more alike than different: world down syndrome day

Today, 3-21, is World Down Syndrome Day, and my first of many celebrating as a mama to a little one with Down syndrome. By no means am I an expert on the extra chromosome, but I’m eager to share a bit of our story — a bit of Eliza’s story — with you. When we […]

eliza's adoption story: part 4

I thought I’d get to this part in Eliza’s adoption story much earlier. (If you’ve missed it: part one, part two, part three.) But the stories we live aren’t often quick and concise — they’re made up of moments that take us up hills and down valleys we could have never imagined. Now, though, I want to […]

eliza's adoption story: part 3

This is the third part of our adoption journey to Eliza, our precious daughter. You can read part one here and part two here. I would say that as soon as we put our yes on the table and joyfully learned a sweet two-week-old baby girl would soon be our daughter, things started falling into place. […]

our adoption: part 2

I want to continue to tell Eliza’s adoption story because each dotted i and crossed t points back to a loving God that so intricately wove our stories together. Every time I look at her face, I am reminded of God’s faithfulness. Of his goodness. Of his grace. (Read part one of her adoption story […]

our adoption: part 1

December ended up being a pretty wild, amazing, unexpected ride. The week before Christmas, our beautiful daughter Eliza Marie was placed into our arms via adoption and our lives have been forever beautifully changed. But before we get into that, here’s a bit of the back story that led us to our perfect girl: We took […]

everyone deserves family memories

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Wendy’s. All opinions are 100% mine. As you experience life, you come to understand that families are different. When Jonny married into my crazy crew of relatives, he noticed something. Something that I’d never noticed, something that was just so woven into our family narrative: My family loves memories. […]

i almost said no

When I saw the text pop up on my phone, I flicked it away. It wasn’t asking anything bad, of course. Actually, it was a sweet offer from an even sweeter friend. “Can I host a Noonday adoption fundraiser for you?” I almost said no. I almost said no because I feel self-conscious about fundraising. […]

for the mothers

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” As we celebrate Mother’s Day, I think about the wisdom nestled into this African proverb. I look at this photo of women living across the globe who fight cultural oppression and opposition to farm coffee beans to provide for […]

5 myths about foster care

May is National Foster Care Month. Misconceptions and myths abound when it comes to foster care, so when Bethany Christian Services asked me to share this infographic, I didn’t only learn a few things, but I knew I wanted to share with you guys, too. Every child deserves a voice, and a safe + loving […]

and the total is…

Friends, I’m blown away! I’m so humbled to announce the total from our Shop Our Closets fundraiser for our upcoming adoption. But first, can I just say: Thank you! Thank you to all of my amazing friends who generously contributed items from their closets. Without them, this sale would have been 1/15th of the size! I’m […]