My husband, Jared, gets a lot of bruises. Not because he gets into brawls a lot, and most certainly not because we fight (although we like to troll people with these possibilities just for fun — dark humor, we know). His quick bruising is because he has severe…

Weeds. They’re inevitable. In the desert of New Mexico, where we live, fighting weeds after an active monsoon season means pulling them from xeriscape yards. The yard rocks make it difficult to eradicate weeds. It’s a tireless task to complete in the desert heat, especially when that active monsoon…

Recently, I opened an email from a company inviting me to share my insights regarding bleeding disorders and how my family handles the struggles of chronic illness. Before my sons were born, I think I would’ve hit the delete button without giving a similar invitation a second thought. But…

My son Caeleb participated in a marching band competition this past Saturday. He plays the keyboard in the pit so that he doesn’t have to move around on the field, which would cause intense pain. Many years of internal bleeding left no cartilage in my son’s damaged right…

I like to watch jugglers. From balls and plates, to bowling pins and swords, performers toss items into the air one after another, never letting them hit the floor. Their hand-eye coordination is tremendous, as well as their ability to move, twirl, and even ride a unicycle while keeping the…

I discovered that I have a talent unlike any other. I’m a world champion at throwing pity parties. When times get tough and I feel lost, all I must do is put a cone-shaped hat on my head and recognize my misfortune. My glum permeates the air as I raise…

I have a version of Pandora’s box. Fortunately, the box doesn’t see the light of day. I keep it on the top shelf of my closet, hidden behind extra pillows that are stored away for months on end. The box contains years of pain, grief, sorrow, and buckets of tears.

My husband, Jared, and I are just starting to figure out family life. As novices to the world of parenting and homemaking, we’re navigating our child’s formative years and learning to maintain a household through trial and error. Living by ourselves has been an especially helpful experience. Choosing not…

The end of 2022 is rapidly approaching, and I’ve made nary a dent in my fitness and diet goals for this year. Oh, sure, I have a ton of excuses — like my foot that swells up when I walk more than a mile — but there really…

My husband, Jared, and I are currently in the process of looking for preschools for our daughter, Cittie. She’s almost 4, but sometimes she acts and speaks as if she’s much older. Cittie often tells us that she wants to go to school. Although we refuse to rush her…