My Story
I was raised in Melrose, Massachusetts (just north of Boston) and graduated from Dartmouth College. My next stop was the Harvard Divinity School where I earned an M. Div. degree. I was ordained in the United Church of Christ and have served churches in Connecticut and New Hampshire. I am also a juried member of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen. I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and had a successful stem cell transplant in 2015. I have a daughter and a son, two grandchildren, and a rescue dog named Lily. I live in Hancock, New Hampshire (in a house my son built for me) where I draw inspiration from my view of Mount Monadnock, my often messy garden, and my congregation at the Hancock Congregational Church.
COMING ON CHRISTMAS
When I came across an antique book called “The Christmas Makers Club,” it seemed to me that this phrase described the December experience of many of the people I knew. For those who create Christmas experiences for others, there is so much to do and so little time. And often, no time at all to attend to their own spiritual needs.
This is a book for those who crave deeper spiritual connections during the Christmas season but struggle to find them. Drawing on my own experiences, some lesser-known Christmas traditions, and the ancient biblical story, I offer a daily reading for the first 25 days of December. Some days it's a serious topic (Grieving at Christmas, Feeling Lonely at Family Gatherings), but other days, the approach is lighter and more humorous (Glitterhouses and Other Things I Will Never Make, Standing in Line at the Post Office).
The message is simple: We can find the true meaning of Christmas even in its broken parts and less than perfect celebrations.
PAST PROJECTS
Someday I may revive it, but my blog "Faith in the Ordinary" is currently on sabbatical. You can read past posts by clicking the button below.