Category: Posts

  • The Long and Winding Road

    The Long and Winding Road

    Yesterday my crazy fam embarked upon yet another great Montana[Wyoming] adventure: The Beartooth Mountain Pass. After an abbreviated jaunt through the northern margins of Jellystone, we pushed on through to the treacherous and terrifying cliff-side highway. Open just a few short months of each year, this long and winding road is an exhilarating experience, to say the…

  • Interrupted Giveaway

    Interrupted Giveaway

    As mentioned in my last blog post, I’m elated to be reviewing an advanced digital copy of author/speaker/activist Jen Hatmaker’s remix to an old work, Interrupted (When Jesus Wrecks Your Comfortable Christianity). I dug into my copy yesterday, and let me tell you: This is good stuff. Inspiring, compelling stuff. Don’t read it unless you’re prepared to get fired up.…

  • Book Review and GIVEAWAY

    Book Review and GIVEAWAY

    It’s no secret that I am a fully devoted, (borderline obsessed) Jen Hatmaker groupie fan. A modern day Christian hero passionate for social justice, she is easy to admire. A few years back, I ravenously devoured her compelling read, 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess, after a life-changing humanitarian trip to serve women in West Africa.…

  • In Summer

    In Summer

    Cotton fairies dancing on the breeze. The lingering aroma of tomato plants. A rainbow of tanlines atop sunkissed shoulders. Popsicle stick graveyard in the lawn. The rhythmic clank of scooter wheels against sidewalk seams from sun-up to sun-down.

  • Surprised

    Surprised

    Nothing could have fully prepared us for the delightful, complex and unique individual that is our son. He is everything we hoped for, and much more. He fits seamlessly into our family, as if he’s always been here. Still, he’s brought with him a fair share of genuine surprises. For instance, birth marks. Our son (and,…

  • Proud to be an American

    Proud to be an American

    Yes, Little Man is already a true-blue American citizen. Not all international adoptions work this way, but when he stepped foot on US soil, in April, he was official. We are grateful he now resides in the land of the free. Speaking of nationality, call him Chinese or call him American. Call him Chinese-American, or Asian, or…

  • Healing

    Healing

    Today marks one week post-op for Little Man; he is doing remarkably well. He’s a champ… except at night. Handsome Husband and I have accepted that we may never sleep again. No worries, though, I’ve decided to stop being a martyr and just drink my fully caffeinated coffee each morning, without remorse, like a good…

  • Homeward Bound

    Homeward Bound

    We just returned home after Griswoldin’ it up in the family minivan for the last two weeks. At last count, we traversed over 2,906 miles, during most of which I acted the part of Front Seat Contortionist– doling out snacks, and later administering medication. If you’ve been following along, you’re aware that Little Man underwent a…

  • Recovery

    Recovery

    First of all, this isn’t who you think it is. No, her blog hasn’t actually been hacked…although after my post she’ll probably change the password. Badum-ching! My name is Elissa, I make bad jokes, and my dear friend and superior-to-me fellow blogger (who is sans computer access for the time being) has asked me to update everyone to let them know how…