In December 2016, I wrote a blog post called, “Now What?” that listed things I felt were important at a time when the world seemed particularly dark and chaotic. I recently ran into my list again, and it still seems like good advice, even though I was much younger when I wrote it, so I […]
We were in Florida recently for my brother’s wedding, staying at a friend’s house, and I wound up in the emergency room with tremendous chest pain the night before we flew home. It was just inflammation in my lungs from the virus I’d had all week (and, I believe, my failure to rest like I […]
I’m excited to announce that this April, God willing, Ed and I will be going on a mission trip to Greece! We’re joining a group from the Indiana House of Prayer and Equipping (IHOPE), some of whom we know from church and some of whom we’re getting to know for the first time. This is my first […]
Do we understand what is meant by the psalmist who lifts his eyes to the hills? I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. – Psalm 121:1-2 (ESV) I have heard Christians declare that God, our help, is coming from […]
About a month ago, I almost posted here about a better voting system for our country. The post is finished. All I have to do is hit the publish button. But posting it felt wrong. I was scrolling through Facebook a LOT right after the election, and it was a deluge of vitriol, fear, sadness, defiance, and chaos. Most of […]
I have come to the conclusion that I cannot, in good conscience, vote for Donald Trump, vote for Hillary Clinton, or not vote at all. I am disillusioned with the idea that our elections are a game where my vote is a strategic way to stop the “other” party from winning, rather than a vote […]
The short story I published earlier this month was not published under the illusion of wealth and sales. Seldom can a single, disconnected, self-published short story by an unknown author make it into the hands of anyone but her own friends and mother. I know this. Rather, I published it as a beginning, as a dare to myself to […]
I grew up with Pokémon. As a kid, I woke up early every weekday morning to watch the show before school. I collected the cards, I collected all things Pikachu, and I heartily enjoyed the GameBoy games. I liked to wear my Ash Ketchum hat and pretend I was Ashley Ketchum, Pokémon master extraordinaire. When I […]
Ed and I just spent a couple of weeks in Florida followed almost immediately by several days in Pennsylvania, and I don’t think I’ve ever been happier to get home in my life. We had a great time, but I’m exhausted and feel like we’ve hardly been able to get any traction in Indiana since we […]
Just over a month ago, I attended a funeral for a family friend. Ed, Dan, and I were going to be in Florida anyway, for a wedding, and my mom had suggested I visit Leslie in hospice when we visited as it would likely be my last chance. I suppose I refused to accept the reality of her condition, […]