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4 Steps to Civil Conversations: Hashing Out the Roy Moore Dilemma on Video

Communication, Community, Family, Friendship, Inspiration, Leadership, Politics, Women / Leave a Comment

Nearly every day we are confronted with another national situation that fuels polarity. Most recently, it’s the sexual misconduct allegations against Roy Moore, the conservative Republican judge in Alabama who is running in a tight race for US Senate. Even tragedies, like the massacre in Las Vegas, which would typically unite even the most antagonistic, have incited hateful words like verbal bombs […]

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VIDEO: A Reading From The Christmas Song

Faith, Grace, Gratitude, Holidays, Inspiration, Poetry, Public Speaking, Theater / Leave a Comment

On Christmas Eve, during the worship services at The Ascent Church, I read a piece from The Christmas Song, a musical I wrote for Brentwood-Benson in 2010.  I’ve posted the video below (thanks for my 8-year old son for being my videographer and my husband for playing such a perfectly beautiful music bed on the piano).

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Pink Party Power: Poured Into to Pour Out

Breast Cancer, Cancer, Communication, Community, Faith, Friendship, Grace, Gratitude, Grief, Inspiration, Women / Leave a Comment

As we bring another Breast Cancer Awareness month to a close, I’m remembering… Cindy. Seven years ago, just a few days before my scheduled preventative bilateral mastectomy, a woman I hardly knew named Cindy Kreidel threw me a “Pink Party.” Complete with encouraging gifts, delicious snacks, heartfelt prayers, and an unforgettable, side-splitting skit involving pairs

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A Risky Interview with a Seattle Radio Station

Communication, Community, Faith, Friendship, Inspiration, Leadership, Politics, Public Speaking / Leave a Comment

When I was a teenager, I took risks. Like perching precariously underneath a train bridge to see what it felt like when a train went over. Not one of my wisest moments. But now that I’m older and so much more mature, I take “calculated” risks. Like agreeing to be interviewed by a Seattle radio station.

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The Petak Who Didn’t Want to Move to Colorado

Communication, Community, Faith, Family, Friendship, Grief, Inspiration / 1 Comment

There was one Petak who didn’t want to move to Colorado. He loved his home, his friends, his familiar hangouts, watching bluebirds every spring check out the houses for rent in the backyard. So, when the night came to load up the last of the riff-raff and pile in the car, he whined, even caterwauled. Heels dug in.

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11 Upside-Down New Year’s Resolutions

Communication, Community, Faith, Friendship, Grace, Holidays, Humor, Inspiration, Leadership / 1 Comment

I love New Year’s Resolutions. Writing down my wide-eyed dreams for the next 365 days gives me great hope. But then, I hate New Year’s Resolutions. Because around the middle of April I realize just how pie-in-the-sky they really were. Take my recurring annual goal, “Get Organized.” I’ve learned it’s about as easy to accomplish as shoveling snow in the middle of a blizzard. At some

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Dinner in the Liberal Lion’s Den

Communication, Community, Friendship, Grace, Gratitude, Grief, Inspiration, Leadership, Politics / 2 Comments

“HATE HAS NO PLACE HERE,” their buttons blared from their jacket lapels as they stood at Kellie’s back door. I recoiled. Clearly, the liberal couple wore the buttons to make a statement against me, the conservative guest who voted for Trump, right? I resisted my gut instincts that told me to bolt and opened the

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Communication Advice for Your Thanksgiving Holiday

Communication, Community, Faith, Family, Friendship, Gratitude, Holidays, Inspiration, Leadership

With our Thanksgiving holiday this week, you might be anxious about sharing the same space with family and friends who hold different political views. Certainly, emotions are running high on all sides after the recent election. For my communication advice, I considered telling you to, “Just stick with the weather and the turkey,” but that really depends

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