I couldn’t nail down a single word for the year to focus on; it’s more of a philosophy — a way of life: easy, organic, natural, seasonal. In other words, I want a free-range life. I don’t want pressure from a world bent on pushing us toward unnatural growth and production— systematizing, mechanizing, mass-producing, bigger, […]
Growing Stronger In The Lord With Boundaries
Picture our life with Christ as a garden with all sorts of fragrant blooms, luscious fruits and tasty vegetables, ripening in the sun. As beautiful as that image may first appear in our minds, the reality is that this place is under constant threat.Any seasoned gardener knows that a large part of growing healthy plants […]
A Letter To My Sons About Honor
Dear Sonny & Samuel, As I consider all that you need for your future, honor is at the top of the list. As a Christian, you’ll hear again and again that you are to honor your father and mother. That command comes with a promise of blessing and long life, but to carry it out you need […]
Growing Strong Through Weakness
When our boys were little, I heard “Look at me!” and “Watch this!” all day, every day. I so enjoyed my front row seat to The Sonny & Samuel Show — watching their excitement to be growing stronger and more independent by the minute. They climbed trees as high as they could go and proudly perched right […]
Growing Strong Through Your Story
Near the end of 2013, I was 39 years old and fighting for my life every moment of every day. It would’ve been easier to recover if it were my physical body mangled in some accident, but it was the deepest, unseen parts of me that were crushed. There’s no way I could have survived and […]
3 Habits To Grow Strong Inside & Out
On a scale from 1 to 10, my need for order is way off the chart — somewhere in the freakish range, so I LOVE systems, schedules, programs, apps and basically any tool that helps me achieve goals and manage a multitude of responsibilities. Some kinda plan for ALL the things keeps me sane, productive and HAPPY! […]
My Word For 2018: Strong
My one word for 2017 has been “enjoy” and enjoy I did — little things, big things and in-between things, but mostly enjoying the people I do those things with. I’ve got no intention of leaving enjoyment behind. I’m taking it with me from here on out. I know there’ll be sorrow, trouble and struggle in 2018 […]
When Giving Thanks Is Hard
Grief can visit us for countless reasons and it doesn’t care what time of year it is. The holidays really intensify your sorrow. THANKFUL, GRATEFUL and BLESSED is written across everything, while you struggle to feel any of that. Everyone is excited to gather and feast, but you can only think of how crushing it’ll be to paste on some happy […]
A Deeper Love
This month, 19 years ago, Dwight & I fell in love. I wrote about it here. This is a follow-up of our journey together. It’s part love story, part testimony of God’s work in my life. To be honest, it kinda freaks me out sometimes. God is so BIG, and we are so small — even […]
The BEST Gift For Moms (Free Download too!)
I’m gonna make this short & sweet, because ain’t nobody got time for my ramblin’…or perfectly edited English. I’m simply and quickly sharing what I know all women of every age and position need most – ENCOURAGEMENT! I just finished listening to Lysa TerKeurst’s audiobook, Unglued: Making Wise Choices in the Midst of Raw Emotions. Let me tell […]
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