I wanted the original tagline for the blog, “An Achiever Goes Rogue,” to capture the idea that I was walking away from a life of doing more + trying harder and walking toward a life of grace. However, subconsciously, the phrase put my unwritten worldview into words: I’d rather go it alone. Yet God’s way […]
Grace
When I talk about grace
Grace says friendship is worth the effort
Every time I watch Lorelai and Rory navigate all the crazy cuteness of Stars Hollow, I think, I want people in my life like that. The townspeople in Gilmore Girls host The Founders Firelight Festival, jitterbug through the 24-Hour Dance-A-Thon, and attend every single town meeting. The Stars Hollow neighborliness looks so appealing. I want […]
Grace says you don’t need to compare
After being all-together, all-the-time this summer, I’m worn out by all-the-questions our girls ask. “Why is carbon dioxide bad for us? I mean, don’t we exhale it, anyway?” “How do players get selected for the All-Star Game?” “When was language invented? How did they do it? Who decided that a chair would be called a […]
Grace says you are free
You should know I had a perm in the early 1980s. You should also know my mom was sick on first-grade picture day. And yes, these two realities collided. With no idea what to do with me, my dad sent me to school in a navy blue sweatshirt, purple corduroy jeans, and a brushed-out perm. […]
Grace says shame is not yours to carry
How do I feel shame? Let me count the ways. I feel shame when I see a man in his 60s on a run while I’m on my daily power walk. I’m ashamed when my housekeeping doesn’t meet my own standards, permission slips are misplaced, and dinner is dilatory … again. I feel shame over […]
A Try-Hard Girl Shares Common-Sense Grace: Chrystan Ferrell
What do you do when you have a God-sized dream in your heart, but you’re scared to pursue it? How can you discern between the self-help gospel and the Gospel of Grace? And what’s the one book you definitely must pick up this summer? Author and non-profit CEO Chrystan Ferrell shares her wisdom, grace, and […]
Grace says you can try + fail
While Ryan presented at a conference for work, I explored the Las Vegas Strip. For breakfast, I stopped at the Aria for their all-you-can-eat goodness. At $39, the price was high so I decided to get my money’s worth. Y’all, I sat there for three hours and ate and ate and ate until my stomach […]
Two gracious truths for moms at the end of the school year
As I push my cart down the cereal aisle, I see you. You’re the tired mom who cheerfully smiles as your kids tell you every detail about their day – at the same time. You’re the mom who scans the shelves for dinner ideas because meal planning just didn’t happen this week (or last week). […]
Three Truths Every Mom of Littles Needs to Hear
I’m just going to be a raw and real here: being a mom of littles was not my favorite stage of life. This season was hard for me because I believed that every decision (big or small) would make or break the life, future, and personality of our two daughters. The amount of pressure I […]
How the gospel intersects with the real struggles you face
You can listen to this post any time and especially on those days when you’re wondering how the power of the gospel intersects with the real struggles you face. This post is for anyone who feels the weight of “should’s” and obligation, whose thoughts can sometimes spiral downward to sadness, and who is frustrated that […]