Combating Peer Pressure in College

I’ll never forget the day my freshman year of college friend, Jessica, found out I was planning to save sex for marriage. “So you’re telling me you would never test drive a car before buying it?”  Looking back on that encounter now, I think of all the ways I could have responded. Back then, however,…

Getting BITTER or getting BETTER?

I grew up in a very multicultural home. My mother is Thai and my father is Italian. Often I find that my temperament and my demeanor favors more with my Italian side. They match up in all of the stereotypical ways as well. Yes, I ALWAYS use my hands when I talk, I can be…

My Dad & Making Things New

What do you want? What do you need? Almost twenty years ago I held in my hands a small wooden flute in the form of an elephant. It was my favorite toy that week, and it was broken. Lucky for me, we had something special in our house. This thing fascinated me. This thing was…

You Are Loved

Have you ever felt like your life really doesn’t matter? Like it’s just a mindless maze? What’s the purpose to any of it anyway? This may very well be the way you feel or have felt at some point in your life. I too have felt lost. I too have felt like I wasn’t going…

How to Love Your Family.

Sometimes we forget how precious our family is. It’s crazy to think that God blesses us with people who we choose to intentionally walk together through this journey that is called life. When I think about my family, I like to think of all the good times we have had. Whether it be the laughter…

Can We Talk?

Have you ever really contemplated the reality that loving is a choice? It’s more than just a feeling, it’s more than wanting to be around someone because of attraction or similar interests. Loving is choosing the other, even when it’s difficult, even when it hurts. Love isn’t easy and often it can really hurt. It’s…

Listen

I remember when I first heard the term: emotional first aid. I was in high school when I was taught what to do when a friend is in crisis. Our culture places a high priority on communication through speaking, and there are various outlets to express our ideas and opinions. However, we have to remember…

Let’s be Friends; Navigating love in friendships

Let me begin by saying, I love love. I am a hopeless romantic who has always wanted to find that one person who makes me want to drop everything and climb Mt. Everest to profess my love for them from the highest peak on the planet. Desires like this are stamped on our hearts. Not…