I’ve spent the past two decades deep in the trenches of child welfare, initially as a mom to two daughters, then also as a foster parent and adoption advocate across three US states and Nicaragua. These experiences have given me an expansive view of the core needs of the human heart, as well as what happens when those needs aren’t met. Much of what I currently write about is fueled by this journey.
Beyond co-parenting more than two dozen kids with my husband, Wyeth, I am a creative and communications team builder. As The Strengths Encourager, I work with individuals, families, and teams to help them understand why they feel SLATHY and how they can use their natural strengths to strengthen relationships and feel better, together.
My previous literary works include glimpses into my design and technical background—HTML: A Beginner’s Guide, Web Design: A Beginner’s Guide, Photoshop 7, and Web Design DeMYSTiFieD (all published by McGraw-Hill).
I self published Adopted for Daily Life: A Devotional for Adopting Moms and have contributed to the following other resources:
- Gospel-Centered Discipleship
- Faith, Hope, & Connection: A 30-Day Devotional for Adoptive & Foster Parents
- Mom’s Devotional Bible
- (in)courage
Find me on LinkedIn for a more professional background overview, or connect with me on social media.
House Rules
To those who choose to engage with me through the content I post, I’d like to offer these guidelines.
- Sometimes I might share something that runs counter to what you believe.
Me sharing this doesn’t mean I dislike, judge, or otherwise look down on anyone who believes differently. To the contrary, it just means I found it interesting enough to share, and trust you to think critically and make up your own mind. I don’t ever want to live in an echo chamber; I value other opinions and the chance to grow together.
- Sometimes I might share a quote, song, story, or photo of someone you don’t aren’t especially fond of. That post doesn’t necessarily mean I enjoy every single thing that person says or does, but it does mean I found whatever I shared to be interesting enough to encourage a conversation about it. I really do value your thought-provoking comments so we can both continue learning. After all, if people judged my whole life on one snippet they saw online, that might be like deciding I hate all chocolate after tasting just chocolate-flavored gum (which I find gross). 😉
Being authentic requires vulnerability, so I am surrendering my fears in favor of being true to who I was created to be, cancel-culture be damned.
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