Our family started a new journey this Fall. We are walking through a curriculum called Foundations written by our pastor, Brad Bell. This experience brings us deeper into understanding of key principles in the Bible, but also invites us to be open to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. My favorite part is that we are discussing what we learn [...] Keep Reading
courage
Kailani’s Gift: Revealing a new children’s book cover!
I’ve dreamed of publishing children’s books since I was in the first grade when my teacher Mrs. Kosinki wrote words of encouragement in red pen on my first creative story. She wrote phrases like “So creative!” and “How romantic!” in the margins of my unicorn romance adventure. That encouragement planted a seed of hope in my heart that I could [...] Keep Reading
When your answer just might be a question
One of my daughters was struggling earlier this year to understand a decision her teacher made at school. All the feelings of confusion, frustration, and misunderstanding came tumbling out as she unpacked the details for me. This decision came at a cost to my daughter and to other students. My instinct was to call that teacher and give her a [...] Keep Reading
Life’s storms reveal our roots
On Thursday, I went for a run with my friend Marcy on the Clovis Trail in my neighborhood. I have been spending lots of hours in front of the computer trying to finish writing my new Bible study on Ruth. The manuscript is due to my publisher at the end of this month. (I welcome all your prayers for getting to the finish line!) Getting outside [...] 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
When You Don’t Think You Can Keep Going, Take the Next Step
I laced up my trail shoes and took a deep breath. The delicious aroma of the forest filled me. My eyes lifted, tracing the trunks of pine trees pointing toward heaven. Butterflies danced in my stomach as I anticipated running in a trail race again. In 2020 and early 2021, most trail and road races were canceled. Because of the global pandemic [...] Keep Reading
