March 12th marks the twenty-third anniversary of my family and I coming to America.  Twenty Three years!!! I still can’t believe it’s been that long.  Some days it feels as if it was yesterday, while other days it feels as if it was all just a dream.  A very surreal and vivid dream…a dream that began as an intense nightmare but ultimately had the best happy ending anyone could wish for.  I reflect on this day and my current life often, as I would never want to take this opportunity for granted.  I have been presented with the greatest gift…

Our dreams can tell us what we want, what we worry about, and what we miss.  A nightmare, however, tells us only one thing…what we are afraid of.  Very few needs of a human heart exceed the desire to be heard, to be understood, to have a sense of belonging.  It’s something we all have in common.  No one wants to be on the outside looking in.  We fear our voice will not be heard, respected, or even valued.  And although we fully understand the importance of good communication and the impact it can have on us and those around…

Recently, my sister and I along with a few friends attended the Toby Mac concert “Deep Hits Tour”.  Toby Mac is a Christian hip hop recording artist.  In between songs, he took the time to discuss several different subjects.  One of the main ones that stuck with me the most was his talk about Posture.  He had a folding chair brought to the stage as he demonstrated two different sitting postures.  The relaxed posture where you’re leaning back in the chair, legs stretched out, arms crossed.  Or, the leaning forward one, where you are sitting on the edge of your…