Letting Love In
March 28, 2023
Amazing things happen when we let God’s love and light shine…
10 Tips for Grieving Forward
February 21, 2022
Grief is challenging, but you don’t have to stay stuck. You can grieve forward. Here are 10 helpful tips from a mom who lost her three year old son.
5 Ways to Comfort Grievers
May 8, 2023
Allen is home. We’re all hurting. When unspeakable tragedy hits, here are five ways to comfort grievers during tough times.
What’s Your One Thing?
December 31, 2019
Recently I had the opportunity to write an article for a Patient Safety magazine sharing our son Jenson’s brave journey. He made the cover with the caption “How one boy changed patient safety”. If you’ve ever wondered if you can make a difference in this world, you can! Start with one thing you’re passionate about changing (more on that in the article https://patientsafetyj.com/article/73598-what-s-your-one-thing “What’s Your […]
Kindness is Contagious
June 21, 2019
Our family recently received an incredibly generous gift. One that came about because of a small, heartfelt act years before. It happened while attending a fundraising event in New York City. We headed to the 8th floor in cocktail attire and entered the grand ballroom as we took in stunning views – a beautiful wood coffered ceiling, intricate carved wood walls, and a balcony overlooking […]
Confessions of a Recovering Nickel-A-Holic
March 21, 2019
Sometimes you’re deep in a toxic relationship and can’t see the signs. I know because it happened to me. It started at age eleven. I counted down the days until my 11th birthday when I could get my ears pierced. The girls at the piercing store let me select earrings (hypo-allergenic stainless steel hearts). They drew dots on my ears with a marker, placed the […]
Santa Claus and Poopgate
December 21, 2018
Christmas joy filled the air. Ornaments glistened, smiles radiated, and lights twinkled. Santa awaited … well would await (WAIT emphasized) in a matter of several hours. My daughter Sydney eagerly anticipated this year’s visit while our two year old Jenson hesitantly checked out the man in the red coat from a distance and shook his head no. We put in our name (and cell phone […]
How My Husband’s Mid-Life Crisis Car Saved My Life
November 2, 2018
This car was never supposed to happen. I still remember the day my husband Doug broached the topic. “I really want to get a fast sports car.” Doug has always been a bit car obsessed, but a two-seater for a family needing at least three seats? We were definitely outside the practical zone. I had just come back from a meeting where a psychologist talked […]
A Forgotten Art
September 7, 2018
The picture hangs prominently displayed in our master bathroom. On it, a word I need to remember before the start of each day. Many of the words come more naturally: love, dream, create. Yet one highlighted word stands out in a sea of action oriented verbs – be. It’s an unnatural word in a world where hustle and achievement are heralded. Get that project completed. […]
Faith Over Fear!
July 12, 2018
Hello friends! Today I’m excited to introduce you to my amazing writer and speaker friend Jennifer Goebbel. She is a mama of three girls and one boy, married for 19+ years, and has a God-given gift to teach (I love listening to her speak and marvel as she brings the Bible to life in new ways) . She is guest posting today on the blog, […]
The Truth About You
June 29, 2018
Tuck in. Talk. Pray. And make sure to say the “signature phrase”. Bedtime is rapidly evolving with a 12 year-old daughter in the midst of puberty. It used to involve story time, holding her hand and lying next to her in her bed until she fell asleep. But it’s always included that one thing I never want her to forget. “You are loved & special,” […]
The Best Gift Of All
May 12, 2018
Your belly became the place I first got to know you. The thump of your heartbeat, your beautiful voice, the rhythm of your soul. You made me feel safe and gave me a place to grow. You were there. I made my way into this brave new world. Wide eyed and uncertain. Bright lights, big smiling faces, and cool crisp air. You were there. I […]
Close Encounter In An Airport Bathroom
April 26, 2018
It started off as a typical Thursday afternoon after a week of business travel. Turn in rental car. Schlep barefoot through security checkpoint. Bra wire pat down by female TSA agent. Board returning flight. Stow bag. Insert purple earbuds. Listen to chill music while gazing out airplane window. Land at DFW airport and taxi 15 minutes to gate. Grab carry on bag. Head up exit […]
A Poem Of Thanks This Good Friday
March 30, 2018
How did it feel To leave perfection To come from heaven To face rejection? How did it feel To know what was coming The trial, the judgment, The abuse and the shunning? How did it feel Asking your dear friends to pray And finding them napping Unable to stay awake? How did it feel To wait for the day When one you discipled Would be […]
Grace for the Holiday Griever (Part 3 of 3)
December 23, 2017
Receiving Grace (Part 3 of “Grace for the Holiday Griever” blog series) No amount of presents under the tree or holiday glad tidings could fill the void. Everything seemed immaterial. It was our first Christmas without our son, and life felt empty and hallow. During this time, God revealed his deep love for the grieving heart. It showed up in special cards from people who […]
Grace For The Holiday Griever (Part 2 of 3)
December 11, 2017
Part 2: Honoring Your Loved One With Grace We got the Christmas boxes down from the attic and started unpacking. A surge of emotion hit as I pulled out our four stockings (Doug, Kristin, Sydney, and Jenson). It was our first Christmas without our son Jenson, and it flashed me back to our first dinner out after he passed away. “How many in your […]
Grace For The Holiday Griever (Part 1 of 3)
November 17, 2017
How do you navigate when grief rears its ugly head and threatens to steal your holiday cheer? If you’re feeling the sting of grief this holiday season, this three-part series “grace for the holiday griever” is for you. Part 1: Grace & Space When grief pounced its way into our lives five years ago, I had no idea how suffocating and all consuming it would […]
Unlocking A New Level of Strength
September 29, 2017
“Why do you have a weird rock in your drawer?” my eleven year old daughter Sydney asked. Oh, the mysterious rock. I’ve been holding onto that rock for several years now. This rock birthed itself at a writing and speaking conference called She Speaks. At the end of the last session, they asked us to still our spirit and listen for one word from God […]
Finding Your Unique Purpose
September 8, 2017
The woman directly in front of me in aerobics class collapsed to the ground. I stood motionless in my white Reebok high tops shocked and conflicted – wishing I could help but knowing I’d do more harm than good. Another woman in our class moved with command towards the woman on the floor. She began giving CPR. If only I’d paid more attention in the […]
Enough With the Fear Factor
July 1, 2017
“The cave you fear to enter holds the treasures you seek.” — Joseph Campbell Fear can hold us back from some of the most exhilarating joy we’ll ever experience. Fear whispers lies at us: “You can’t do that.” “Who do you think you are?” “Don’t even bother. You’ll just fail.” Like a bully at the playground, fear pounces just as we get the […]
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