Childbirth Grief is kind of like childbirth. “Push past the pain,” my midwife told me. I could feel the tiny …
Thanksgiving: Seeing Beauty in the Little Things
Thanksgiving is a beautiful season of harvest, of plenty, of gathering in the warmth of family during colder, darker …
On Turning 40, Childless
As far as birthdays go, I had dreaded strange milestones—16 and 20 stand out in my mind—but never 40. Forty is the …
Why Foster Care and Adoption Don’t Provide Perfect, Happy Endings
Don’t get me wrong. Foster care and adoption are needed more than ever with today’s opioid epidemic. They are good—and …
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How I Keep the House (Relatively) Clean with Minimal Effort
I used to love weekly housecleaning. As a teenager and early college student, I had a weekly rotation of a few …
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How My Child’s Memory Verse Drastically Improved Our Relationship
Parenting is scary. After angry, knock-down, drag-out battles with a strong-willed 5-year-old (in which my performance …
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Hidden Griefs of Anticipated Infant Loss
Death is an obvious grief. That loss is tangible. Everyone sees that and feels that for you. But knowing you are going …
Variations on a Theme: 5 Baked Oatmeal Ideas for Hidden Nutrition
In this early-September transition from summer into fall, gardens are still producing bounties of summer produce, while …
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Baby Bumps and Body Image
Most women struggle with body image. Most feel they are overweight, whether they are in fact or not. This summer I …
Cold, Hard Facts
I can hear cold, hard facts from a doctor without flinching, maybe even with a smile and a nod. I can consider the …
Twenty Weeks
The following post was my Facebook pregnancy announcement. Looking back at my determinations, my rejoicings, and my …
Josiah’s Story – Part 2
Whirlwind. So much of life experience packed into those unforgettable 3 days: anxiousness, pain, relief, fear, joy, …