since i became a mom, i have loved exploring playgrounds and parks. i often wonder if i am more excited than my children when we stumble upon a park we have not yet played at. nature, imaginations and laughter seem be the perfect formula. there’s something magical that happens at these places: strangers become friends. for me, the park bench has housed countless heartfelt conversations with other parents, caught many tears and witnessed immense joy. being real is my passion and my mission. i truly believe it’s the only way to build genuine community and friendships. glennon says it so well: “we’re not often permitted to tell the truth in…

*written a few weeks ago, just now getting the courage to press “publish.”* last week was horrible. my attitude was awful. my body was worn out. my mind defeated. my soul dry. i yelled at my kids. and begged them for forgiveness the next morning. i cried. i said things i shouldn’t have said. discontentment ravaged me. in the fury of frustration, i sent a text to my sister, my lifeline, basically telling her that i was so miserable and i didn’t know how to find the good right now. she responded immediately and was available if i wanted her to be. i shut down. i went to sleep because…

a once in a lifetime, unique opportunity fell into my lap recently and without a second thought or doubt, i said YES. i was asked to give a TEDx talk, the theme being “transformations.” i knew instantly what i needed to talk about. my career has put me in so many beautiful, once in a lifetime, unique situations as i have journeyed with many patients as they have exited this life. i knew that because of the privilege that i have had in entering that most sacred time with others, i had an obligation to share it. in fact, i have felt that great duty to share these experiences ever…

my kids have been teasing me about my wrinkles lately. the more i look in the mirror, i adore those wrinkles. i recognize that they were earned, most likely, in bulk from life situations that taught me the greatest lessons. i know for a fact that the many wrinkles around my eyes are from both laughing and crying…the kind that takes the breath out of you for a minute and takes twice as long to recover. the kind of laugh that leaves your stomach muscles sore. God brought me on a unique path in my career, one i am so grateful for. i have had the opportunity to walk the…

this was a type of child i had never heard of until soon after my first was born. and up until recently this term has made me cringe. with it comes a seemingly rigorous uphill path of parenting. through each developmental stage of my child, i have been struck by particular challenges that seem to be unique to us when searching for help from my “mom friends.” these struggles have quickly led me to believe that i am “failing” as a parent. the mom guilt has burdened me and left me in tears many days. you’ve seen us before, as Catherine Wilson explains in this article : “For onlookers, that…

most people never get to meet their heroes. i have, in fact, i have met many heroes. these heroes didn’t set out for greatness, they fell victim to a terrible disease and faced it with courage, might and bravery like i have never seen before. and when we talk about this type of battle, there is no such thing as losing. whether the battle ended in death, life, or debility, each of these heroes defeated. my heroes are the innocent children that battle cancer. i high fived, hugged, wept over, laughed and played with my heroes for ten years. and you better believe i took advantage of all of that…

this view in my living room is so powerful. it takes me back to the beginning of my journey through art…the beginning of an outlet that would be messy yet therapeutic. art began for me in the early days of my nursing career. fresh out of nursing school, still a kid it felt like, i took a job in pediatric oncology. luckily i didn’t put much thought into it besides knowing that i wanted to care deeply for patients. if i would have put too much thought into it, i probably would have let fear steer me away. fear of grief. fear of pain. fear of it being too hard…

she placed my hand on the top of her head and motioned for me to rub in a circular motion. i thought she just had an itch but suddenly i could feel the relaxation overcome her tiny frame and her eyes gently closed. this bedtime tuck in was particularly tense yet fragile. just the night before she was so sick, riddled with fever after a day of throwing up. she wanted to snuggle close to me which was rare. and this night, just a short day after, she returned to her spunky, independent, energetic and somewhat defiant self. we argued and i had to raise my voice before bed. she…

i joked with a friend after leaving a funeral the other day that my tombstone should read “she tried.” this woman who’s life we were celebrating called for touching tributes and ……… despite her remarkable achievements in her long life, what impacted me most were the memories loved ones shared of her character. kindness, generosity, honesty. she was bold and demanded the same from those around her. from what i heard, she made those in her life better people. she also mouthed some sass and attitude too but that just seemed to make her more likeable and relatable. when i think of my my important job on this earth, that…

I am excited to introduce you to Katie. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the work she does in our community and with the children in our schools. What I have asked Katie to talk to you about is so important and I hope you will be encouraged by her words today. Marian: Katie, Can you describe the professional role you play in the school/community? Katie: “I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, licensed by the state professional counselors board. I work for the Children’s Advocacy Center, serving Bastrop, Lee and Fayette counties. I provide counseling services to children ages 3-18 and their non-offending caregivers after someone in the family has…