• No pretty words. Simply gratitude.
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    No pretty words. Simply gratitude.
  • I’m here, I’m engaged. . As I prepared for my return to social media, I knew I wanted to say something. Taking a few weeks off meant time to process, to think, to engage in real life with my people, my circles, my relationships, my mind and my soul. There’s been a lot of reading, listening, thinking, talking, sharing, writing, praying—and no, not the “thoughts and prayers” kind. The crying out, deep belief, lamenting, reflecting, faith-filled, scripture-breathed, action-and-change oriented stuff of warriors. (If you’ve never heard of, experienced or received this kind of prayer—ask me or anyone close to me. I have much to share, and I think they’d say they’ve had much to witness.) . Knowing that this audience is largely white, I hope the stirrings of this cultural moment have moved you viscerally to heartbreak, lament and the burden of this broken world, our broken society, our terribly broken systems. And if they haven’t, I hope that you’d reexamine…especially your heart. . Borrowing wisdom from conversations with dear friends, this is a marathon, not a sprint and much of the work is long, hard and personal. We must rise to our strengths, our gifts and our unique callings to do our part effectively. . Through all of this, I’m reminded that words are one of my strengths and female empowerment especially through the birth space is one of my passions. Power oft comes at the intersection of strength and passion, so here I am. . I’ve long been aware of the disparities across the U.S. when it comes to maternal and infant health. ESPECIALLY for BIPOC. It’s atrocious, appalling and utterly disgraceful. Some of my favorite journalists have done an incredible job of covering this issue, and more and more folks are helping bring awareness to it. I’ve learned even more over the last few weeks through personal anecdotes, my own birth reading and through the discovery of this extraordinary set of Black pioneers in this space (thanks for sharing, @lilynicholsrdn !). List in comments!
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    I’m here, I’m engaged. . As I prepared for my return to social media, I knew I wanted to say something. Taking a few weeks off meant time to process, to think, to engage in real life with my people, my circles, my relationships, my mind and my soul. There’s been a lot of reading, listening, thinking, talking, sharing, writing, praying—and no, not the “thoughts and prayers” kind. The crying out, deep belief, lamenting, reflecting, faith-filled, scripture-breathed, action-and-change oriented stuff of warriors. (If you’ve never heard of, experienced or received this kind of prayer—ask me or anyone close to me. I have much to share, and I think they’d say they’ve had much to witness.) . Knowing that this audience is largely white, I hope the stirrings of this cultural moment have moved you viscerally to heartbreak, lament and the burden of this broken world, our broken society, our terribly broken systems. And if they haven’t, I hope that you’d reexamine…especially your heart. . Borrowing wisdom from conversations with dear friends, this is a marathon, not a sprint and much of the work is long, hard and personal. We must rise to our strengths, our gifts and our unique callings to do our part effectively. . Through all of this, I’m reminded that words are one of my strengths and female empowerment especially through the birth space is one of my passions. Power oft comes at the intersection of strength and passion, so here I am. . I’ve long been aware of the disparities across the U.S. when it comes to maternal and infant health. ESPECIALLY for BIPOC. It’s atrocious, appalling and utterly disgraceful. Some of my favorite journalists have done an incredible job of covering this issue, and more and more folks are helping bring awareness to it. I’ve learned even more over the last few weeks through personal anecdotes, my own birth reading and through the discovery of this extraordinary set of Black pioneers in this space (thanks for sharing, @lilynicholsrdn !). List in comments!
  • We bring good news of great joy! . Baby Ferg due September 2020 at 5,280’! . The first time we hiked Quandary was July 2, 2017–newly homeowners, new to Colorado, dogless and very certainly without a child even on our minds. (Though 2 weeks later I did get my Craigslist pup, thanks to a girl I met on this hike!) It was our first 14er together as Coloradans. . This time, it was March 15, 2020. Seven years to the day that I gave Thomas a book of Colorado maps and 14ers with a handwritten note that read, “Here’s to big dreams and big adventures as vast as the Colorado skies.” That same day a few years later, in 2017, I waved to Thomas as he drove off to make our home in the Rockies and those dreams would be realized. . And now, we’re here—on a new journey, a new adventure with even bigger dreams and more joyous memories to come. Don’t let Syd fool you, she’s stoked. 📷: @denverwildwoman
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    We bring good news of great joy! . Baby Ferg due September 2020 at 5,280’! . The first time we hiked Quandary was July 2, 2017–newly homeowners, new to Colorado, dogless and very certainly without a child even on our minds. (Though 2 weeks later I did get my Craigslist pup, thanks to a girl I met on this hike!) It was our first 14er together as Coloradans. . This time, it was March 15, 2020. Seven years to the day that I gave Thomas a book of Colorado maps and 14ers with a handwritten note that read, “Here’s to big dreams and big adventures as vast as the Colorado skies.” That same day a few years later, in 2017, I waved to Thomas as he drove off to make our home in the Rockies and those dreams would be realized. . And now, we’re here—on a new journey, a new adventure with even bigger dreams and more joyous memories to come. Don’t let Syd fool you, she’s stoked. 📷: @denverwildwoman
  • I sat on these beautiful photos for months, scheming their holiday card grandeur. I even have an image of penning the message—my favorite part—on a train from Vienna to Munich. But time slipped, as it does, and so did my motivation. “A New Year’s card, then? It’s a shame to let this one go by,” we said. . But we did. Because we know I’m not gonna do it—not for New Year’s, not for Valentine’s Day, not for St. Patty’s day. Heck, we still have a stack of 100 unmarked from last year (sorry if you’re in the stack, it was a good one). . You know what’s better than a tiny generic card from Minted that people will throw away? A bunch of giant prints and a book for our home, our rooms, our legacy. Handwritten notes throughout the year to the ones we hold dear. A phone call when our people come to mind at just the right moment. . While I still love receiving and displaying yearly photos and updates from others, I’m gonna keep doing us—the real, get-what-ya-get-when-ya-see-it us. Sometimes it’s real ugly, sometimes it’s cranky or “off” or silly or late or chaotic. And a lot of times it’s really, really vibrant and beautiful and wild. Always, it’s true. . So, here’s to a wild, vibrant year (decade) behind us and an even better one before us. And a huge, heartfelt thanks to you, @carolineroro, for capturing the real us celebrating 5 real years.
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    I sat on these beautiful photos for months, scheming their holiday card grandeur. I even have an image of penning the message—my favorite part—on a train from Vienna to Munich. But time slipped, as it does, and so did my motivation. “A New Year’s card, then? It’s a shame to let this one go by,” we said. . But we did. Because we know I’m not gonna do it—not for New Year’s, not for Valentine’s Day, not for St. Patty’s day. Heck, we still have a stack of 100 unmarked from last year (sorry if you’re in the stack, it was a good one). . You know what’s better than a tiny generic card from Minted that people will throw away? A bunch of giant prints and a book for our home, our rooms, our legacy. Handwritten notes throughout the year to the ones we hold dear. A phone call when our people come to mind at just the right moment. . While I still love receiving and displaying yearly photos and updates from others, I’m gonna keep doing us—the real, get-what-ya-get-when-ya-see-it us. Sometimes it’s real ugly, sometimes it’s cranky or “off” or silly or late or chaotic. And a lot of times it’s really, really vibrant and beautiful and wild. Always, it’s true. . So, here’s to a wild, vibrant year (decade) behind us and an even better one before us. And a huge, heartfelt thanks to you, @carolineroro, for capturing the real us celebrating 5 real years.
  • Syddie girl Syd bird Squid Syddie bop My baby dog Birdie girl Squidney Baked ziti The bird Syd, my dog Syd. I love you more than what could ever be healthy, but you love me to the ends of this earth and back again. Syd, you’re one of the best decisions we ever made (or the best decision a game of poker and I ever coerced T into). Every year when your “Ferg Day” comes around, I think about busting timelines, off-leash hikes, teaching you silly brilliant tricks, your menagerie of expressions and the countless hours of endless joy and laughter you bring to our lives. You take the edge off, you bring out the best in us and you make us some of the most annoying, eye-roll worthy dog parents possible. You’re our favorite girl. Happy 2nd Ferg Day, Syddie girl.
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    Syddie girl Syd bird Squid Syddie bop My baby dog Birdie girl Squidney Baked ziti The bird Syd, my dog Syd. I love you more than what could ever be healthy, but you love me to the ends of this earth and back again. Syd, you’re one of the best decisions we ever made (or the best decision a game of poker and I ever coerced T into). Every year when your “Ferg Day” comes around, I think about busting timelines, off-leash hikes, teaching you silly brilliant tricks, your menagerie of expressions and the countless hours of endless joy and laughter you bring to our lives. You take the edge off, you bring out the best in us and you make us some of the most annoying, eye-roll worthy dog parents possible. You’re our favorite girl. Happy 2nd Ferg Day, Syddie girl.