He left when I was twelve. War, PTSD, and alcoholism left my father a broken man, unable to cope with the responsibilities of family. I visited him summers and weekends, but we never regained the daddy-daughter relationship that my heart yearned for. I so wanted him to acknowledge me, listen to me, and show an interest in my life, but he was overwhelmed trying to survive his own. Then I had my first child. Something about holding my baby and feeling a love so intense I couldn’t breathe caused me to question how my own father could resist loving me. After conversations with my older sister and a couple of visits to Al-Anon, I began to realize that I needed to let go of the expectation that he would be able to show me love in the way I desired. So, instead, I determined to show Him Continue Reading
The Hope We Really Need to Brave Our Deepest Loss
As young women, many of us are still working through negative thoughts about our bodies, misunderstandings about God and His will, and have dewy-eyed expectations for our lives. We’re not prepared for loss and when it comes, even many years later, we’re left reeling. Several years ago, miscarriage and breast cancer were my twin losses—physical parts of me taken against my will, one right after the other, that left me hollow and disfigured. Then menopause, the surprise triplet, slammed shut the door on my hope of having more children. Miscarriage left me grieving for a life unseen. Cancer brought the fear of death up close and an ugly scar in its stead. And the finality of menopause left me sorrowful for what could no longer be. Oh, the pain of loss!—it weighs down the heart Continue Reading
6 Life-Changing Reasons to Vision Board Your Life Plan
I'm still on hiatus, working on my vision board for 2019 and planning how I am going to accomplish my BHAG in 11 months time. Honestly, it is the biggest, hairiest and most audacious goal I've ever set, so I'm taking the entire month to set myself up for success. I hope this post from the Legacy Series will encourage and inspire you to take some time to dream, plan and hope in the power of intention and all it holds for a life lived well. Be sure to share your posts in the link-up and encourage one another also. I'll be back next week with a creative, digital vision board idea, a new series, and some special giveaways as we begin a brand new year of community and friendship at Fresh Market Friday! We all have a vision of what we want our life to be. At Continue Reading
The Most Effective Way to Brave Anxiety
How many times in a day, week, or month do you ask, “What if…?” I know that when I start asking “What if…?” I’ve opened up the door to worry, fear, and anxiety. And that’s not a pleasant place to camp out. There is a reason God told us over 300 times in the Bible to “Do not be afraid,” “Fear not,” and “Be anxious for nothing.” He knew we would struggle. This year, as I worked on my next book for publication (releasing September, 2019) about exchanging our worry, fear, and anxiety for God’s promised peace, I had many opportunities to put it into practice. Many times “What if…?” got the better of me. “What if my husband and son have an accident on their cross-country trip to move him into his apartment?” “What if finances don’t improve?” “What if the diagnosis is cancer?” and Continue Reading