cultivating the beautiful ordinary by sharing our tales and our tables
I was first a daughter who was born to a beautiful young mother near Sarita Vihar, India. My First Mother loved me deeply, and she called me hers. I was then an Orphan, as I was unjustly separated from her arms. I never knew my First Father’s face or arms, and for that I grieve.…
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“Crown or no crown, you’re still a queen to me.” I read these bold, black words in a small card with a picture of a silver glitter crown on the cover. My friend, Desire—my coworker and fellow sorority sister—left this card for me at our work. It was a sweet gift: we had just learned…
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To my Love during this holiday season, You look down at your belly and place your hand gently on the slight natural curve. You wonder, What happened? What did I do? Why is there no baby inside? You breathe a deep sigh, which leads to a release of salty water welling up in your eyes,…
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I lost my birth mom the day I came into this world. We were in Northern India together and connected for just a few moments…and then…separated. I grieved the disruptive loss of a second (adoptive) mother the day I turned 18. Those are two significant days that hold life and newness which have been marked…
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From the beginning of my faith journey, I have been intentional to surround myself with women who come from various backgrounds but hold one thing in common: wisdom. I have held the honor of sitting across many tables and even working in a wood shop alongside women who I would name as wild sages. The…
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I had been driving around the neighborhood, circling the same streets for almost thirty minutes, until I reached a point of no longer being able to bear the weight of what I was trying to escape. My friend Cassandra was on the phone with me, listening as I talked with panic in my voice and…
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It was my senior year of college, and I was one month into my walk with God. I had a fresh sense of awe and gratitude tangled with curiosity. I retreated to a coffee shop where I snuggled into some pillows on a stoop in front of a large window. Next to me was my…
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When I consider the little girl that lives within me, I love watching her come alive and become overflowing with joy! One of her most favorite days ever took place on a spontaneous road trip to see a band (she had never heard of) in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This little girl was woo’d and invited to…
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A significant shift has occurred in my journey which has brought a new sense of calm as I soar above the clouds. The peace I have gained when I fly is fresh, new, and comes as an unexpected gift.
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Standing in the bathroom, a place of horrific and shameful abuse. I am getting another haircut that strips away my femininity. I’m 11 years old and in the midst of a war that revolves around my hair length. Much of my childhood has already been stolen. My inner little girl is screaming “Please mom, stop! Don’t…
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