Mango Diaries

Live Intentionally. Take Risks.

And Let the Adventure Begin

Mango Diaries
What Steals Your Mundane?
What Steals Your Mundane?

“Can you hurry up time mommy so that it can be Friday?” Phoebe asked during dinner tonight. I had just finished rattling off the plans for the week. Friday is the big day, a school field trip, their end of the year party, and a parade in town that night. We promised them we’d buy the twinkle balloons this time. The excitement is almost too much to bear for a five-year-old.   

Raising Kids in the Age of AI: Trusting God with an Uncertain Future
Raising Kids in the Age of AI: Trusting God with an Uncertain Future

The future feels uncertain — from artificial intelligence to shifting global values — and yet God calls us to trust Him. Here’s how I’m learning to raise my daughters with faith, courage, and joy in a world that’s changing faster than ever.

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Unpacking The Journey
Unpacking The Journey

The last two months have been what we will call “pivotal” – you know, life changes that can redirect where you’re headed: those moments you’ll look back on as significant.

In July, Michael lost his job after eleven years with World Vision International. He has been our sole “breadwinner” since we moved to Costa Rica in 2022 while I’ve been busy having babies and figuring out this motherhood ordeal.

Joy in The Mystery
Joy in The Mystery

When’s the last time you went through your elementary and high school assignments and old journals?

Last night I was so excited when the girls went to bed on time. My immediate goal was to get cozy in my new sweat short outfit, make a cup of decaf coffee, light a candle, make some popcorn, and then sit to write.

That all changed when Michael came into the room with my old notebooks and journals.

Your Main Takeaway
Your Main Takeaway

When you write a book – I’ve been told, “Do not leave the reader hanging.” What is their main takeaway? What are they walking away with in the end? I’ve been asked this question in various ways over the last few weeks.

People read that which they can relate to or learn from.  This raises the question, why will they even pick up your title? And can you prove that you have any authority to write on THAT topic? 

Intentional Risk Taking
Intentional Risk Taking

My church has a new bold and brazen pastor name Gilbert. Today I had the joy of listening to him define a BIG vision that called us to a life of greater significance and there were two things he said that I LOVE.

1.      Exponential faith thinking forces you to your knees in prayer and creates something you can’t take credit for.

2.      “The point of life is not to arrive safely at death,” credit to Mark Batterson or Hunter Thompson.

A Writer’s Conference Takeaway
A Writer’s Conference Takeaway

Today marks my final day of TRUE VACATION. Time away to recharge, reflect, and do whatever, whenever, without limitation or schedule. I’ve been in North Carolina for the last ten days while Michael graciously agreed to keep the girls at home in Costa Rica.

I signed up for the Blue Ridge Christian Writer’s Conference a few months ago while solo parenting. Michael was on a ten-day work trip in Thailand, and it had been a hard night with the girls. My writing was at a standstill with little hope for inspiration in the coming weeks.  “Well, maybe I should check out a writer’s conference,” I thought. Somewhere between peanut butter sandwiches and snotty noses, I signed up.

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Every little thing, will be alright
Every little thing, will be alright

Two weeks ago I had unexpected time to read and opened my Bible to Ecclesiastes 11.  

“Ship your grain across the sea; after many days you may receive a return. Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.”

Hm, seems pretty relevant with the volatility of stocks these days. Even more, the rapid change in the US government has Michael and I sitting on pins and needles. Many of you know that Michael has been working in humanitarian aid for the last ten years. We met in North Iraq while working with displaced people and continued to work in aid while in Jordan. The recent cuts to international aid trickle down to our family (maybe) – we are promised word of “wise stewardship” end of next month. For now, he still has his job and we continue life in limbo.

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Reflections on 2024
Reflections on 2024

2024 began with the birth of Gabie and continued at a crazy pace. It ended with my friend, Marigold, visiting from Ukraine! We’ve spent the last week deep diving into her stories, and I am so excited to finish a book with her this year! The title as it stands is Tears of God: How God Reveals Himself in War and Suffering. Yet it will likely change when we get a publisher. It’s been a journey.

I can hardly believe the first week of 2025 is done! What have I learned in 2024 and what do I want 2025 to look like? I’m so glad you asked – let’s see…

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Little Worlds
Little Worlds

The day before we left the States to return home – I visited my Grandpa Kaiser. He was recently diagnosed with dementia at 92 years old. As we sat to talk, he was grappling with the reality that his mind couldn’t remember words, people, places, or even how to do simple tasks. He described the embarrassing reality of having someone knock on your door to let you know that you’ve left the car door open, or worse, the car running. And then the sadness that it may be time to stop driving. What do you do when you’ve been praying through names your whole life but can no longer remember them – “well you know who, God.”

Then he suddenly switched to tell me, “You know what I’ve been thinking about? We all live in little worlds. And why don’t we care to know about the little worlds of others?”

Meet Marigold

Meet Marigold

Marigold is a dear friend and mentor that I met while serving as a humanitarian in North Iraq. She has served as a nurse and mental health specialist in war-torn countries for 46 years.

Together we are writing her stories to share how God, in his infinite variety, reveals His character in war and suffering. Our hope is that it will challenge others to fight injustice and make a difference beginning wherever they stand.

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Alison Wicker lives in Costa Rica with her husband and three girls. In her free time she writes about faith, travel, and the trivial adventures of everyday life.

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