Sometimes, silence screams. She harangues us with intrusive thoughts: You’re alone. You’ll always be alone. Nobody sees you. Nobody understands. Nobody cares. And for a valley-walker, the relentless shriek can […]
Last Words
My husband’s last words to me were, “Not goodbye.” We were on a very brief video call with him before he was put on a ventilator. We hadn’t seen him […]
Feeling Cheated by Death: Wedding Anniversary Thoughts
Sunday is my wedding anniversary. We should be celebrating 29 years as Mr. and Mrs. Smith. We were supposed to grow old together. We were just getting started. Soon, my […]
Palm Sunday and My Fickle Heart
Today, my daughter and I got to celebrate Palm Sunday with a beautiful congregation in Costa Rica. It was almost transcendent to stand in that space, worshiping one Savior in […]
When Grief is Loud
When you’re faced with an unwanted new life—devastated by loss—and you become overwhelmed by sorrow, Seek the face of the Savior. He knows the agony of separation and the anguish […]
The Valley Between Gardens
Grief and joy, coexisting. So much pain and loss; so much for which to be thankful. Living in that juxtaposition is just part of life between the gardens, isn’t it? […]
Drop Your Nets and Follow Me
Change is hard—especially when it’s not my idea. Especially when it leads to the unknown. Especially when it means letting go. “Immediately they left their nets and followed him.” With […]
You Can Do Hard Things
Sometimes, God requires us to do hard things. Really. hard. things. I don’t know about you, but I have to admit that when He called me to some of these […]
But God Saw…
For many years, she was confined to widow garb, waiting for her father-in-law to do the right thing. Yet, in all those years, God did not forget about her. For […]
Faith Grows Best in the Dark
Joseph had a dream that he knew was from God. There was a distinct calling on his life and a good plan for his future. He lived a life of […]
Prayer for a New Year
A Valley-Walker’s Prayer for a New Year Dear God, as we step into a brand new year, we lift up this honest and heartfelt prayer. Our hearts are full of […]
You Should’ve Been Here
This is a poem I wrote to Jeremy over the past two weeks. I wanted to share it here, in hopes that it makes you feel:1) seen2) not alone in […]

