Salt & Light

I have always hoped to be the kind of person who infiltrates culture with good. Who lives the change I want to see. Who is not afraid of the world, but sees the beauty in what God created and helps draw that out. Something deep inside of me moves at the very words be salt and light. I want to bring … Continue reading Salt & Light

What Magic?

Merry Christmas Eve. Although not usually a great day for me, I woke up with the sun (and my baby that doesn't sleep) and tried to get my heart in a good place. Today is the 17th anniversary of losing my mom to breast cancer and this day always seems to bring the gaping hole … Continue reading What Magic?

Baby Spica Cast Adventures {The End, sort of}

When I think back to 10+ weeks ago when our baby was in a Spica cast, I find myself thinking, "we did that?" It almost seems like it was someone else. What an ordeal. During those 3 and a half months I thought the end would never come, but it did and we survived. Everyone … Continue reading Baby Spica Cast Adventures {The End, sort of}

7 ways to help your kids love each other (eventually)

The other night my kids spent 20 minutes fighting over who would get to sit next to the baby at dinner. Our 9 month old daughter Poppy is especially popular right now. She is of course, the "queen of all the babies" and can do no wrong at this point in her life. I'm sure … Continue reading 7 ways to help your kids love each other (eventually)

10 Key Things I’ve learned About Marriage

Saturday marked 10 years since the day I vowed to walk through life committed to Brian. I was 32 years old that day and after 5 years of dating him, I assumed that I was as prepared as anyone could be. But you can never know then what you know now. I have learned countless … Continue reading 10 Key Things I’ve learned About Marriage

Baby Spica Cast Adventures {part four}

Poppy is 6 months old now and we have officially been living with a spica cast for 12 weeks. She gets her final cast off in just 2 weeks. I can hardly believe it. I can't wait to snuggle her little body, give her a bath, take her for a swim, not stress about the … Continue reading Baby Spica Cast Adventures {part four}

Invited In

Our little Poppy gets a lot of attention these days. We get plenty of stares and strangers asking questions- because it's not often you see a baby in a cast. People are curious (and mostly kind) and I've found that if I engage them, they do their best to encourage. And sometimes they say dumb … Continue reading Invited In

The One Thing Every Good Dad Needs

I grew up with a dedicated father and I know what a gift that is. He miraculously figured out how to "dad" well, even though he only met his own father once and had no example to follow. And of course he isn't a perfect father (as no man is) but he is a great one. … Continue reading The One Thing Every Good Dad Needs

Baby Spica Cast Adventures {part three}

This whole "baby wearing a cast" thing requires a lot of trial and error no matter how much research I do. This week includes trying yet another sleeping position, introducing solid food a bit early in an attempt to avoid diaper blow outs and looking for a stroller that she'll fit into. But so far, we are surviving … Continue reading Baby Spica Cast Adventures {part three}

Baby Spica Cast Adventures {part poo}

It happened. The dreaded diaper blow-out in the spica cast. I have had multiple dreams about it and it was as bad-even worse- than I imagined. It got all over the inside of her cast and even came out one leg opening. I used 100 wipes, a few swear words, a rubber spatula from the … Continue reading Baby Spica Cast Adventures {part poo}