archive posts
BTS, Pandemics, & the Loss of My Soulmate
I’m going to try really hard to not make this a stream of consciousness type of thing, but this whole pandemic/quarantine/epic-world-crisis situation is sending my emotions into overdrive. I’m feeling all the feels pretty much every day, but my biggest recurring...
The Journey Through Grief (The Healing Power of Letting Go)
You might want to keep scrolling if you don’t want real and raw, because that’s where I am right now, writing this piece. There is a certain, maddening pain when someone or something you love is ripped away from you, but it’s when you finally concede and let go that...
God Doesn’t “Take You Back” into His Family After You’ve Gone Astray
I got all fired up today after coming across a well-meaning Christian video about Justin Bieber. To be honest, I know very little about Justin Bieber, so this has absolutely nothing to do with him personally. And I don’t mean to pick on the video , either— I really...
I Cried in Yoga Class
For years, I avoided doing yoga because I didn’t want to be a bad Christian. I’d heard and read countless teachings about how it was basically “dabbling”–a gateway or portal into Eastern mysticism, and ultimately, the demonic. One of my biggest fears has been...
My Real-life, Mid-life (Mom) Crisis
When I was a kid, I thought a mid-life crisis meant you bought a sports car because you felt bad about getting old. I also thought it was a guy thing — an old guy thing. Yet here I am, proving myself wrong: a 50-year-old mom with no sports car on the horizon, standing...
What ‘Self-Love’ is Really Supposed to Mean
Let me start right off the bat by saying that I think the term ‘self-love’ is super cringy. Like…ew. But it’s everywhere right now. The topic and its moniker are headlined in psychology articles, pop music lyrics, books, blogs, and memes galore. And it begs the...
Why Deconstructing Your Faith is Good For You
Have you ever had a crisis of faith? I’ve always thought that meant questioning whether you believe in God anymore, but for some people like me, it’s not exactly that. It’s more that you begin to doubt the specifics of what you believe. You wonder whether what you’ve...
You’ve Never Seen Transformation Like This
If you’re at all like me, every time you log onto a social media platform, you’re bound to see some amazing before-and-after photos of people who have undergone an incredible transformation. It’s hard to just scroll by without scrutinizing the images. To be honest, I...
Danger! These 5 Things Can Kill Your Marriage
Not too long ago, I wrote a couple of posts about marriage that were incredibly well-read. They seemed to have touched upon deep longings most people have within their relationships: To be known. Loved. Affirmed. Cherished. I believe when you read these kind of lists,...
Spiritual Freedom Isn’t a Free Gift
As Christians, we are the beneficiaries of so many good things from God, it’s nearly impossible to list them all. We spend a considerable amount of time in prayer and thanksgiving acknowledging that we are undeserving of them, which, of course, is true. He gives us...
5 Ways To Help Your Kids Build a Solid Identity
We are in an all-out identity crisis these days. Though it is part of the human experience to try to sort out who we are at different stages of life, never has that need become as critical or as urgent as it is right now. Whether it’s about gender, sexual orientation,...
How I Finally Overcame Mental Illness
Whoa…overcame? That’s a pretty bold statement in the title, even for me. Mental illness (anxiety, depression, PTSD) has dogged me most of my life, and handicapped me for a good portion of it. But not today. Not for a whole year. And now, I’m going to do my very best...
5 Things Every Man Needs From His Wife
Hey friends! I’m back this week (as promised!) talking about marriage once again. And today, I’m focusing on you ladies out there, and how you, as a wife, can meet some very important needs of your man. To be totally honest up front, I’m feeling a bit vulnerable in...
5 Things Every Woman Needs From Her Husband
Alright, guys, listen up. I’m talking to you, husbands, husband wanna-bes, young men, and older men. I’m also talking to the ladies: those of you who are still young and/or unmarried, and those of you in marriages that are less than fulfilling. Today, I’m putting on...
Even in the Desert, He Loves You
If you know me at all, you know I’m a beach lover. Like, a sold-out, obsessed, any-chance-I-get-I’m-there kind of a beach lover. It’s my happy place. A place I can meet with God in utter bliss. I mean, what could possibly be a better setting to experience how much He...
Fear of Failure: How to Kick It to the Curb
I’ve been quiet on the writing front lately, and it’s only due in part to busyness. Over the past year or so, I’ve written plenty on fear—I’ve delved into my own personal fears and explored ones that many of us face. And I’ve had considerable victory over fear (if I...
Grafted In: My Interview on the Ordinary Faith Podcast
Hey everybody! Here is a link to my very first podcast interview about my book, Grafted In. It aired on the Ordinary Faith Podcast, hosted by Dan Jackson, on Monday, September 17, just prior to the official release of the book on the 18th. I met Dan a little over a...
May We Never Forget: September 11
May we never forget that day, though nearly an entire generation has emerged in its wake; A day with piercing, sapphire skies, so typical of September. And typically, it began. The rush hour throng had subsided, and everyday people went about their everyday jobs,...
Oh Hey, Anxiety. You’ve Been Unfriended.
Sometimes I think that if I write enough posts about my anxiety, I may just get somewhere with it. Well…it may actually be working, and I thought I’d let y’all in on a little technique I’ve been using to deal with it. Not too long ago, I wrote that I’ve given up using...
Why I’m Choosing to Let Go of My Dreams
Most people who know me probably would recognize me as somewhat of a dreamer. Creative, a little bit visionary, not terribly optimistic all the time, but definitely a hopeless romantic. I live for the happy ending, and my dreams often conjure up all sorts of scenarios...
Why I’ve Decided to Stop Drinking
Of all the vulnerable posts I’ve written (and there have been many), this one tops the charts, you guys. Maybe it’s because I’m writing this before I’ve had any success, any victory. Because normally, no matter how difficult the topic, I write these posts from a place...
Why I Need the Beach
Anyone who knows me, even if they’ve only known me for a short while, can probably tell you that I love the beach. I always have. It isn’t that I’m a sun-worshiper, seeking the perfect golden glow. It’s not that I love to be in the ocean, swimming or enjoying some...
Creating a Culture of Honesty
I was at the gym today and noticed this headline on one of the national news channels: “Epidemic of Dishonesty.” It was referring to a commencement speech given by former New York governor, Michael Bloomberg (you can read the article here). Though he was specifically...
Five Ways to Recapture Your Joy
If you ever want to see what joy looks like, watch the face of a small child as you first blow bubbles for them. You can see their happiness, fascination, and wonder, and the all-too-fleeting contentment they experience as the first few float up and away. Eyes (and...