"Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return."This year is not my first Lent rodeo. I've been intentional during Lent in past years...giving up loves like chocolate, social media, and coffee. Knowing the denial of flesh desires might cause me to ache for God just a little bit more, I set lovely … Continue reading dust

I write at a table. A small, rectangular dining room table, with four tall-backed chairs on the perimeter. This hand-me-down table has traveled all across the state with me. And the four chairs, with layers upon layers of white paint, hail from Iowa, just magically matches the table. I make it my goal to daily … Continue reading the table

With each passing day, the frustration and fear mounted, the patience and peace shrunk. There were days filled with prayers and conversations and what-ifs. And there were some days where life carried on as usual.And one day, lying in the mailbox, a simple letter. Trembling fingers shred the envelop to reach the contents. And I … Continue reading notice of action

A few weeks ago, I spent some time with a dear friend from college. A beautiful, passionate lover of Jesus, coffee, and adventures. This woman is one of the bravest I know. As we caught up on life, she shared her current reads and the wonderings stirring around in her heart. We re-called a beloved … Continue reading enemies in the dining room

A few weeks ago I read about caterpillars and butterflies.Caterpillars are butterfly larvae. Baby butterflies. Immature. Underdeveloped. Juvenile. Tender. Unfinished. Infantile. Rudimentary.Caterpillars mature through a series of stages of growth and change, "instars" insect lovers call them. At the end of each instar, there's this process of shedding the old skin or shell that no … Continue reading caterpillars and butterflies

I remember coming home that night, exhausted and hungry, my sister & I raided the fridge before heading to bed. I remember my mom meeting us in the kitchen, asking us how our night of babysitting went. I remember my mom saying her head hurt and that she was going back to bed. And I … Continue reading carpet stain

It was so gradual and undercover that I didn't even know it was happening. There were few words and much space between interactions. And here I am, 4 years later, bitter and sad and lonely and dried up. I am filled with fear, walling myself up so as to never open up and be hurt … Continue reading repugnant elephants

I have this owl. It's small and beautiful and black and teal. It holds a tealight candle and it's old. Normally, this sentimental girl hoards unnecessary trinkets because of the story behind these dust collectors. But this owl, there's no story about it. It was in a box in the storage room at my parents' … Continue reading broken owls

The go-to answer people use to describe how they're doing. The number one excuse people use. The default lament. It's an addiction spurned by fear, anxiety, or ambition. And of course it's addicting...the feelings of importance. The glorification of a productive week. The pride of crossing something off a list. The reassurance of meaningfulness. Full … Continue reading busy