Trafficking in Our Backyard

As an advocate working with individuals who have been sexually violated and exploited, I see the everyday reality of violence and slavery. Our culture has repackaged, sanitized, and masked the sex industry under the guise of liberation, empowerment, and glamor. There...

An Unexpected Family

On the surface, our family looks like any other: husband and wife, four kids. We are the quintessential American family. It’s only after getting to know us that someone might come to realize what a struggle it has been to piece our family together. Infertility,...

Freedom from Expectations

I met Nick when we were 16. We dated throughout high school and got married at 21. We were very much in love. Nick had a calling to join the Army and wanted to serve his country, so he joined the Army National Guard right after we got married and went to basic...

When Grace is What You Really Need

I see it often in my social media news feeds—judgments made, people labeled and dismissed. Opinions vary far and wide on anything and everything, and people are easily disregarded if they act in a way we don’t think is right or believe something different than us. We...

A Christmas Box to Treasure {DIY}

Once upon a time, there was an amazing young man in my first hour seventh grade science class. Over the years, there were hundreds of great young people in my classes, but this particular young man, Josh, was special.  After our oldest son passed away, Josh...