• Real Men Don't Text Cover

    Real Men Don’t Text Book Cover

    Monday, March 11, 2013

    Check out our cover! Real Men Don’t Text will be at a bookstore near you in September. Michael & I can’t wait to share it with all of you. Just a few more weeks until we’re done with edits. I want to squeal in anticipation of not seeing 5am, or sitting in front of a [...]

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  • church

    The Separation of Church and Hate

    Monday, February 4, 2013

    It was one of those tough moments where the air feels oppressive and you start to sweat. A good friend sat across from me on my couch, fumbling with her rings. She had just broken the news to me: “I’m getting a divorce”. It felt weighty, even unbelievable. As she sat on my couch and [...]

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  • Girl Hiding

    Your Body is Not the Problem

    Sunday, January 27, 2013

    “Those high-school girls . . . they dress so slutty,” she said and then casually chuckled and added, “It’s a battlefield for men out there.” My entire body felt tingly and hot, as I sat quietly. I didn’t quite know why her words prompted such a strong response inside me, but I excused myself to [...]

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  • Celebrate

    Learning to Celebrate

    Thursday, December 13, 2012

    “The slight turn of seasons reminds me of last fall, and it strikes me that my life has changed almost beyond recognition since then. In the process of breaking my heart, life or God or something — not that I don’t believe God moves in these ways, I just don’t want to immediately blame Him [...]

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  • Waiting by the Phone

    10 Reasons He’s Not Calling You

    Wednesday, November 28, 2012

      What could possibly have gone wrong? I wondered, pondered, prayed, and even once yelled hoping my empty apartment would provide an answer. The date was perfect from my opinion, he even said he ‘couldn’t wait to see me again”. The first few days after the date, I entered an intense period of self-examination. The kind of [...]

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  • Vanderbilt/UT Game

    When You Marry the Wrong Guy

    Sunday, November 18, 2012

    On Saturday at the Vandy/UT game, I got in a fight, well not a fist fight, more like a verbal confrontation. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to punch the guy, but I did get to give him a piece of my mind. I’m still heated just thinking about it. My amazing father-in-law came in town and [...]

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  • Real Men Don't Text Video

    We’re Going to be Authors!!! | A Video Message

    Monday, November 12, 2012

    Michael and I are going to be authors! Real, published, coffee-addicted, “have you read my book?” authors. Can you believe it? Last February, Michael whisked me away to a chic hotel in downtown Nashville for what he called “a writing retreat”. We spent two days dreaming up what it would look like to write a [...]

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  • Image of landscape painting

    Good People Don’t Go to Heaven

    Tuesday, May 8, 2012

      The wind circled the small coffee shop, rustling the leafless trees. “I’m a good person. I go to church pretty often. . .and even give up my weekends to volunteer,” she dropped the comment in mid-conversation. I gazed at my new friend, confused how we went from our favorite restaurants in Atlanta to that [...]

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  • playground

    Healing Shame

    Wednesday, April 18, 2012

      Lunchtime. 5th grade. {When is middle school ever easy?} My friend Caroline and I carry our lunches in brown paper bags outside to the playground. We talk about what fifth graders talk about: movies, boys, nail polish, and our (insert eye roll) exasperating teachers & parents. Then, we hear it. “Here comes fat big Ruth. [...]

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  • 129900770471477344_goqqqjht_f

    Am I Worth Loving? | Wrestling with Rejection

    Monday, March 19, 2012

    In preparation to share my story at a Vanderbilt Greek retreat next weekend, I spent hours yesterday reading back through my college journals. Several themes emerged from the pages, but I mostly wrote about desiring love. And rejection that seemed around every corner. I find it intriguing that when asked about my college years, I [...]

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129900770471477344_goqqqjht_f
Mar
19

Am I Worth Loving? | Wrestling with Rejection

In preparation to share my story at a Vanderbilt Greek retreat next weekend, I spent hours yesterday reading back through my college journals. Several themes emerged from the pages, but I mostly wrote about desiring love. And rejection that seemed around every corner. I find it intriguing that when asked about my college years, I [...]

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Mar
14

“100 Reasons Why I Like You” : A Love Story

“100 Reasons Why I Like You”—the email subject line that popped up on the screen was enough to make her stop and nearly squeal in anticipation. She turned on her favorite song to “set the mood” and started reading. “I like how incredibly intelligent you are. I like how your intelligence is coupled with amazing humility. [...]

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DadChildLR[1]
Mar
9

God is a good Dad

“There are several concerning areas of inflammation on both the brain stem and the spinal cord.” The room started to spin. Dr. Lee continued, but his words fell on deaf ears. All I could hear was something was wrong with my husband. Seriously wrong. I tried to muffle my tears/snot/sobbing so he could finish…. “Do [...]

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Mar
5

E.R. Visits & Companions for Life

Last Tuesday started off like most Tuesdays do. Michael slept in after his late night drive back from Atlanta; I worked out in the morning and headed off to work around 7:45. The weather was beautiful and sunshine filled my heart. But at 2:00, Michael called and said he was headed to the ER. He [...]

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Mar
1

You May Not Have an Answer, but You Always Have a Song

There comes a time when it’s time to stop trying to understand God. Two years ago, Michael and I drove into Italy to celebrate my birthday (I was visiting him in Germany) and as we sped along the Autobahn we started talking about a hard situation that still weighed on me. I didn’t understand how a loving God [...]

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Feb
27

What if I Never Get Married? The Feared Call of Singleness

“If God calls me to singleness, I’m not answering,” my sister said to me. I remember when a well-meaning woman told me rather callously I needed to stop ‘being boy crazy’ and know that God might never give me a husband. Can we stop telling people they might be called to singleness? After my post, All the [...]

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Feb
22

Six Common Misconceptions about God’s Will

Where is God calling you? What is God’s will for your life? I believe God has a unique assignment for each one of us–some way He wants us to bring His healing & His peace to those on earth. It can be confusing, can’t it? You want to follow God, but there are all kinds [...]

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Feb
20

The Road Less Traveled : On Choosing the Right Path

How do I figure out what to do with my life? How do I choose a career path? How do I go about making a big decision–one that will forever change me? I remember exactly where I was sitting–on a tan couch I’d bought off Craig’s list in my apartment in Atlanta. The Logic Games [...]

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Feb
13

Will you take 30 seconds to help me improve my blog?

RuthieDean.com is undergoing some changes and I need your help! Will you take 30 seconds and answer the questions below? I truly value your feedback and want to provide every reader with the best experience. (Please make sure you click “vote” after each question.) I am considering changing my tagline. Also, I will be adding [...]

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Feb
8

If I’m so “pretty & awesome”…why isn’t anyone asking me out?

Last week, I wrote Never Have I Ever : Unveiling Promiscuity where I discussed pain as a driving reason behind promiscuity. Daddy issues & sexual abuse were two of the stories I heard over and over from promiscuous women. Today, I want to continue the discussion–because I believe it is vital to understand another component [...]

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