It is so good and refreshing to be back here after an unexpected 2-week break... I've missed connecting and sharing in this space. Sometimes life forces us to stop everything and dig deep to connect with the roots of our faith. To rest in hope and face challenges in the quiet space of solitude. I've been so grateful for those who have offered attentive kindness. For dear friends who have listened with a compassionate heart. For prayers and encouragement to soak in the stillness and wait with expectation...for God to meet me. Even in the waiting, our heart is often moved to step out of our own circumstances and share a simple kindness with another. Sometimes the best drenching of our soul occurs in the pouring out to another. Nothing grand or weighty. Just a simple Continue Reading
Refresh With a One Woman Retreat
It seems summer is the best time to retreat from the world and escape the stresses of everyday life. But what do we do when we return from vacation more tired than before we left? Maybe we need a One Woman Retreat. For many years, I planned women's retreats, brought in amazing speakers, created relaxing themes and I loved helping to nurture and refresh other women's hearts, but I wasn't so good at taking care of my own. So a few years ago I experienced the pure joy of a one woman retreat. It wasn't something I was immediately comfortable with, and it took some time for me to acclimate to giving myself permission to exhale. But the reward left me recharged and refreshed for months. I slept...read...walked...slept more...ate...sat on the beach...journaled and practiced finding Continue Reading
5 Ways to Detox With Grace
Sometimes deciding to detox and refresh is a challenge in choosing to give ourselves grace. At least that’s what I’m experiencing only a few weeks into #SummerRefresh. It's easy for me to minimize the need to detox as a part of self-care. The temptation to go back to what is more comfortable pulls strong. My imagination and creativity comes up short with the distraction of responsibilities. And I've had to give myself a few pep talks along the way. How about you? Have you battled guilt? Are you struggling with separation anxiety when it comes to your To-Do list? Does the thought of losing time cause you stress? Have you found yourself distracted by chaos while attempting to invest in you? In letting go, are you realizing the pressure you're under to be "more-than" Continue Reading
7 Perfect Ways to Refresh Your Mind
Summer isn't just about refreshing our soul; it's also about refreshing and energizing our mind. Disconnecting from our routines and tasks to find small stretches of refreshment in our summer will reap huge benefits when fall rolls around and we find ourselves knee-deep in the busyness of life. I don't know about you but my priorities tend to get out of whack the busier I get. When this happens, it's like a domino effect. I get weary, cranky and I complain about the smallest things. I snap at the people closest to me and focus on what's wrong in my life instead of all that is good and right. And truth...well, when my busyness has gotten the best of me, truth gets distorted and hope often evades even my saner moments. Our brains need to disconnect into nothingness. Where thoughts Continue Reading