by Anonymous Ever since we got married, I dreamed of Christmas with children.I love Christmas. Always have. Partly because my parents always labored to protect us from materialism by focusing less on the presents beneath the tree and more on stuffing the season with traditions like trimming the ... read more
Why have you forsaken me?
“Why would you let this happen?”“Don’t you care about me?”“Why didn’t you save my baby?”In the wake of miscarriage we’re pummeled with questions—questions about the biology of reproduction, about our bodies, about medical procedures which may be required, as well as questions about how ... read more
hope for your marriage when you have a difficult mother-in-law
by Nel Stephenson Did I ruin my life?It’s a demonic thought, really, but one that gripped my mind in the first few years of my marriage.I had a thorn in my flesh—a problem of portions larger and greater than I could have imagined. I had a mother-in-law conflict.The situation I walked ... read more
When Your Mother-in-Law Rejects You
It’s been more than 27 years since I received the letter from my future mother-in-law that almost severed all ties of friendship and family before they had a chance to grow. I sat on my bed, looking out the open window at the beauty of the setting sun, listening to singing birds mocking me as the ... read more
the power of sisterhood: together we can defeat armies
by Anika Ryan Ortiz I signed up for a women’s retreat for our church, and the nerves of my introverted side made me anxious for the weekend. After I arrived and settled in the Southern California mountain retreat, the rhythm of the weekend allowed for depth and friendships to form.On the final ... read more
How to Cultivate Trust in Friendships
by Elizabeth Grace Saunders “Elizabeth, I trust that you’ll make a good decision,” said my friend as we tromped through the woods on a long hike where we had been discussing a difficult situation I was in at the time. Not only was the decision tricky but also it involved a personally emotionally ... read more
Diligent Faith Amidst Loss
by Anika Ryan Ortiz The serrated knife in my shaking hand cuts through the heart of the pear while a ringing trumpet blasts downstairs, singing songs of Christmas. Hope. Joy. Peace. Love. I can't help but feel as if the knife is piercing deep into the recesses of my heart. My hero, Grandpa Ted, ... read more
Understanding Miscarriage and Infant Loss
by Pam Vredevelt Miscarriage. Stillbirth. Infant death.They all rock your world.I'll never forget hearing these words from my doctor:"I'm not picking up a heartbeat, Pam. There doesn't appear to be any fetal movement. I think the baby is dead."In disbelief, my emotions began to ... read more
3 Truths for the Mom Who Has Had a Miscarriage
by Ashleigh Slater Our fourth baby was due in late October.By the time this fall due date arrived, though, my husband Ted and I had already said goodbye to our preborn child, without ever saying hello first.It happened in my tenth week of pregnancy. After a Doppler failed to detect a ... read more
My Own Kitchen Window
by Celeste Engell My kitchen window isn’t very big and it’s nothing fancy. Just a little kitchen window above my sink with some pretty fabric draped across the top. But it is my kitchen window. The one my dear husband put in just for me.When we first got married I became homesick for everything ... read more
