She maintains beauty.

She can often be found darting from one end of campus to another, carrying a pot of dirt or a sickly flower that needs a little love. Most recently she hauled a giant watermelon, grown in her garden shouting, “Isn’t this cool?” Her name is Donna. 25 years ago she was homeless and she’d say,…

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"Hey now, it's always good to be seen!"

  “Good morning, how are you?” “I’m blessed. Very blessed.” More often than not this is the response from our women as they enter our back patio gate every morning. They are often pushing squeaky carts with shaky wheels, overflowing baby strollers filled with all that they own, or tattered and torn suitcases that have…

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"I've never walked so fast, I'm so glad you're still here."

I opened the door, after hours, frustrated that someone was pounding feverishly. She was panting and sweating. She was out of breath as she was smiling. I saw her then I saw a baby. His skin so beautiful and clean, his demeanor so calm. I looked up and she said, “I’ve never walked so fast,…

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"Why won't she give me her baby?"

  My walk past the water cooler in the Maryhouse lobby happens often as the door right next to the cooler leads me to the coffee. Today was like any other day, the lobby was full which means babies laughing or crying, women shouting or talking. The phone was ringing mail was being checked and…

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"I'm here! Thank you!"

Today was my first day as Director at Maryhouse. I woke up feeling the same as any other day, tired because I dislike mornings and fiercely craving a pot of coffee. When I arrived on campus I was greeted by three of our very vulnerable guests, one right after the other; I’d like to say that…

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