Rooted in Grace and Grit

Throughout my formative school years, life seemed to be determined by the bell. This sound signified the beginning and end of classes, as well as the beginning and end of each school day. The familiarized ring became a background soundtrack to life. There’s something about the start of a new school year that takes me […]

This year, for Lent, I challenged myself to catch up on “The Chosen” series. When I watched episodes previously, I felt as though I got to experience Jesus and His disciples in a more personal way. There is also something very impactful about seeing a story on a page come to “life” on a screen. […]

Christmas is always full of anticipation. And expectations. And, sometimes, perhaps more expectations? It is so very easy to fall into the trap of thinking this year, this is the time everything will be perfect. The perfect cards, delicious cookies, a delightfully planned calendar. The social media-worthy meal or party. Yes, it is so very […]

Recently, in Sunday School, we studied the story of Esther. As a once-orphaned Jewish girl held in captivity within Persia, Esther initially held about as little power as possible in this period of time. However, once marrying King Xerxes, she had the opportunity to provide influence into the ear of one of the most powerful […]

Today – June 20, 2024 – marks the summer solstice, the day ushering in the most daylight of the year. While I enjoy many aspects of winter – the warmth of a fire, a toasty cup of coffee, and even the majestic barrenness of branches – there is something so undeniably magnetic about the brightness […]

On any given day in any given year, we as people can find things to disagree about. There are differences in religious, political, sports, music preferences….the list could be endless. Sometimes we find it easy to agree upon issues. Other times, we find it difficult to truly understand one another when differences seem to outweigh […]

Societal expectations, familial pressures, and even weighty self-imposed beliefs can leave us striving to feel like we may not belong. I’ve heard women speaking of the aching feeling that they are not enough, and it breaks my heart. I think we all have valley seasons, absolutely. It is impossible to spend much time on this […]

Merry Christmas season, friends! I hope the wonder of advent brings you closer to our Savior. In my last two posts, I related how we can experience God’s presence through the intentional act of noticing what’s in the world around us, as well as through the practice of deliberate listening. We can experience the Trinity […]

More and more, I am tuning in to the importance of listening. Something sacred occurs in conversations where all parties are fully present. I have endeavored to be increasingly intentional about stopping to hear every word spoken when someone is sharing with me. Whether is my child, a friend or a pastor preaching, I know […]

Our family is blessed with two amazing dogs – one young and sprightly and one very senior dog. Despite their age differences and varying abilities, they have become the best of friends. It has been the sweetest bond to witness. To provide exercise and an awakening of their senses – they want to stop to […]