Book Illustrations, High Functioning Anxiety, and the Call to Stand Tall

One question I get often is how much input did I have on the illustrations of The Anxious Lily. Here’s a short breakdown of what that process was like for me, as well as some fun pictures of the process! When writing a proposal for a children’s picture book, a best practice is to includeContinue reading “Book Illustrations, High Functioning Anxiety, and the Call to Stand Tall”

A Desk, Dignity, and Dark Chocolate

Just a Desk He looked like a deer in the headlights. A drill in one hand, a level in the other. I couldn’t blame him. I’d probably respond the same way if he’d gone from laughter to legit tears in 2.5 seconds. Like I’d just done. We’d spent the last few hours putting together aContinue reading “A Desk, Dignity, and Dark Chocolate”

The Loneliest Job: Hope for Every Mother

The bloodcurdling scream pierced the tranquility of countless shoppers. I swallowed hard and began the painstaking trek towards the automatic doors, which seemed miles away. It mightn’t have taken me so long had I not had 32 pounds of boneless deadweight to pull behind me while also holding 20 pounds of oblivious enthusiasm in myContinue reading “The Loneliest Job: Hope for Every Mother”

An Open Letter to Middle School Me

  Hey Middle School Mary, It’s me — Twenty-Something Mary. I hope you can tear your eyes away from instant messenger long enough to give my letter a read. I have some pretty heavy insight and wisdom to give to you, so go ahead — put up your away message (the one with the I’m-more-mysterious-and-deep-than-even-I-can-understand songContinue reading “An Open Letter to Middle School Me”

3 Reasons you might be silent about abortion (and yet not really silent at all)

Abortion isn’t usually anyone’s first choice of topics to talk about. This issue evokes so many feelings within us that we will often do whatever it takes to avoid experiencing these feelings. And one of the easiest ways to avoid this topic is through silence. In light of Sanctity of Human Life Day (which isContinue reading “3 Reasons you might be silent about abortion (and yet not really silent at all)”

Wow, I Can’t Believe You Said That: 4 Things You Should Never Say to a Preggo

I am thoroughly convinced that I will always be pregnant. I will always and forever carry around a basketball-sized lump under my shirt. I will never again know what my feet look like while standing up. It will forever take an act of congress for me to roll over in bed at night. I willContinue reading “Wow, I Can’t Believe You Said That: 4 Things You Should Never Say to a Preggo”

Marriage is the Best Teacher: 16 Things I Learned in Year 2

Last year I wrote a blog about what marriage is not, which addressed the things I learned during the first year of marriage. On St. Patty’s Day, Matt and I hit year number 2, so I began thinking about what (if anything) I learned during that second year.  I came up with a list of 16Continue reading “Marriage is the Best Teacher: 16 Things I Learned in Year 2”