Originally published March 18, 2011 • Updated May 5, 2025
It’s the first breath of spring, and I find myself pausing to look back over the last ten years. I’ve moved from the familiar roles of daughter and sister into the even richer ones of wife and mother. Back then, I felt stuck, as if life were barreling toward nowhere. Now, thanks to all those unexpected detours, I’m living surrounded by hope and love.
That mismatched hand on the angel, where ancient stone meets modern plastic, feels like a perfect metaphor. We each carry our old selves forward and adapt in surprising ways. Here’s to whatever new season is waiting just around the corner.
JULI HOFFMAN 