Hearing Out Life Drama  Blog

My niece was born on Christmas Day.

It was a snowy morning in Iowa, and we were already buzzing with holiday excitement when my brother arrived with a Polaroid in hand. He held it out like it was the most sacred thing he’d ever touched—and in many w...

Part 2 of a 2-part series on speaking up for yourself and the people you love

It started with a hospital tray.

My ex-husband has a rare genetic condition called MCAD. His body doesn’t process fat for energy like most people, so he requires a strict...

Part 1 of a 2-part series on speaking up for yourself and the people you love

Self-advocacy isn’t always loud. It isn’t always polished. And it isn’t always easy.
But in a world where it’s all too common to shrink yourself to avoid conflict, learning...

We were crawling up the mountain pass in a snowstorm, chains rattling in the trunk and nerves rattling in my chest. The trip wasn’t optional—we had a medical appointment in San Francisco that couldn’t wait. My hands were freezing, and the gloves I br...

When I served as a pastor, I had an expectation: before officiating a wedding, the couple had to meet with me three times.

It’s a common expectation in many churches, but for me, it wasn’t about checking a box. It was about helping them build someth...

When my kids were little, they had so much to say.

From sharing their big dreams about the houses they wanted to build to life’s big questions—there was a constant stream of words, stories, and feelings tumbling out. They needed to share. They neede...