Ten years ago, in preparation for the natural birth of our first child, my husband and I took a childbirth class with a doula. She taught us many helpful things, but one of the most impactful was this: do not fear the pain. Fear is the enemy of pain. Fear makes pain worse. She explained … Read more
Last year, I wrote a post called “When Christmas Isn’t a Major Key Holiday.” The post struck a note with some readers. In the midst of a global pandemic, major economic recession, societal and political upheaval, and a host of other kinds of losses, I wanted to share it again. I chose to read it … Read more
On December 26, I published a post titled, “When Christmas Isn’t a Major Key Holiday.” It seemed to resonate with a number of people who also found themselves feeling unfestive as they dealt with grief and heartache during the season of “glad tidings and joy.” I concluded, Grief and heartache aren’t unfestive. They aren’t … Read more
We were 20 weeks pregnant with our fourth baby. This was the momentous ultrasound, the moment we’d been waiting for, when we’d find out if our son would get his wish for a baby brother or if we would welcome a third beautiful baby girl into this world. With nervous anticipation, we sat in the … Read more
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel has always been my favorite Christmas song. Something about the haunting minor key and the pleading lyric captivates me (see the end of this post for a beautiful rendition of it by Sovereign Grace). This year, it’s been even more poignant. I’ve been struck by the realization that it’s not … Read more
It feels like spring today. Finally. Here in Kansas City, we’ve not been ok, as the hilarious meme I saw last week relayed. It went something like this (I can’t find it now, of course, so this is my version)…”Check on your friends in Kansas City. We’re on day 792 of winter. The sun is … Read more
The past few days have been filled with weeping. Weeping at random, in the shower, while giving a school assignment to my daughter, while nursing my newborn at 2am. I’m not weeping because my husband was at a conference most of the weekend and I was physically exhausted from caring for 4 children. Nor because … Read more
The waiting and wondering are over. The anxieties over road conditions, getting to the hospital, and getting someone to the house quickly enough watch our kids are over. She’s here. First thing Monday morning, January 21, I went to my OBGYN for my belated 39-week appointment. Four days till due date day. As planned, my … Read more
I originally wrote this post on April 27, 2013, one week before my due date with our 2nd child. Today, I’m 38 weeks with our 4th child. And I need these reminders just as much today as I did 6 years ago. So, with minor revisions, here it is again. I’m preaching to myself, again. … Read more
It’s been a heavy week. And not just because my toddler ended up with 5 stitches (although that did happen). Last Thursday, a childhood friend of mine evacuated her home in with her husband and toddler, narrowly escaping the fury of flames that tore through Northern California in the Camp Fire, now considered the most … Read more