She would often tap-tap-tap on the back screen door of the Bell Mission House built by my husband’s grandparents, where our family typically stayed. The first thing most people notice about Comère is she’s blind. Comère walked more than 5 miles from her home in Bahoncy beyond Fontaine in the northern mountains of Haiti. She would bring one of her ... [Keep Reading...]
Navigating Grief
Running for His glory: Learning to breathe at higher altitudes
Breathe in deeply. Let the air gently fill your lungs. Pause. Then release. Feel the tension in your shoulders drift away. Inhale again. Then exhale. This is the give and take of breath. This is a deliberate slowing of the cadence of our breath. This is discovering a new, unforced rhythm. Breathe was the theme of the retreat I attended in ... [Keep Reading...]
Redeeming Ruth: The Father’s Heart for the vulnerable
I was invited to share a message this Sunday at Action Community Church in Clovis for their summer series, "A Father's Heart: a series about things God cares about." I chose to share about God's heart for the vulnerable, specifically widows, orphans, immigrants/foreigners and the poor. In this message, I unpack the story of Ruth in the Bible ... [Keep Reading...]
Running for His glory: When God brings you full circle
This summer we are featuring a series of stories here on the blog about the intersection of faith and running. Through the years, running has been my lifeline, the place I connect with God, and my therapy. Over the last five years, I've written several essays about how running has helped me grieve the death of my husband and given me new courage. ... [Keep Reading...]
How to celebrate Father’s Day when your daddy is gone
I still remember that first Father’s Day after my husband’s death. I didn’t know what to do. As the day grew closer, I felt more and more paralyzed about how to prepare for the day. I was invited to an out-of-state wedding. Despite my guilt in leaving my three daughters behind with grandparents, I knew I needed to go. It would be good for my ... [Keep Reading...]
Remembering Grandma Cora: Cooking Up a Legacy in the Kitchen
The second you walked into my Grandma Cora’s house you could smell the fragrance of onions, ginger, and garlic sautéing. She would swirl pancit noodles in her big pot and you could hear the music of the carrots and celery dancing as she added a splash of soy sauce.y No matter what time of day – morning, noon, or night – Grandma always had ... [Keep Reading...]
