I did a lot more reading this past year, and it was heavenly. I’m not a fast reader. I tend to soak in the words, and as a result, it takes me forever to get through a book. This year, I determined to not let that hold me back anymore, so I powered past the […]
How I Learned the Painful Way Why I Should Lean Up Straight
I rolled over and felt the stabs of pain right between my shoulder blades. 3:00 A.M. never looked so annoying! I muttered as I tried rolling to the other side. Nope. I was greeted by a disagreeable sensation in that shoulder as well. I’ve always tended to carry my stress there, as much as I’ve told […]
The Important Work Waits Where We Lean Down to Find It
I’ve made it a tradition to write a back-to-school letter every year on the eve of the first day of classes. I had quietly been planning the letter’s contents for weeks. The theme was going to be, “We have important work to do.” I was determined to write the letter before my head hit the […]
Lean Back
My One Little Word for this year is Lean. My goal was to focus on a different direction/aspect of how to lean in order live a healthy life. I kind of skipped April and May because life happened, and I got overwhelmed. Somewhere in the middle of those months, I decided that June would […]
Choosing Kindness
As I’m easing my way into summer, I’m looking forward to writing more. To get reacquainted with my blog, I’m wiping away the virtual cobwebs with something I had the honor of sharing at my school’s baccalaureate a couple of weeks ago. The theme of the evening was the Fruits of the Spirit, and the students […]
Why It’s Imperative to Lean On
I watched her grade drop by the day. Another assignment not turned in, another excuse or knowing giggle when I talked to her about it. After two years, she and I have learned to be real with each other about parts of our stories that we had carefully guarded, building a trust that suspended the […]
The Broken Cookie Cutter Marriage
I never used to believe that I was creative. No. I was too busy lining up cookie cutter pictures of the way life was supposed to be. The perfect good girl looks like this. The perfect student does that. The perfect Christian can’t think or dress that way. I read book after book about the […]
Being Real
When you’ve been through a refiner’s fire or two, you come out on the other side changed. It’s impossible not to be different. Sometimes, even though you know that you are not who you used to be, you wonder if other people notice, too, or if they just think you’re crazy. 😉 The other night […]
Reflections of a Mom: Letting go of Excessive Labels
Much like we all tend to do, I spent my growing up years building a picture of what my life should look like when I grew up. One of those pictures of my grown-up years definitely didn’t include me being a working mom. Nope. It took actually being a grown up and experiencing all of […]
Remembering, Living, and Snapshots
A year ago, we were reeling from the sudden loss of my father-in-law. The details that go into wrapping up someone’s life once they’re already in eternity are overwhelming. The shock of knowing they’re no longer going to participate in the big or little activities of life is staggering. Last February is a complete blur […]