Following my student's advice to let thoughts flow, I ended up crying under pine trees with Katarina. When I explained Auntie La La would live with Charming after the wedding, her chin quivered: 'You mean you're going to live far, far away?' Some Yellow Brick Roads lead us away from those we love.
Family
Sofia, Elena, and ADHD Testing: What My Nieces Taught Me About Dragons
At my twin nieces' princess party, I watched them choose their favorites—Sofia vs Elena. Hours later, taking psychological tests, I wondered: when did we stop letting princesses slay their own dragons?
Finding My Ancestor in a Roman Church: When God Writes Your Italy Story
While my students visited the Vatican, I found my great-great-great grandfather's legacy in a Waldensian church in Rome. Sometimes the best travel stories aren't about famous sights—they're about discovering who you really are.
Why I Keep Praying for Children When God Stays Silent
A disabled veteran's sermon about running from God hit me like a landmine. Here's what I learned about my own rebellion, biological clocks, and the prayer I'm afraid to stop praying.
Navigating Mother’s Day When Motherhood Feels Far Away
Mother's Day can be complicated when you're not a mother but desperately want to be. Here's how I learned to honor the day while honoring my own journey.
Spaghetti Brains and Family Trees: When Your Lineage Ends with You
My counselor says women's brains are like spaghetti—everything connects. While creating a tribute video for my brother's doctorate, I realized my line on the family tree ends with me.
When Everything Breaks at Once: Finding God in Life’s Perfect Storms
A windstorm shattered my patio table, washing machine died, seedlings froze. My toddler niece asked about cuts on my knees, and I realized I'd been asking God 'why?' too. Here's what the ocean taught me instead.
When Faith Moves Mountains: A Family’s Prayer Journey Through Medical Crisis
When my brother faced a life-threatening medical emergency, our family learned that faith isn't about avoiding mountains—it's about watching God move them. Here's how prayer, family, and unwavering hope carried us through the darkest valley.
Planting Seeds and Wondering: When Will I Have My Own Blank Slate?
Starting 144 seedlings from scratch, I know exactly what each will become. Watching my student Young Beauty and friends' children, I dream of my own blank slate—but first, Charming has to choose me.
Underdressed and Childless: What I Saw in the Bathroom Mirror
At a Wheaton alumni event surrounded by pregnant women in cocktail dresses, I escaped to the bathroom and saw everything I wasn't. Sometimes God meets us in our most envious moments.
Writer's Growth 