About

Welcome!

I’m so glad you’re here.

Imagine you’re in my kitchen. Have a seat at the island and grab a cup of coffee. Let’s chat while I slice vegetables for tonight’s dinner or frost a batch of cinnamon rolls. Food is my love language, and even though I’m no food blogger, I believe that sitting down, talking, laughing, and enjoying a good meal is one thing that breaks down barriers and brings us together.

It’s a noisy world out there, and one thing I do not want is to add to the noise. I want to add value in the few minutes you spend with me, and I believe there is nothing more valuable than pointing you, in some way, to the life that is truly life—a life lived with Jesus. Whether that comes from stories from my everyday life, thoughts about our world today, or reflections about parenting, I hope this small space will bring you a few minutes of peace and encouragement.

The Nitty-Gritty

Because you may want to know more about me than that, here are a few random facts.

Are you married?

Why, yes I am. I’ve been married to my college sweetheart for 35 years. I know! It sounds like a long time, but it has flown!

Kids?

Yep. Three beautiful, adult daughters who surprise me, delight me, and make me laugh every day. One of the greatest joys of my life has been raising these girls and watching them fly. You’ll read a lot about them in the pages here because they’ve pretty much taught me everything I know about being a parent.

Education?

I have a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Wheaton College and a master’s degree in English Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Career?

For the past 28 years, I’ve called myself mostly a stay-at-home mom who hasn’t stayed at home. I’ve had the wonderful privilege of teaching writing part-time at my alma mater, Wheaton College, off-and-on for about 23 years. Sometimes more, sometimes less as my schedule allowed, but I loved every minute of it. I “retired” from my Visiting Instructor position a few years ago to pursue writing and speaking.

What are you working on now?

My first book, titled First Ask Why: Raising Kids to Love God through Intentional Discipleship, came out in 2018. Since then I’ve been speaking some and developing a half-day seminar for parents called “What’s Your Why?” If your church would like to have me speak, feel free to contact me via my “Speaking” page.

Where did you grow up?

I always say that I was a city girl who grew up in the cornfields. I was raised on an Illinois grain farm, which was a wonderful place to grow up, but my heart was always drawn to the city. I now live just outside of Chicago in Wheaton, IL and enjoy both the peace of the suburbs and the excitement of the city.

Where is your favorite place to travel?

I love to explore new places, both in the U.S. and abroad, but the place I return to over and over again is London. There’s just something about the beauty of the architecture, the history, the connection to literature, and, of course, William and Kate and their adorable family, that inspires me. For more travel ideas, visit my “Just for Fun” page and click the Travel tab.

I also take small groups of women on retreat/sightseeing excursions through my travel business called Walkabout. I’d love to have you join me! If you’re interested in learning more, contact me, and I’ll add you to the mailing list so you’ll know about upcoming trips.