On prioritizing joy ✨

On prioritizing joy ✨

I’m in my seeking joy era. ✨ These days, I’m choosing to prioritize delight; to optimize for joy. For me, this comes to life through dance parties, wearing sparkles for no reason, picking a bright nail color, savoring delicious garlic noodles, squealing over the peonies in my front yard, blaring a good song and driving with the windows down, enjoying a sunny afternoon walk, watercolor painting, telling people I love them and why, reading a can’t-put-this-down book, being generous, going to the beach, being easily excited, admiring a cotton candy sunset, telling hilarious old stories, spending time with my sisters and friends that feel like […]

Reflections from the other side of COVID

Reflections from the other side of COVID

NOTE: I wasn’t sure if I wanted to share this, or to just write it for myself as a way of reflecting. More recently, especially with the new Omicron variant (ugh!), I’ve had more friends test positive and I am just so bummed for them. Hopefully this post in some very small way, shape, or form will be encouraging to those who get a dreaded positive test. Sending love, friends. — As most of you probably know, we got Covid in October, and today, I want to share some reflections and learnings from that experience. 💛 I’m intentionally not going into certain specifics – like […]

holiday reflections: present over perfect

holiday reflections: present over perfect

my holiday mantra this year and every year is PRESENT over perfect.  this has stuck with me since I first read it from one of my favorite authors @sniequist years ago. she shares that ‘our grounded, present self is more important than any activity we do and gift we give. that we can be fully here as our imperfect, messy, tired but wholly present selves, or we can miss it — these moments and conversations — because we’re trying and failing to make everything just perfect. It’s easy to see others’ seemingly perfect lives this season – the curated stockings and Advent calendars, the impeccably […]

Reflections: Ending My Breastfeeding Journey with Winnie

Reflections: Ending My Breastfeeding Journey with Winnie

This was originally shared on Instagram in March, but wanted to re-share it here, too. I took this photo several weeks ago, knowing that one of these times nursing would be one of the last times. Not sure when exactly and not having a set “stop date”, but having this sense we’d be wrapping up soon. You never really know or feel the depth of something being the last time until it’s already passed. But now I know: my 15 month chapter of nursing Winnie has come to an end. And it’s bittersweet, but also I’m very okay about it because I know she was […]

reflections: when the news feels scary

reflections: when the news feels scary

The news feels scary and sad and the weight of the world is heavy — wars and natural disasters and tragedy and sickness and loss and so much bad news. Everyone seems to be arguing and debating and taking sides and it sort of feels like walking on eggshells because you’ll make someone upset by what you do or say but also what you *don’t* do or say. When I feel overwhelmed by it all and that my anxiety might crush me, I try to take a step back and look around. I look around at my daughters — dancing and blowing bubbles and giggling […]

my faith journey & recent reflections on American Evangelical Christianity

my faith journey & recent reflections on American Evangelical Christianity

THE CHRISTIAN OUTSIDER: FEELING  “IN THE MIDDLE” & NEVER FITTING IN CHILDHOOD I grew up going to church. My dad was Catholic at the time, and often worked on Sundays, so my mom took us four girls to church by herself. That was my first time experiencing feeling “othered” at church. Everyone else showed up with both parents and I just came with one. I  often felt ashamed that only one of my parents identified as Christan; somehow this made me feel “less than” or “not good enough” from an early age. That somehow my Christian experience wasn’t as good or true or deep because […]