I was four the first time it happened. “Mommy why are we stealing these lilacs. Do they belong to us?” The snap of the branches and the sweet aroma of those vintage purple lilacs put such a...

By Heidi McLaughlin – I was in love again. I mean this time the stars twinkled with brilliance, the rain smelt sweeter and I had never known the daffodils to be so yellow. After the death of...

By Heidi McLaughlin – I attend a lot of funerals. My first husband died and I know the importance of “showing up” to support loved ones and family members in their grief. I have remarried and my...

By Heidi McLaughlin – Obviously I was invisible. My deep sighing and cupboard slamming could not disrupt my husband’s intense enchantment with Monday night football. Excuse me, can you not see that I am exhausted. I’ve been...

By Heidi McLaughlin – “OK my darlings-what’s it going to be,” I challenged, “shall we take the cable car or lace up our hiking boots?” Eyebrows went up and down and lips were pursed with confusion as...

By Heidi McLaughlin – When I was a teenager, my mother was mean to me. She made me pick up my clothes from the bedroom floor and place them on hangers in the closet. She forced me...

By Heidi McLaughlin – When we say “YES” to start the journey of mentoring someone, how do we know we have made a good choice? I have landed in a couple of sticky situations that have taught...

By Heidi McLaughlin – It happened sixteen years ago. A young woman came to me and with tears in her eyes asked me if I would mentor her. I was startled. I didn’t know how to respond...

By Heidi McLaughlin – I heard strange muffled sounds coming from behind my parent’s bedroom room door. What was going on in there? As I put my ear closer to the door I realized it was the...

By Heidi McLaughlin – “I work with you every day and I can’t believe how perfect you are.” My colleague’s words put a smug smile on my face and made my chest puff with satisfaction and pride....

By Heidi McLaughlin – I felt offended.  My spiritual gift evaluation showed that my strengths emerged in the area of hospitality. “How shallow and frivolous is that?” I thought.  “I want my top spiritual gifts to be...

By Heidi McLaughlin – I was the prodigal daughter. I did not actually eat with the pigs, like the story of the prodigal son in the bible, but I certainly feasted on my own selfishness. At the...