The Art of Apologizing
My husband and I both have strong opinions and strong wills. This has resulted in lots of conflicts and hurt feelings over our 25 years together. After we got married, it quickly became apparent that in order to sustain peace and stay connected, we had to hone the art...
Joan of Arc’s Radical and Inspirational Life
Despite all odds, an illiterate French woman born more than 500 years ago redefined bravery and contributed to the rise of King Charles. Jehanne, or, as she is now known, Joan of Arc, radically impacted European history and has inspired men, women, and children for...
When Expectations Collide
Not long after my husband and I got married, we started having conflicts about what it meant to be home in time for dinner. After negotiating what seemed like a reasonable compromise, we developed a routine: he’d be late, I’d get angry, he’d apologize, and then we...
Making Marriage Beautiful Cover Reveal!
I am thrilled to show off the amazing book cover for Making Marriage Beautiful. Not long after I was offered a contract by David C. Cook, I started praying for my cover design. That might sound odd to some of you but as a photographer, visuals matter. A lot. Cook had...
My Love Affair . . . with Peonies
In The Weight of Glory, C.S. Lewis wrote that beauty is meant to be a doorway, inviting us into something deeper. These flowers do that for me. The sight of them fills my heart with wonder and gratitude. Peonies are one of the most extroverted flowers out there....
Why Parenting Failures Prompt Criticism Rather than Compassion
After reading multiple articles about the Cincinnati Zoo’s tragedy, I couldn’t stop crying—for the loss of a beautiful animal, but more so because of the public’s response. While I understand the all-too-common impulse to judge and smugly criticize, I also see a...
How Do We Measure Success When It Comes to Marriage?
Fidelity? Honesty? Affection? Good sex? Yes. And so much more. (Twenty fives years ago today I wore this dress and walked down the aisle to begin a covenant relationship with Christopher.) (Shown with our flag bearers: Daniel and Annika Greco, David Bass, Thea and...
Seeing Our Parents Home at Today’s Christian Woman
Though we hope that death comes quietly to beckon our parents home, reality is often bracingly different. Not long after my father turned 80, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. COPD had already taken a toll, limiting him to approximately 15 minutes of physical...
Help Create My Book Title & Win Free Stuff!
It's been a very long time since I've posted anything original here. I'm just a week away from finishing my first book and I need your help. The publishing house recently let me know that they are not head over heels in like with my title. I know there are lots of...
Should I Care about Ethical Eating ?
This article is from Relevant Magazine's Weekly Advice Column, Nove. 11, 2015 I've been reading a lot lately about eating ethically, and I've been trying to be more conscious about it, but sometimes it just feels like a losing battle. I feel like I often just don't...