To the Hurting Heart at Christmas, It’s supposed to be a season filled with the magic of twinkling lights and melody of joyful carols. It’s supposed to be a time of wistful nostalgia; reminiscing of Christmas’ long ago and memories of laughter and love. It’s supposed to be a time to celebrate life with those […]

I jokingly say I have the sickest kids in America, but sometimes I feel as though it’s true.  This summer our sickness peaked with a round of never ending-pinkeye, reoccurring strep, mixed in with a mild stomach bug. In July we spent $300 on insurance co-pays {our co-pay is only $25!!!} and I was desperate […]

Dear Super Mom, The house was quiet with the hushed sounds of sleep machines and the muted volume of HGTV.  My kids were finally asleep and honestly, I could have done a little dance knowing my mom duties were done for the day. Yet I felt the urge to make some adorable and delicious treats […]

To the Woman Who’s Lost Her Sparkle, It was a blustery fall day, one where the leaves zip past and dance to the rhythm of a wind that chills to the bone.  My errand list was a mile long and I was dreaming of a steaming cup of coffee and a warm blanket. Rushing into […]

  For fun I waltzed into a big-name kids clothing store, prepared for a rare splurge on an outfit for my daughter, Joy.  Quickly my jaw hit the ground as I glanced at the price tag, thinking, “I don’t even pay this much for my clothes!” I headed for the door, more than a little discouraged […]

There we were in the aisles of Babies R Us, with our eyes glazed and palms sweaty, not sure at all whether to purchase baby supplies outright or register for them.  We only had three weeks to turn an empty room into a nursery fit for the princess we were adopting and had no idea […]

The word adoption makes me smile every time. It makes me want to settle into a deep conversation and share my heart over a cup of coffee. I love encouraging families to open their mind and heart to the possibility of an adopted child! These adoption prayers will be a powerful addition to your own […]

Adoption is beautiful and it never ceases to amaze me how God hand-picks and unites families together.  To me, it’s a tangible expression of God’s love for all involved. Adoption has changed my life and my heart by making me a mom to babies who desperately needed a forever family. But Hubs and I weren’t […]

When we started on our adoption journey, I had no idea what to expect and had a ton of questions, with no one to answer.  At that time, the only adoption I was somewhat familiar with was through an agency, and the whole term ‘private adoption’ intimidated me a great deal.

  Oh, Motherhood, how I had grand plans for you!  I just KNEW I had you all figured out and would be a mother for the history books once I was finally blessed with children.  I had it all planned. I would lovingly discipline my children and we would spend long hours learning and laughing […]

Depression. It can be a silent struggle, one masked by fake smiles and happy Facebook posts. It can be a dangerous, life-altering battle. It is real and should not be ignored. Right now, depression is an unwelcome guest in my family as my sister fights this demon every day. Younger than me by 9 years, […]