Category: Leadership
-
Ethnicity
Today in civics class, the teacher invited my older daughter to tell her story. Only if she wants to. Adoption is not a secret at home, in the neighborhood, in the church or at school. The natural way we treat this part of our story was passed on as such. It is neither good nor…
-
Critical
Did you have those voices around you, growing up, that were more critical than encouraging? Kids are born inept. They know nothing, are clumsy, needy, and frankly even when they make progress, it is slow. Thant being said, they hunger for encouragement and faith. They need adults to believe in them, especially when they don’t…
-
About having a voice
From invisible and underestimated Stepping into the light Being visible burdened with expectations I learn to live With purpose Quiet and clear Humble and bold. I grew up singing Traian dorz poems My theological foundation Music has the power to activate parts of the brain that nothing else could My crossroads prayers had words borrowed…
-
A good relationship
I always remember how smooth my adolescence was. My brother was gone to college, and I had my groove. The happiest years of my life. School stressed me big time bit one I figured out the system and the teachers, I studied hard by it didn’t occupy my entire mind all the time. I had…
-
The effort
Livia shows up. I see her. She sees me. It has been a year of brokenness and exhaustion. Sometimes we can’t articulate with all the words the darkness we felt. But in it, there was a light. Steady. Bright. Why did you come? Why are you going? What’s here to do? What’s there to do?…
-
Mudslide
It felt like a whirlwind, a mudslide of noise, opinions, decisions. Spending money is the sauce for extra stress. And this month I had to pay our property taxes, rent income tax, health insurance, and there are a few trips coming up. We bought equipment for hiking in Austria, and my biggest burden this fall,…
-
Two kids 3 years apart
I helped ivy wash her hair. The tin in the house is smaller than it was at the apartment. They could fit together in it still, when we moved in 2021. Now they can’t. They Barely fit alone. I drained the water and then it was Jackie turn. She called me to help her rinse…
-
Back home
Something reset in me in the hospital. I hate the fact that I’m so predictable and dramatic medical events manage to get me out of myself. I had to stop being admired in the hospital with my daughter. The law not only allows but encourages parents to be admitted in the hospital and stay with…
-
Stress bursting into pain within the body
We ended the year looking for an answer to Conrad’s intense stomach pains. As I shared with him my stress load, as we put it into words, and I took steps towards self care, his stomach pangs eased. Maybe it was the medicine, maybe it was the naming of the stress factors. The reality is…
-
The Power of our thoughts
There is a famous Bible story, about a man named Peter who briefly walked on water.On a stormy night, the disciples were sailing across the sea. At dawn, among the waves, they saw Jesus walking across the water toward them. Despite their justifiable fear, Peter, one of his disciples, asked Jesus to call him out…
-
Our first Recession
Newlyweds at the end of 2007. That year we got married, moved to California, started new jobs that were intense, demanding, full time. After four years of college and summer internships, full time work felt draining, stuck, oppressive. But I was commuted to pull through. To get used to it, to take the bull by its…
-
a moment of clarity
Dear friends, it has been a full year. Too full. I feel completely spent. The more I did, the more it felt like it’s not enough. I befriended so many new wonderful people in 2022, but as time is limited, I feel I have neglected many old friendships. It is more joyous to give than…