Blog

  • Books of 2025

    So many books… so little time – because of scrolling? We all fall prey to distractions and interruptions, don’t we. After being humbled in 2024 when I realized that I only read 22 books that year, I was more intentional in 2025, reading 43 books (but still down from the 60-something I used to read).…

  • Love on a plate – Christmas cookie recipes

    We’re so close to Christmas, but I’m only making my first batch of Christmas cookies today! That’s just been the state of our Advent. In searching through my online filing system, I came across this article that appeared in the 2014 Woman Alive December issue, with a few recipes of our favorites at Christmas. Complete…

  • Finding Peace in Uncertain Times

    The worries, cares, and uncertainties we face in life can crowd out our peace. But what if we’ve misunderstood what God means by peace? Join me in encountering God and receiving his peace and comfort in this mini-retreat, filmed at sunset by the shores of Lake Josephine in Roseville, Minnesota. In doing so we’ll prayerfully…

  • Prayerful reading of John 1

    Join me for a mini-retreat, with time to pause, reflect on Scriputre, and experience God? Here’s my latest prayer practice (of 7 minutes) that I sent out with my monthly newsletter, perfect for this season of Advent. We’ll be engaging with some lectio divina (prayerful reading) of the first part of John’s gospel (John 1:1–5,…

  • What is spiritual direction?

    So what is spiritual direction? We’ve inherited this term, and unfortunately, it may conjure up images of a somewhat scary authority figure telling another what to do. That’s not my desire or my way of working! A better name is spiritual accompaniment, which captures the role of one who seeks to notice God’s working in…

  • The launch of Still Finding Myself in Britain!

    On this launch day for Still Finding Myself in Britain, I find myself unsettled and lonely for local friends. We moved a couple of months ago, and the house isn’t sorted yet and I don’t have a new gym or local connections. As I consider my needs, I remember how God has met me in…

  • Why I haven’t shared about being a spiritual director

    Over the past four years, I’ve added a moniker to my biography – “spiritual director,” an old-fashioned term for someone who accompanies another on their journey with God. I’ve noticed recently that I don’t share about this work much. As I’ve pondered why, I’ve realized that the main reason is that my role feels hidden…

  • Beloved of God retreat

    What does it mean to be God’s beloved? How do we view God, and how does God see us? We will spend time in the loving presence of God as we explore some spiritual practices that help us live as a new creation in Christ. These transformative encounters help us to live out our callings…

  • Praying with Jane Austen

    Did you know that Jane Austen was a devoted Christian? We have access to three of her prayers – those when she led the family prayers at night. Join me at Jane’s home in Chawton, Hampshire, England, with an adaptation of one of her inspiring and uplifting prayers. The images are all from the grounds…

  • “Walking with Friends” by Amy Scott Robinson

    On this International Friendship Day, I celebrate friendship by sharing a poem that was a gift for my birthday by a dear friend, Amy Scott Robinson. Amy and I and Tanya Marlow have met weekly for years, loving and supporting each other, and I frankly don’t know how I would do life without them! I…