This month has been filled with quality friends-and-family time, and my cup is overflowing. One wonderful occasion was in a town west of Chicago–yes, an 11 hour drive–to finally attend our college friends’ annual holiday gathering. There is something special andtotally unmatched about the friendships formed during those four years of higher education. Living with friends, seeing each other […]
A Spice Cake Kind of Birthday
For my birthday, my husband surprised me with all of the “favorite things” he’s heard me mention over the years. He baked a spice cake (even made it double layer! and found the cake stand to display it on!), bought extra frosting and graham crackers to enjoy it with. YUM! And of course he couldn’t […]
The Very Beginning of Us
Eight years ago on this very day, I made the five-turned-seven-hour drive back to our college campus after Thanksgiving break to give a certain 18 year old boy an answer. Yes, I will be your girlfriend. That elegant response was quickly followed by a moment of naive honesty— so what does that mean exactly?It was […]
On Capitol Hill
Kevin and I have had lots of great trips with family or visiting family and friends. We’ve gotten many weekend trips, particularly camping excursions, just the two of us. We have been so blessed to have the past 4 and a half years of marriage to focus on each other. But we had been hoping […]
On Gift Giving and Life Changing
Dear friends, If there is one thing I’m passionate about it’s sponsoring children. For such a small percentage of our monthly income, we rich-beyond-comprehension-Americans can change the life of a child in need. We can supply food, clothing, education and the love of Jesus. HOPE. I began my journey of child sponsorship through Compassion International in 2006, my junior year […]
On Eucharisteo
I wrote this originally on February 23, 2011 and have shared its message two different times now–once with a group of teen girls and just tonight at a women’s event. Its meaning is resonating with me once again and I wanted to share it. —- “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to […]
When Wafting Roasted Turkey Takes Over My Brain
I am so excited to have my mom coming to visit this weekend. We’re going to celebrate Thanksgiving a few weeks early and have invited a few friends over to join the 3 of us. I love turkey. I love roasting turkeys. It’s not scary for me; it’s exciting. Because I can practically taste that […]
Supportive Listening
While having a really wonderful conversation with a really wonderful friend, I realized what a precious gift my husband gives to me every time I share my hair-brained ideas with him. I am the type of person who always has thoughts of the next thing or a great idea floating around in my head. *pop pop pop* […]
His 26th Birthday
Dear husband, on his 26th birthday, Enjoy these 24 days during which we are the “same age.” Soon, I will be a year old and wiser and errr…older. Ick. (It’s not as cool to be older than someone like it was when we were kids.) Even though we didn’t technically “grow up” together, I feel […]
Tears of Passion
Have you ever been so invested in something you’ve been brought to tears during part of the process? That’s what happened to me during the teen Sunday School class I co-lead. Yes, it was embarrassing, but it managed to be simultaneously empowering. I felt freed up to be myself, to be passionate, to be so deeply […]