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 […]

parenting: expect the unexpected (and always have diapers ready)

As my bump grew and we prepared for Asher to join our family, I thought I had a good grasp on what I needed to know about parenting a little one. I wasn’t a first-time mom and I already had one son — would adding another be so different? I didn’t factor in that Joseph […]

waiting is for the weak

When we were in the process of adopting Joseph, we finally got word that his in-country court date was set for July. I stared at the calendar and time eked by. I rearranged books in the nursery and resorted tot-sized toys. I made up my mind. My mama heart couldn’t wait any longer. I hammered […]

thanking teachers this Christmas

Teachers deserve a thank you. More than that — they deserve a standing ovation. Teachers invest all they have into our most precious gifts, often quietly and without fanfare. When I had the chance to partner again with Hallmark, I knew who I wanted to buy a Christmas gift for — my son’s teacher. Joseph is in his first […]

busy moms: here's how to keep the joy this christmas

Hey, busy mamas. I see you. I know you know what’s looming in the horizon. Soon you’ll be juggling mistletoe and eggnog, balancing pageants and wish-lists, trying to love your littles and manage some semblance of sanity along the way. You know that holiday to-do list that’s already creeping up on you? That ever-changing checklist […]

real life justice

Justice isn’t a warrior. It’s not a King riding in on a white horse fighting the bad guys and saving the day. My kids love knights and dragons. I’m not sure how that happened or when it exactly occurred, but they are totally into it. For Halloween, my five-year-old insisted on being a knight, and […]

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. […]

survey results and giveaway winner

Surveys are my favorite. Catching a glimpse into what makes other people tick? The best. So, you know I geeked out when your reader surveys started rolling in. Thank you so much for your honesty and for taking time out of your busy schedules to let me get to know you a bit more. In any […]