CELEBRATING
CELEBRATING

“My mother was pregnant with her seventh child… and when I refused to continue raising her children, she called the police to have me arrested as if I were a criminal.” #11 #2

When I heard the aggressive pounding at my aunt Helena’s door in Cedar Rapids, I knew my mother wasn’t going to let me walk away without a fight. These weren’t …

“My mother was pregnant with her seventh child… and when I refused to continue raising her children, she called the police to have me arrested as if I were a criminal.” #11 #2 Read More
CELEBRATING

Right after my husband left for his business trip, my six-year-old gripped my hand and quietly said, “Mom… we can’t go back home. This morning I heard Dad on the phone, talking about something that involves us and it didn’t sound right.” So we didn’t go back. #51

Airport goodbyes were supposed to be effortless. A quick kiss, a soft promise to text upon landing, and then life would simply fold neatly back into its usual routine. That …

Right after my husband left for his business trip, my six-year-old gripped my hand and quietly said, “Mom… we can’t go back home. This morning I heard Dad on the phone, talking about something that involves us and it didn’t sound right.” So we didn’t go back. #51 Read More
CELEBRATING

Right after my husband left for his business trip, my six-year-old gripped my hand and quietly said, “Mom… we can’t go back home. This morning I heard Dad on the phone, talking about something that involves us and it didn’t sound right.” So we didn’t go back. #50

Airport goodbyes were supposed to be effortless. A quick kiss, a soft promise to text upon landing, and then life would simply fold neatly back into its usual routine. That …

Right after my husband left for his business trip, my six-year-old gripped my hand and quietly said, “Mom… we can’t go back home. This morning I heard Dad on the phone, talking about something that involves us and it didn’t sound right.” So we didn’t go back. #50 Read More
CELEBRATING

Right after my husband left for his business trip, my six-year-old gripped my hand and quietly said, “Mom… we can’t go back home. This morning I heard Dad on the phone, talking about something that involves us and it didn’t sound right.” So we didn’t go back. #49

Airport goodbyes were supposed to be effortless. A quick kiss, a soft promise to text upon landing, and then life would simply fold neatly back into its usual routine. That …

Right after my husband left for his business trip, my six-year-old gripped my hand and quietly said, “Mom… we can’t go back home. This morning I heard Dad on the phone, talking about something that involves us and it didn’t sound right.” So we didn’t go back. #49 Read More
CELEBRATING

Right after my husband left for his business trip, my six-year-old gripped my hand and quietly said, “Mom… we can’t go back home. This morning I heard Dad on the phone, talking about something that involves us and it didn’t sound right.” So we didn’t go back. #48

Airport goodbyes were supposed to be effortless. A quick kiss, a soft promise to text upon landing, and then life would simply fold neatly back into its usual routine. That …

Right after my husband left for his business trip, my six-year-old gripped my hand and quietly said, “Mom… we can’t go back home. This morning I heard Dad on the phone, talking about something that involves us and it didn’t sound right.” So we didn’t go back. #48 Read More
CELEBRATING

Right after my husband left for his business trip, my six-year-old gripped my hand and quietly said, “Mom… we can’t go back home. This morning I heard Dad on the phone, talking about something that involves us and it didn’t sound right.” So we didn’t go back. #46

Airport goodbyes were supposed to be effortless. A quick kiss, a soft promise to text upon landing, and then life would simply fold neatly back into its usual routine. That …

Right after my husband left for his business trip, my six-year-old gripped my hand and quietly said, “Mom… we can’t go back home. This morning I heard Dad on the phone, talking about something that involves us and it didn’t sound right.” So we didn’t go back. #46 Read More
CELEBRATING

Right after my husband left for his business trip, my six-year-old gripped my hand and quietly said, “Mom… we can’t go back home. This morning I heard Dad on the phone, talking about something that involves us and it didn’t sound right.” So we didn’t go back. #47

Airport goodbyes were supposed to be effortless. A quick kiss, a soft promise to text upon landing, and then life would simply fold neatly back into its usual routine. That …

Right after my husband left for his business trip, my six-year-old gripped my hand and quietly said, “Mom… we can’t go back home. This morning I heard Dad on the phone, talking about something that involves us and it didn’t sound right.” So we didn’t go back. #47 Read More
CELEBRATING

Right after my husband left for his business trip, my six-year-old gripped my hand and quietly said, “Mom… we can’t go back home. This morning I heard Dad on the phone, talking about something that involves us and it didn’t sound right.” So we didn’t go back. #45

Airport goodbyes were supposed to be effortless. A quick kiss, a soft promise to text upon landing, and then life would simply fold neatly back into its usual routine. That …

Right after my husband left for his business trip, my six-year-old gripped my hand and quietly said, “Mom… we can’t go back home. This morning I heard Dad on the phone, talking about something that involves us and it didn’t sound right.” So we didn’t go back. #45 Read More
CELEBRATING

Right after my husband left for his business trip, my six-year-old gripped my hand and quietly said, “Mom… we can’t go back home. This morning I heard Dad on the phone, talking about something that involves us and it didn’t sound right.” So we didn’t go back. #43

Airport goodbyes were supposed to be effortless. A quick kiss, a soft promise to text upon landing, and then life would simply fold neatly back into its usual routine. That …

Right after my husband left for his business trip, my six-year-old gripped my hand and quietly said, “Mom… we can’t go back home. This morning I heard Dad on the phone, talking about something that involves us and it didn’t sound right.” So we didn’t go back. #43 Read More
CELEBRATING

Right after my husband left for his business trip, my six-year-old gripped my hand and quietly said, “Mom… we can’t go back home. This morning I heard Dad on the phone, talking about something that involves us and it didn’t sound right.” So we didn’t go back. #44

Airport goodbyes were supposed to be effortless. A quick kiss, a soft promise to text upon landing, and then life would simply fold neatly back into its usual routine. That …

Right after my husband left for his business trip, my six-year-old gripped my hand and quietly said, “Mom… we can’t go back home. This morning I heard Dad on the phone, talking about something that involves us and it didn’t sound right.” So we didn’t go back. #44 Read More