Adoption can be filled with so much love and hope but it also inherently involves loss, something broken apart. Daxton became a part of our family as a newborn, even leaving the hospital with us. Despite his first mom's certainty about her choice and our elation at bringing him home, each of us acutely felt the pain involved. We traveled to be with her for his first birthday and this picture of th...  Read More

Last week, a guy in our church told me that he can’t wait for Easter. He said that it was two years ago on Easter Sunday that their family was invited and decided to give church a try. Since that time, their family has been through turmoil, seasons of celebration, and a lot of transition. But, the church has made a life-changing difference in their ability to weather it all and stay hopeful. It wa...  Read More

“After the rain” in St. Louis, MO.Joy in the midst of hard things... Matthew 21:1-11Entry into Jerusalem21 When they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus gave two disciples a task. 2 He said to them, “Go into the village over there. As soon as you enter, you will find a donkey tied up and a colt with it. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything...  Read More

Finn's biggest joy moments happen on the swing, wind in his hair and smile consuming his face. I like to think Jesus might have looked similar riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, smiling big at all of the shouts of, "Hosanna!" Like Jesus, Finn's joy has consistently shown up in the midst of challenges. In fact, in many ways, Finn's life has been marked by challenge. Medically, Finn has endured over...  Read More

I took this picture while on a walk in my neighborhood in early March. These were the first blooms I’d seen since before winter, and they gave me such joy. What an unexpected gift of color and fragrance in the midst of a dry and dreary landscape! They reminded me of the perseverance and boldness it takes, sometimes, to show up joyfully while things are still hard and spring is still yet to come. M...  Read More

This is my daughter. One of our struggles lately has been being persistent when things are "too hard." And, encouraging my daughter that some things will take practice, you may not be able to do a cartwheel the first time.The term "parent" implies times of difficulty and overcoming challenges. Daily life can be a challenge, getting out the door on time can be a challenge. In the midst of these cha...  Read More