December 31, 2019
Recently I had the opportunity to write an article for a Patient Safety magazine sharing our son Jenson’s brave journey. He made the cover with the caption “How one boy changed patient safety”. If you’ve ever wondered if you can make a difference in this world, you can! Start with one thing you’re passionate about changing (more on that in the article https://patientsafetyj.com/article/73598-what-s-your-one-thing “What’s Your […]
June 21, 2019
Our family recently received an incredibly generous gift. One that came about because of a small, heartfelt act years before. It happened while attending a fundraising event in New York City. We headed to the 8th floor in cocktail attire and entered the grand ballroom as we took in stunning views – a beautiful wood coffered ceiling, intricate carved wood walls, and a balcony overlooking […]
December 21, 2018
Christmas joy filled the air. Ornaments glistened, smiles radiated, and lights twinkled. Santa awaited … well would await (WAIT emphasized) in a matter of several hours. My daughter Sydney eagerly anticipated this year’s visit while our two year old Jenson hesitantly checked out the man in the red coat from a distance and shook his head no. We put in our name (and cell phone […]
May 12, 2018
Your belly became the place I first got to know you. The thump of your heartbeat, your beautiful voice, the rhythm of your soul. You made me feel safe and gave me a place to grow. You were there. I made my way into this brave new world. Wide eyed and uncertain. Bright lights, big smiling faces, and cool crisp air. You were there. I […]
April 26, 2018
It started off as a typical Thursday afternoon after a week of business travel. Turn in rental car. Schlep barefoot through security checkpoint. Bra wire pat down by female TSA agent. Board returning flight. Stow bag. Insert purple earbuds. Listen to chill music while gazing out airplane window. Land at DFW airport and taxi 15 minutes to gate. Grab carry on bag. Head up exit […]
March 30, 2018
How did it feel To leave perfection To come from heaven To face rejection? How did it feel To know what was coming The trial, the judgment, The abuse and the shunning? How did it feel Asking your dear friends to pray And finding them napping Unable to stay awake? How did it feel To wait for the day When one you discipled Would be […]
December 23, 2017
Receiving Grace (Part 3 of “Grace for the Holiday Griever” blog series) No amount of presents under the tree or holiday glad tidings could fill the void. Everything seemed immaterial. It was our first Christmas without our son, and life felt empty and hallow. During this time, God revealed his deep love for the grieving heart. It showed up in special cards from people who […]
December 11, 2017
Part 2: Honoring Your Loved One With Grace We got the Christmas boxes down from the attic and started unpacking. A surge of emotion hit as I pulled out our four stockings (Doug, Kristin, Sydney, and Jenson). It was our first Christmas without our son Jenson, and it flashed me back to our first dinner out after he passed away. “How many in your […]
November 17, 2017
How do you navigate when grief rears its ugly head and threatens to steal your holiday cheer? If you’re feeling the sting of grief this holiday season, this three-part series “grace for the holiday griever” is for you. Part 1: Grace & Space When grief pounced its way into our lives five years ago, I had no idea how suffocating and all consuming it would […]
September 29, 2017
“Why do you have a weird rock in your drawer?” my eleven year old daughter Sydney asked. Oh, the mysterious rock. I’ve been holding onto that rock for several years now. This rock birthed itself at a writing and speaking conference called She Speaks. At the end of the last session, they asked us to still our spirit and listen for one word from God […]
September 8, 2017
The woman directly in front of me in aerobics class collapsed to the ground. I stood motionless in my white Reebok high tops shocked and conflicted – wishing I could help but knowing I’d do more harm than good. Another woman in our class moved with command towards the woman on the floor. She began giving CPR. If only I’d paid more attention in the […]
March 8, 2016
My head felt like a fifty pound weight balancing precariously on a toothpick. At any moment, it might snap. It hurt to ride in a car. It hurt to sit in a chair. It hurt to turn my head from side to side. My husband Doug affectionately referred to me as his “china doll”. Fragile. Handle with care. The MRI would reveal a bulging disc in the neck. Ouch. […]
February 15, 2016
We are good for each other and to each other. A friend of mine recently texted me this message. We both lost our sons, we both have dealt with health related issues affecting our families for years, and we both have a tendency in friendships to default to giving rather than receiving. Giving comes naturally to me. Whether it’s encouraging a friend, mentoring someone in […]
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