Category: My Story
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They and She: The Paralyzing Power of Past Family Pain
Sometimes, I am paralyzed by the past pain of my family. It’s as if what touched them touches me. It’s as if who they couldn’t forgive,I came out of the womb detesting. It’s as if their mind’s tears flowed through the years onlyTo solidify in my DNA. No words were needed when I was young;…
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Hello (Again), Wound.
I was at a dear friend’s house and my daughter and her friend were walking the beautiful land with us. (If you look closely, you can see them forging ahead of us into the sunset in the pic above.) They kept saying, “Let’s go find some new secret pathways! Yeah!” And then they would wave…
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My Porch Shaman: Celebrating the Life of My Aunt Nancy
On the night of January 11, 2020 while staying at my Aunt’s house while in town to mourn the loss of my grandfather, my Second -Mom and Aunt passed away in her sleep due to a massive heart attack. The following Saturday, I was so honored to lead her celebration of life at her home…
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Real Wedding Vows
After nine years of being hitched to this one, these are the words that I would’ve spoken at my wedding. I’m sorry that I suck sometimes. I’m sorry that I talk more than I listen, And that I shrink all of your favorite shirts. I’m sorry that I’m selfish and stubborn, And miss out on…
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Birthday Broom: The Dust of 32 That I Leave Behind
Like all other slightly neurotic, goal-obsessed go-getters out there, my 33rd birthday held space for self-reflection (and seconds on cake). During this time, I remembered my Grandpa helping me move-in to my first place. We were unpacking in the kitchen and he pulled out my ole’ dorm broom and said, “We gotta getcha a new broom,…
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Be Selective with Your Yes: My Mom’s Retirement Toast
(I was honored to be able to give this toast at the Know Your Impact Conference on June 5, 2019.) It’s such a joy to be with you today in celebration of one of the most irrepressible, animated and passionate forces that God ever made, my mom, Dena Carol Hargrove Mojica. If you are here,…
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Grow Something Wild & Unruly: The 11 Songs that Shaped Me
Baby Blue, George Straight As a small human, I would sing this to my dad over the phone while he was fighting in the Gulf War and Bosnian Conflict. This showed me a glimpse of how talents could be used to offer healing to another. Ave Verum Corpus, Mozart As a choir nerd, this tough…
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Hoy Celebramos El Amor: Officiating My Grandparent’s Vow Renewal
This past Monday I had the joy of officiating a vow renewal ceremony in Destin, Fl for my Dad’s parents, Belen and Guadalupe. Since I have been studying Spanish for a little over a year now and am a minister, my Dad thought a comedic touch could be added with me upfront.😂 A big thank…
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Top 6 Takeaways of My Hometown Conference
A beloved tradition of mine is to venture to my hometown each summer and help at my mom’s conference. Know Your Impact is a cost-efficient and highly-equipping opportunity for educators of all settings. In the above pic, the keynote speaker is presenting my mom with a gift of appreciation. What fun! 😁 From “Mrs. Beautiful…