July 2025 Insights Insights from the work: what clients are navigating, what I’m learning, and ways to keep growing. Reader, Here’s what you’ll find in this email: 1 – About With you, 2 – Registration info for free monthly check-ins (bonus access for past coaching clients, Alumni.) While contemplating my mid-year check-in, a couple of ideas came up around how I want to move forward in the second half of the year. One of those changes is building in more rhythm and ongoing support for those of...
9 days ago • 2 min read
April 2025 Reader. Last night—according to the Jewish calendar—would have been the night Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus’ feet, as told in John 12. Yes, John says it was six days before the Passover, which means the next day Jesus entered Jerusalem—what we know as Palm Sunday.So it might feel “off” to imagine her doing this midweek, but that’s only because of the early church’s decision to celebrate Easter differently.Here’s a summary + free guide if you’re curious. If we set aside our...
3 months ago • 1 min read
January 2025 Illuminate Reader. Two massive topics to tackle in one series—Eve and wisdom. What was I thinking? I’m already realizing eight sessions are NOT going to cut it. When we studied Genesis last year, I planned for 12 sessions and ended up with 15. Now, before we’ve even started Women of Wisdom, I can already tell—eight sessions won’t be enough. After digging into the material these past few weeks, we clearly need more time to give these two topics the attention they deserve. So, it...
5 months ago • 3 min read
January 2025 9 Lumens Reader if you’re anything like me and want to know right away, “What’s this email about?”— (I see you 3s, 7s, and 8s) It’s about Tyler Zach’s EnneaSummit at no cost! The focus is on Spiritual Formation, and I’m sharing this because I KNOW it will be SO GOOD. How do I know? Because the lineup features so many of the resources I already use with my clients (like Marilyn Vancil), people I’ve learned from personally (like Pastor Adam Breckenridge, and he’s giving away a free...
6 months ago • 3 min read
Illuminating Scripture for Women to beEncouraged, Equipped, and Engaged Reader I haven’t sent an email to the whole Illuminate community in a long time! The last email was in June letting the group know I’d be ghosting communication to focus on our son’s wedding. It was a lovely, perfect Portland, Oregon, August wedding day. The ceremony was beautiful (as was the bride), and the reception turned into a super fun party—which is exactly what they wanted: to celebrate WELL! So, here’s our family...
9 months ago • 2 min read
Findings, Sharings & Offerings Reader Happy first of the month and Canada Day! Yesterday, I sat down with one of my favorite practices: a monthly reflection from the Full Focus Planner. I spend about 30 minutes on this; I don’t overthink it and just write what comes to mind. I also keep my planner, photos on my phone, and Bible journal nearby to prompt my memory. It's been a very beneficial practice, and I’m always surprised by what surfaces. Over time, I’ve tweaked the questions to help me,...
about 1 year ago • 1 min read
Illuminating Scripture for Women to beEncouraged, Equipped, and Engaged Friends! I am excited to share that it’s FINALLY ready! After countless hours of editing, learning technology (or at least trying to), and overcoming setbacks, I’ve re-released the study I taught last year, "The Women Around the Cross," as an e-course! Artwork by Holly Pennington Feedback from last year's participants was to make the study available to share with their friends. They had two main requests: make it easy to...
about 1 year ago • 1 min read
Findings, Sharings & Offerings Reader This may seem like a small thing to share—maybe you haven’t even noticed it—but I recently started signing off my emails “with you.” It’s not a random choice that felt right; it was intentional. Back in January, I was listening to a Carey Nieuwhof podcast (can’t recall the exact one), and his guest talked about how kids don’t want youth pastors just doing stuff “to them” or “for them”; they want someone who’s genuinely “with them.” That will preach. But...
about 1 year ago • 1 min read
Illuminating Scripture for Women to beEncouraged, Equipped, and Engaged Reader, As you know, I've been working on re-launching the Women Around the Cross series from last year as an e-course delivered via a podcast. I had initially hoped to have it finished by April 1st, then April 30th, and then May 15th. You get the idea—life has a way of getting in the way, and honestly, fears and doubts haven't helped either. The biggest challenge I've faced is working in my little bubble without any...
about 1 year ago • 1 min read
Illuminating Scripture for Women to beEncouraged, Equipped, and Engaged Hi Reader. I am preparing for tomorrow evening's discussion on Hagar as part of the year-long study of "First Ladies: All the Women in Genesis." Studying her on Mother's Day has added an interesting layer. It's sobering to contemplate the complexity of her journey into motherhood and wonder how it could resonate with all of us women. Motherhood was not a choice she made and yet, there is the gift of a son. This tension...
about 1 year ago • 1 min read