her personal [...] Keep Reading
Navigating Grief
Nobody wants to be part of that club
My oldest daughter and I snuck into the back of the church just before the memorial service started. She asked me to go with her to support one of her classmates, whose dad had died several months earlier while out for a jog. Because of the pandemic, the family had waited to host this celebration of his life so more people could attend. We [...] Keep Reading
How to navigate through the fog of uncertainty
I grew up in Chicago where winters were punctuated by blustery winds, snow drifts, and icy roads. I remember having to put on all the layers to bundle up before school and the strange sensation of my nose hairs freezing when I stepped outside our front door in the morning. After college, I moved to Central California to chase a career as a [...] Keep Reading
Lessons from soaring: A new word for a new year
I fell into a rhythm in December. I didn't make any real plans or resolutions. I didn't chart a path. I laced up my running shoes and headed out my front door with one thing in mind: soul care. After an intense year, I knew I needed to change my pace. This year my husband and I wrote and launched a book baby. We started a podcast while both of [...] Keep Reading
Under His wings: Love has come!
*The following is the final installment of the Under His Wings Advent experience. Every year I put together an audio + written devotional for the four Sundays of Advent. The theme for this week is “Celebrating." Listen to the audio version here. Print out the transcript here. The other day I went for a walk with a new widow friend of mine. [...] Keep Reading
Choosing redemption on the road to Bethlehem
I still remember sitting at that outdoor café table across from my mama as a newly-minted widow. In those days, it was hard for us to find time away from my three young daughters to process together. We savored our sandwiches on freshly-baked bread and sipped cappuccino on that fall day. Our conversation wandered to the book of Ruth, which we were [...] Keep Reading
