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,...
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...
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...
This week’s post is the last installment of a three-part series on lessons I learned from my stay in a 30-day residential treatment center. This week, I’m especially pumped to share something extremely practical and hands-on. A plan. A tool you can create (or...
Thanks so much to all of you who read, shared, commented on, and encouraged me about last week’s post. While mental illness isn’t the easiest thing in the world to talk about, it’s so important. For one thing, it’s more prevalent than you might think. The National...
I could hardly believe the words that came spilling out of my mouth: “Can you find me a residential treatment center? A Christian one?” Within minutes of blurting that out, my husband found me just such a place–one that specializes in mental health issues–and he...
I’ve spent a lifetime pursuing emotional and spiritual wholeness, and I’ve come to learn that it’s pretty near impossible to find that kind of life without first experiencing death. No one likes death and dying, but they are necessary processes to get rid of the...
We live in an insanely fast-paced world. Most of us barely finish one thing before careening into the next. On top of that, there’s an awful lot of pressure to not only succeed, but to look amazing while you’re doing it. Like it’s no big thing. Pinterest-worthy...
How many of you out there could use a little encouragement right now? Who's your go-to when you need it? There are many sources we could (or should) turn to when our hearts could use a lift. Like your friends, your family members, your spouse. And the Lord, of...
I've got four, count 'em, FOUR teenagers. Plus one who's graduated into early adulthood (and trust me, sometimes that still counts). They are all good kids, each one making us proud in so many ways. I love them all to pieces, but holy moly, this season can be...
