I am a little goofy and a lot loving and live a big, colorful life in an old house in Stillwater, Minnesota with my favorite person/husband of 33 years. Mike and I love to play cribbage, drink craft beer, explore new places, and hang out with our three grown and launched daughters.

My family of origin story is a messy one, with divorce, death, alcoholism, addiction, and general mayhem. Through it all, I have always held the unshakable belief that there is a God who loves me and cares for me, just like there is a God who loves you and cares for you.

I was slow to the contemplative life, being extroverted, buying into our culture’s speedy ways and head down raising our daughters, but through the gifts of receiving spiritual direction and the healing of my spirit over time, I am SOLD on the importance of a life of listening. Head up, ears open. To Spirit, to others, to the wind through the trees…and to both/and. Both full/and spacious. Both colorful/and muted. Both loud/and quiet. Finding the unforced rhythms of God’s grace (Eugene Peterson).

I happen to be a progressive Christian, although I recognize and respect all world religions and appreciate the many and different paths to God. I will never try to evangelize or push a “Christian” Agenda on you. I am also liberal and a respecter of all people… gay, straight, recovering, hurting, whatever… and I love to hear folks’ stories. I believe we are all just holding hands and walking each other home.

I’m a graduate of Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, and the Hesychia School of Spiritual Direction, and am adjunct staff at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, working with students in Spiritual Direction, and am a part-time ELCA Congregational Connections Coordinator. I’m also certified in grief education from David Kessler and Grief.com.

I am also so lucky to be a singer with the National Lutheran Choir, love to putter around my house, drive country roads in the fall, collect old bowls and new candles, wear my dad’s big turquoise ring, and spread joy (on my good days).