Eleven Essentials for 20/20 Soul Sight
How well we see is a game changer. When I was younger, my vision was awful. I was legally blind. The numbers on my alarm clock—which was placed as close to the bed as possible—were blurry without my glasses. When I heard of a relatively new procedure called radial keratotomy (RK), I was all in. […]
If the Walls Could Speak
While sitting in a doctor’s waiting room the other day, I wondered, If the walls could speak, what would they say? Stories of sorrows, successes, survivors, suffering, surprises, and more? I mean, what would the walls say about our thoughts when all is silent and we wait? I bet the walls would speak of wordless things […]
The Root of Relational Joy
One winter, my son Austin and I sat on the patio warmed by the embers of a small fire. We laughed over his childhood memories that at the time felt far more chaotic. Back then, I wanted to be a perfect mother—as if there is such a thing. I was like most parents who want their […]
What Should I Say to Hurting People?
Ever wish you could reach out to a friend in crisis, but you’re just not sure what to say? Most of us tend either to avoid the person or situation altogether or to rush in and say too much. The list below demonstrates some ways you can effectively support people in need. Notice how these […]
Truths to Remember When Times Are Dark
Some people are beautiful . . . even when they cry. I am certainly not one of them . . . especially when I cry. When my heart breaks, tears gush; one little tissue is of no help. I grab the toilet paper ROLL . . . yep, those double-sized, extra strong rolls . . […]
A Double Disaster Daily Survival Guide: What You Must Do Now
The West Coast is no stranger to natural disasters. I was 4 years old when our chandelier began to sway like a playground swing at recess. Time stopped as the earth rocked and rolled beneath our feet. We had just moved to Southern California; none of us knew what to do except hang on for […]
A Life-Changing Way to Look at Your Relatives
We waited more than a year for this day to come. My husband, my son with disabilities, and I arrived early to the courthouse. It was 9:30 in the morning as we walked nervously toward the room that would change my son’s life. My son is now a legal adult. But he will never really be an “adult” as you and I may define adult, unless the Lord chooses to change how he currently functions.
Three Tips for Sitting Securely in the Suck
It was colder than the arctic when I stepped out for an evening walk. I needed space to breathe. Life was anything but balanced; I felt disrupted and tired. Layered in clothes, I resembled an irritated woolly mammoth roaming the frozen tundra trying to figure out which way is north. I don’t do well with […]
Seven Serious Game Changers When Your Plans Are a Bust
The New Year’s ball barely landed before our plans were busted. On January 1, 2018, at 5:00 in the morning, I walked my pale and feverish husband right into the emergency room. The sun wasn’t even up. My thought was, If the sun isn’t awake, no one else should be either. No one has gotten […]
Happy New Year!
There’s nothing like starting something new! Filled with anticipation and expectations, no one really knows what will come of this year. This is for certain . . . we will be forced to change in some way. Our “normal” today will not be our “normal” by year’s end. We all will have to reframe something. […]
For a Fantastic New Year, Focus on These Four Choices
For the last few years, I’ve welcomed the New Year with arms so wide open I could have hugged an airplane! FINALLY . . . this last year is O-V-E-R! Bubbling over with excitement, I hang up the new calendar and yell . . . This Year Is Going to Be Fantastic! Ever had one of those new […]
Where to Turn When Sorrow Suffocates Seasonal Joy
I remember my first holiday season as a single parent. Surrounded by ringing bells and colorful bows, the only box I wanted to open was a box of Kleenex. Ever been there? You Are NOT Alone! We desperately wish it were the most fun and festive time of the year, but some Christmases aren’t fun […]