Being Kind & Present Could Mean the World to a Stranger

“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” -1 Peter 3:8 NIV It was May 14th, 2019, exactly one year after my dad passed away from Stage IV lung cancer. With two little ones in tow, my husband and I decided to commemorate my dad by spending some quality time together as a […]

Batting Grief, Loneliness, & Sadness During the Holidays

What if your holidays don’t feel joyful and celebratory? Ten years ago, I remember a major bout of loneliness that came at Christmas. My husband was working odd hours, and I woke up Christmas morning to a quiet house. It was just me and our three-month-old son. While I was beyond thankful to experience Christmas with our baby, and to […]

Going “No Contact” with a Parent as a Christian: What You May Not Expect (The Good & The Hard)

Six years ago, I made the difficult choice to go “no contact” with my mom. Those who have wrestled with navigating toxic and abusive family relationships know how hard it can be to step away. It’s easy to fall back into accepting the “known” toxic behavior of someone close to you when it’s familiar. It’s even harder to step into […]