I remember watching his tiny head emerge into the world followed shortly by his shoulders and the rest of his body. His birthmom chose me to cut the umbilical cord, and I remember nervously holding the scissors, afraid I would cause more pain. But after a clean cut, the nurses quickly whisked him away to… Read More Adoption: Joy Intertwined with Sorrow
As I carried my newborn son down the elevator of the hospital, my heart filled with awe that this day had finally come. After a four-year wait, we were going to be parents for the first time. I stood in the lobby of a Detroit suburban hospital holding my son while my husband pulled the… Read More Adoption: Redemption from shame
When I was a little girl, I dreamed of marrying and having a family by the time I was 30. We would have a set of twin boys and another boy shortly after. Their names would all start with the letter “t” (though I’m not sure why). I envisioned myself with a large, pregnant belly,… Read More Adoption: A lesson in trust
As my feet were hitting the dirt path, a butterfly flittered in front of me. It seemed to be leading the way for me to follow. Throughout my run, a butterfly floated effortlessly in front of me and just as one left, another would replace it. Lately it seems as if my family is floating… Read More What to do in the aftermath of a crisis
It seems that fall finally fell upon us this past weekend. And as I was sitting outside with the neighbors watching the kids run in the street, I was filled with joy that the air was crisper and colder. As we later enjoyed pizza, I received a text from my husband, who was out of… Read More When loss comes suddenly
Welcome to my new website! I’m so glad to have you join me. Throughout this past summer, I’ve been thinking and praying about how I can use this space to better serve you. It has been a labor of love, but I feel like it is now ready to share with you. My content will… Read More My gift to you
When I went to my son’s end-of-the-year kindergarten play, I did not anticipate missing my mother-in-law. I sat joyfully watching my son participate in a short play and in name games. As we sat together on the colorful rug, he said, “If my nana was alive she would have been here. She would have loved… Read More Summer: a time to rest
I don’t remember celebrating Mother’s Day when I was growing up. I’m sure we did. I just can’t recall how we honored my mom. It wasn’t until my mom passed away 11 years ago that I suddenly became aware of Mother’s Day. When we were struggling with infertility, it felt as if Mother’s Day was… Read More When Mother’s Day Brings Joy and Sorrow
During this beautiful spring season, I find myself standing in my closet, just staring at my clothes. I wonder what shirt I can wear that won’t hurt my skin. That one is too tight, that one has material that is too rough, and that one requires an undershirt which hurts my skin…this dialogue can last… Read More He sees you
My 3-year-old daughter awoke in the middle of the night sobbing because she missed Nana. After a long hug, we talked about what we missed most about Nana – her laugh and the way she sang songs to my daughter. We then prayed, and I laid down next to her until she fell back asleep.… Read More Navigating grief: When a grandparent dies