In the time Marlise and I have worked together, I have grown to love her deeply. I think it shows here in this space. 

She, along with Claire and Danielle are the reason you see what you see, and the quality, the intention and the love shows through. Every graphic you see on the website comes out of Marlise’s heart. The website itself is her creation. 

Marlise holds Lace on Race as she holds her own children, with care, deep soul, breathing the best into them, seeing them as they were, as they are, and the promise they have yet to fulfill. So is it how she holds us, all of us, here at Lace on Race. 

And she has done this, for over eight months now, while baking a baby in her belly! 

When she first told us the news my heart swelled. I offered to take her off duty, to let her nurture and nest and succor with her family; but no way. She has shown up every day, every day to serve, and lead, and support, and to love us all. 

In more or less two weeks, Marlise will welcome another little one, to share space and toys and love and noise with the two others, and with her stalwart husband, who stands with her and supports her efforts here. 

I had no idea of the woman Marlise was when she took me on. I hoped I would have a bit of respite as the website grew, and hoped we’d get along. 

Welp. 

We get along. She has stayed up with me as my vision and my resolve wavered during the days last year when we were not sure this space would survive, holding my hand from miles away, reminding me of who I was and affirming what we had built. 

Six months later, yes. Yes. Yes. Here we are. 

Marlise watering and pruning all of our trees with us. And doing it for the not for the modest sum we honor her with as a stipend, but for love, alignment with the mission, and a deep conviction and heart for justice. 

Marlise doesn’t know this, and I can’t keep it a  secret, because she is my right hand, and she knows the intricacies of Lace on Race sometimes even better than I do, so I will just make it public. 

This is a virtual shower for Marlise! We made Basic Budget in nine days. Because of generous contributions to our Partner Fund, including some substantial one time donations, we fulfilled our Commitment to our Partners in four days. 

That allows us to pivot yet again. For the rest of this month, your financial contributions will go directly to the Marlise Shower Fund, to allow her to rest and be with her baby and the other two kiddos, and to bond with her husband as they bring their new bundle home. 

As we have found in this coronavirus crisis, it’s so very hard sometimes to tangibly love someone who is far away from us. And with us, here in the Beloved Community, so far flung are we around around the country and even around the world, it’s that much harder. So, sadly, there will be no cake, and no silly baby games, and no having the pleasure of watching Marlise’s face and hearing her squeal as she opens gifts. But we can do the next best thing.

She will know about it the same time you all do. Please consider showering her with tangible love that can be felt all the way to the Heartland of Iowa, where she leads and loves us all. 

And be sure to leave your well wishes below. 

I am so excited! The new bundle will have a bonnet with oranges on it! 

Our first Lace on Race Baby. Our newest sapling. 

Good fruit, Marlise. You harvest such good fruit. 

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Danielle here ~ newest addition to this admin team.  I have significantly less time spent in relationship with Marlise but I have come to love her dearly.  Marlise is the conductor that keeps the LoR fleet of trains running.  Lace is full of creativity, vision, wisdom, passion, etc. and Marlise is right beside her keeping all the trains running on the right track and on time, managing every detail ~ big and small.  But she’s bursting with creativity herself so don’t picture all that organizing like a spreadsheet or a boring flow chart.  Oh no! Everything Marlise touches is marked with the beautiful brushstrokes of her love for Lace, this space and for us all.

I’m so grateful for new relationships that have become dear so quickly.  And I’m excited that we can come together this way to honor Marlise and express our collective gratitude for the way she pours herself into this space and our lives daily! 

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I’ve been walking along with Lace and Marlise for a little over a year. But for a really  long time my hope for the future has rested on knowing good people who are raising the next generation of good people. Marlise is definitely a Good Person. Like Danielle, I have come to love Marlise. I love her serious internet chops – Lace on Race looks good because of her – and I really love her creativity and sense of humor. Mostly I love that she is brainy and a radically deep total kick-ass thinker. I’m looking forward to meeting the newest member of her family, who we already know is long and wiggly!  (Claire)