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Pilgrimage towards Peace

Mantras

For the past thirteen years, my biggest mantra has been to look for the light, even in the darkest of circumstances. But one of my favorite authors, Ethan Joella, wrote a beautiful book where one of t... ...more

Encouragement ,Faith

January 28, 2025•2 min read

Winter Break

How are you doing after winter break? My husband and I often feel that it’s the hardest time of year for us, and this break was no exception. Here are my thoughts after surviving the toughest break we... ...more

Encouragement ,Faith &Parenting

January 10, 2025•1 min read

A Funny Story

A funny story. Why "funny?" Because we have to laugh about these things, or else we would cry. On Saturday night we invited some our oldest friends over for lantern making and a marsh walk. They wer... ...more

Encouragement ,Parenting

January 07, 2025•3 min read

Light And Leaves

There is something remarkable about Autumn. As the world prepares to hibernate, the trees go out in almost a flame of glory. Reds, oranges and yellows explode all around our neighborhood.... unless of... ...more

Encouragement

November 20, 2024•2 min read

Locusts

This is a hard stage for me, even though I knew it would be. Previously, my sister and I joked that I would raise all the babies and she would take over when they were teens. I now have four teenagers... ...more

Encouragement ,Family &Parenting

November 12, 2024•3 min read

Finding Our Way

I couldn't sleep last night. With my husband out of state on business, and a little one next to me in bed, I tossed and turned. Seeing the votes come in, I kept whispering to myself, "It's going to be... ...more

Encouragement ,Parenting

November 06, 2024•3 min read

Question Mark

Fourteen. (Question mark). One of my oldest daughters has a birthday marked by the day that she arrived at the orphanage. Is she fourteen years and two days old? Fourteen years and five months old? O... ...more

Adoption ,Encouragement &Family

October 21, 2024•2 min read

His

We live in a home built in 1926, so to say there is an endless amount of work to be done is an understatement. However, over time, we have chipped away at the list, and for that I am thankful. This ye... ...more

Encouragement ,Faith &Family

September 17, 2024•2 min read

Enough

The kids started school two weeks ago, and now it's 98 degrees out? Summer wasn't quite ready to die. So I, too, will act as if it's alive and well. ...more

Encouragement

September 03, 2024•2 min read

Chicago

Chicago is not merely a place. Places are simply locations through which you walk. Chicago is my place. As I walk alongside the Chicago River to meet my best friend since the fifth grade, I recognize ... ...more

Encouragement ,Chicago &Faith

August 26, 2024•2 min read

Stability

Reasons my children were grumpy this morning: A sibling was reading a book that wasn't hers Her favorite breakfast had run out One kiddo wanted to leave five minutes earlier… …and another wanted to l... ...more

Encouragement

August 21, 2024•1 min read

Summer

These are the weeks when we feel we've lived our whole day... and it's only 2pm. When we've already made meals, doused our children in sunblock, packed more snacks than we think they can feasibly eat,... ...more

Encouragement

August 01, 2024•1 min read

Zooming In

There are days when the state of humanity weighs you down. You hear a debate or read something online or get a letter in the mail and your soul is tempted to despair. The same thing happens with my ki... ...more

Encouragement

July 19, 2024•2 min read

Hope Elusive

My mission in writing is to provide hope to the parents of kiddos who have special needs and experienced trauma. Our kiddos with special needs have come to us through adoption, and many of our childre... ...more

Encouragement

June 27, 2024•2 min read

Summer Rain

I'm sitting in the car as rain pours down and Taylor sings quietly through the speakers. My window is slightly open, and the rain mists onto my leg like an anointing. My 2-year-old niece is asleep in... ...more

Encouragement

June 04, 2024•2 min read

Big Hearts, Thick Skin, Eyes on Him

How many weeks of summer lie in front of you, and what mantra will get you through it? In 50 hours, summer break will officially be here, and this year it's eleven weeks long. I remember ten week summ... ...more

Encouragement

May 22, 2024•2 min read

Washington and Wells

Every Sunday for almost a year, I got off the Washington and Wells “L” stop in the Chicago Loop on Sunday morning. My roommates had attended Holy Trinity, and I loved their preaching. On this particul... ...more

Encouragement

May 21, 2024•2 min read

Captain America

You know it's not going to be good when the school calls you in for a pre-IEP meeting. Our son's meeting was scheduled for Thursday, but they reached out via email the week before to ask if I could co... ...more

Encouragement

April 08, 2024•2 min read

Who We Are

Even though 2024 is off to a rougher start than usual in the Roney house, it helps me to remember who God says I am, and who God says He is. For me, this comes from listening to the worship songs from... ...more

Encouragement ,Faith

March 05, 2024•2 min read

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