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When You Don’t Know What’s Next
Eighteen years ago, when I was expecting our first child, What to Expect When You’re Expecting was considered the go-to pregnancy “bible.”I know there’s an app for that now. But, back then, the book provided all sorts of baby advice and trivia. We would know, for instance, that at week 16, the baby would be ...
How Can We Reclaim Joy?
When my daughter was little, she would present me with dainty bouquets—composed entirely of weeds. We lived in Portland, Oregon, at the time, and on our few and scattered sunny days, my mini-me would joyfully run through the grass, filling her hands with wispy dandelions and wild daisies. When she gave me her handcrafted bouquets, ...
What I Learned about God — at a Mosque
As I tilt my head at a certain angle, I catch a glimpse of the shimmering domed ceiling. Though I want to linger, the crowd behind me feels overwhelming — I only take a moment to glance at the mosaic: Mary, robed in a deep blue, sits on a jeweled throne. She holds a young ...
You Don’t Need to be Fruitful Right Now
As I scroll social media, scan bookshelves, and read my email, one theme pops up repeatedly: productivity. We’re all looking for ways to get the most out of our time. Being productive is often tied to our purpose. After all, God designed us to use our talents and skills. When He created Adam, God didn’t ...
What 20 Years of Marriage Has Taught Me
The hubbers and I celebrated 20 years of wedded bliss yesterday.
Okay, that’s not entirely true. While it’s been 20 beautiful years, it hasn’t been all bliss.
Like every married couple, along with the bliss, there’s been some blunders, bloopers, and, well, just plain brokenness (because that’s what marriage is: two flawed people coming together.)
Along with gathering ...
A Good Man: A Tribute to my Dad on his 80th Birthday
I remember crafting you a "poem" when I was eleven years old. It was your 45th birthday and I wrote this for you:
Born in ‘45
Today 45,
Half of 90
In the Year ‘90
You thought my poem was next-level brilliant. Like, Nobel Literature Prize worthy. Like, Shakespeare should be taking notes.
Thirty-five years later, you’re still the biggest cheerleader of ...
A Letter to My Daughter on Her 16th Birthday
Dear Girlie,
Happy 16th Birthday!
First things first.
Now that we let you get a second ear piercing for your birthday, we’re officially in the “cool parents” club. Right?
Who am I kidding?? We’ll never qualify as “cool” parents (or is it “lit” parents now?), will we? To clarify, we will still be asking you to put away your ...
Holy Huddles in the Messy Mundane
I rummage through the snack drawer and pull out a happy assortment of goodies: Hide & Seek cookies, Medjool dates, salted makhana, and some woefully ignored packets of channa dal. Feeling slightly guilty about all the processed snacks, I throw some mandarin oranges into the mix. I deposit the items on the dining table along with three ...
How Can I Be Free From Fear?
Growing up, I attended a strict Catholic school in South India. For 12 years, I wore a school uniform of the prescribed length, socks that were modestly high enough to pass inspection, and startlingly bright white canvas shoes.
My whole modus operandi in school was pretty simple. It wasn’t to get good grades. It wasn’t to ...
MEET SUSAN
