How curiosity and gratitude shape our becoming

What I'm embracing and learning in my 40s

Welcome to my table, sweet friend! I send out this weekly Glorygram as an invitation for you to pull up a chair and linger with me at the table. I’m serving up a bowl of my fave Grilled Italian Chicken with Strawberry-Balsamic Salsa, which is a great choice for a hot summer evening, a Saturday brunch served over a bed of lettuce or even for a graduation gathering. Join me for a feast on the glory of God!

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Photo by Giada Gilmore Young

Yesterday I had the delightful opportunity to share my latest children’s book, Kailani’s Gift, at the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art in Santa Ana, California for their monthly storytime and celebration of Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

The reading at the Bowers Museum was in the Art of the Pacific Islands exhibit. Since my book features a Filipino-American family and the main character’s name is Hawaiian, it felt apropos to be surrounded by art created by people from around Polynesia and the islands.

I arrived early and took a few minutes to peruse the exhibit myself. I witnessed the intricate details of jewelry made from shells, the swirls and adornments carved into the wood of canoes and the weapons of war fashioned out of metal. The art inspired me and gave me a window to different worlds and cultures.

I hope my stories for kids of all ages do the same - inspire curiosity and provide a window to new worlds.

A handful of times a year, I get to share my books with families at festivals or museums or with kids in classrooms. This is one of my favorite parts of my work because I get to connect with readers and learn more about them.

At the Bowers Museum, the room was packed with more than 30 families from a diversity of backgrounds. As I shared about Filipino culture and the story of Kailani’s Gift, I also learned about a Vietnamese dance with bamboo poles similar to the Tinikling portrayed in my book. One little girl shared her love for ballet dance while another talked about how much she loved eating pancit and lumpia. We experienced joy in exchanging culture and stories. And I was reminded that we are never too old to learn something new.

May 1 is my birthday, and I like to celebrate all month. This year I am proud to say I turned 48. I’m not ashamed of my age. My husband soared to heaven at age 40 after a swift battle with cancer, which has shaped my posture that each year of life is a bonus, a gift from God, that I don’t ever want to take for granted.

As I drove five hours each way to the museum, I had a lot of time to reflect on this last year of my life. As a mother of three active teenagers, journalism teacher at the local high school, Bible study leader, Track & Field coach and published author, my year has been chock-full of exciting events, travel adventures and writing deadlines. I am grateful for a year of learning new things even as many significant parts of my life seem to have come full circle.

Inspired by

Emily P. Freeman

and her spiritual practice of making lists, I decided to share a few things with you this week that I am embracing and learning as I keep living and becoming the woman God created me to be.

Things I’m embracing in this season of life:

• seeing my gray hairs as threads of beauty and wisdom

• walking as a pathway for slowing down, lubricating creaky joints and connecting deeply

• baking sourdough as a spiritual practice and invitation to delight in creating

• listening to scripture and meditating through the Lectio 365 app

• parenting teens with curiosity and light

• wearing more jewel tones to compliment my skin and hair

• viewing my laugh lines as a sign of joy instead of aging

• remembering perfection is never the goal

• giving myself permission to say yes as much as possible and no without guilt or apology

• resting and recharging as part of the calling

  

  Things I’m learning at age 48:

• There’s more joy in flourishing together rather than always getting it right.

• There’s more strength in leading with kindness and compassion than command and charisma.

• There’s a time to speak and a time to be silent and pray, especially in parenting teens and young adults.

• There’s no shame in taking time to walk a lap after sprinting hard in life and work.

• There’s never a bad time to learn something new.

How about you, friend? What is something you are learning in this season of life? Let’s take a little time to reflect together and encourage each other on the journey.

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Glory recommendations

Each week I like to share links to some of my own work or resources that are inspiring me and my family to chase after God’s glory! Here are five for you to check out this week:

1. Summer is here, and moms of littles, I have the perfect gift for you!
   SUMMER OF STORIES is:
   - a FREE video series
   - 30 Christian children's book authors (award-winning and best-selling) reading their books
   - daily book giveaways just for participating
   
   Sign up with your email and the videos come to your inbox weekdays from June 9-July 27. This is an easy peasy way to start faith-filled conversations in your home this summer and a quick go to when the kids say, "I'm bored!"

2. Are you looking for a fun way to keep your kids busy over the break? Global Glory Chasers is for the family that loves to discover and explore together. We’ve done the work for you and curated all the resources you need so you can travel to a new country each month or week from the comfort of your home. Make it a Saturday night tradition or something to pull out on a weekday with no plans. Explore some new foods and settle in for a movie or book that might instigate some good family discussion. We want you to make this experience your own! Details and resources here.

   

3. Kaylee Prays for the Children of the World is an inspiring story about faith, empathy, and the power of prayer. Written by my friend Helen Lee and beautifully illustrated by Shin Maeng, this book follows Kaylee and her grandfather, Halbi, as they read the morning newspaper. While reading, they look for ways to pray for the children of the world. When Kaylee sees a photo of a sad boy from far away, she begins to wonder, "Does God really care?" I love this book because it reminds me of a practice I had with my own daughters when they were younger. Each week we would pray for the needs of a different country. The winner of Kaylee Prays for the Children of the World for the May giveaway is Judy Cooper. Stay tuned for the June giveaway that will be announced next week!

   

4. Kids books make great gifts! 🎁 If you are looking for something fun for a teacher, friend’s birthday, child’s graduation, or you-made-it-to summer treat, I hope you will check out my children’s books. My books celebrate culture, history, food, and cultivating our gifts to bless others. Details here.

   

5. Since May is Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage month, I want to leave you with one more recommendation for one of my favorite books of 2025. My friend Marie Chan wrote, Mamie Takes a Stand, about the little-known story of Mamie Tape, an eight-year-old Chinese American girl whose desire for knowledge and belonging led her family to fight for her right to attend public school in San Francisco. This book is good for kids of all ages, but especially for elementary and middle grade readers. (I even got a copy for my 83-year-old dad, and he loved it!) California friends can see Marie in person at an upcoming event. Details here.

*This post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping to support this ministry!

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