Loving our marginalized brothers and sisters as the Savior loved

After spending 19 years as a prisoner, Jean Valjean, one of the lead characters in Victor Hugo’s novel Les Miserables, is released from jail. “Exhausted by a long voyage and dying of hunger and thirst, he arrives in a small town seeking a place to find food and shelter for the night. When the news...

Sticky kisses, muddy messes and broken dishes: advice from a middle-aged mom

My husband and I have been teaching a kids class at our church for several months now. The kids range in age from six to eight (it's like Sunday School called Primary and you can learn more about it here if you'd like). As parents who have almost reached the middle stages of parenting (is there...

‘the King and the pawn go back in the same box’

When I turned 16 and took my driver’s test, I passed the parallel parking part with perfection. In the years since, I’ve been able to maneuver this technique fairly flawlessly. Recently, I’ve had the opportunity to practice this at our downtown apartment that only offers street parking. About a month ago, I parallel parked beautifully...

Two brothers and a total eclipse

As awe-inspiring and amazing as the Total Solar Eclipse was on Monday (and it truly was here in Missouri in the path of totality), I'd like to tell another story of the eclipse. It's the story of my husband and his brother who hadn't seen each other in nearly a decade. But let me back...

Sacrifice in marriage: ‘giving up something good for something of far greater worth’

So ... I was asked again the other day about this ... ... the beard ... my husband’s beard ... No, I do not like my husband’s beard. I hate it, actually. I hate the hair in our bathroom sink and on my pillow. I hate not being able to touch his clean-shaven face or...