Common-sense grace for the try-hard girl
You cleaned up the mess from the class party. You hosted the party for your graduating senior. You purchased the final teacher gift. And now, you are left with yourself and the implications that another school year has passed. The end-of-the-school year may come as a relief to you because sleeping in, lounging by the […]
You feel the push and pull of the holidays: the errands, the buying, the too-tight pants, the traveling, the expectations, and All The Things. Feeling stressed, tired, and a bit worn out from all the celebrating has stolen your love for the holidays. You want to make the holiday season memorable AND you want to […]
In 2013, Ryan left for a whole month. Work called him away, and I was at home with our two girls, ages 3 and 4 1/2 years, by myself. In hindsight, I see how hard that month was: an extrovert home alone with two littles, a performer who wasn’t able to accomplish much, one parent […]
Never in my life has my weight been a simple series of digits. It’s been about identity and self-worth, a point of pride and deflation. My weight has never been just a number. Friends, something is going on in our hearts when we’ve become this obsessed with losing weight. Why are we obsessed with losing […]
While training for a half-marathon several years ago, nothing—neither hell nor high water—could prevent me from accomplishing my goal. I ran at 5 a.m. in below-freezing temperatures. I ran when my health was not great. I ran when my feet ached and screamed, “Please don’t make us put on those shoes!” For me, goal-achievement reigns […]
The New Year is here, and maybe you’re overwhelmed by all the looking back and dreaming forward. I wonder if, just for a minute, you and I could look at who we are right now. In 2018, on the blog, we’ll focus on three areas: Our GPS (where we are right now and WHO we are). […]
“Everything is needful that He sends; nothing can be needful that He withholds.” – John Newton Newton had it right: God gave you what you needed and protected you from what you didn’t this year. And as I reflect on the past 365 days, a few things have become clear. Friends, here’s what worked for […]
Do you ever feel fleh? “Fleh” is a completely made-up word in our house used to describe when Ryan or I feel off. We use it when there’s nothing big going on, no major life changes, but there’s a still sadness that’s settled over our souls. Fleh was the best word we could come up with […]
Am I settling? You’ve asked this of yourself, and if you’re honest, you’ve judged others about it too. Did I settle for this job because it’s not what I had in mind? Did she settle for that guy just so she could get married? Is he content with his life or did he just give […]
I do it almost every time. When something difficult or painful happens, I jump right into thankfulness. Like when my grandparents died, I went on and on about the wonderful memories I would cherish, how grateful I was to have that much time with them, and how blessed I was that they were in my […]
