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. [...]

Michael entered a new decade this weekend and nothing would have welcomed him into his 30s better than a surprise mustache-themed party. I only allow him to grow a mustache during “Movember” & he seems to have latched onto the idea that mustaches = manliness. Event planning is not necessarily my strongest gift, but I [...]

Hi Friends & Blog-Followers! I’m thrilled with my new website. Hopefully, you will find it easy to navigate & calming with the airy, open feel. I do hope that you are still subscribed, but if you usually get my posts via email and did not please subscribe using the link on the right. We had [...]

Growing up a true Southern girl, Easter was always celebrated & church attendance was mandatory. All those years—I heard the same message. Jesus died a brutal death on a Cross, forgave his enemies in his suffering, and was buried in a tomb. After three days, resurrection burst forth from the burial-place and Jesus walked among [...]

  “Really?” I spouted out the bathroom door, glad Michael couldn’t see my rolling eyes. “Sweetheart. It’s just something I want to discuss.” Michael replied in his usual level-headed manner. “I can’t. . .I won’t. . .uhh, can we just talk about this later?” I almost couldn’t get the words out because of the building [...]

  “Stop trying to work things out before their times have come. Accept the limitations of living one day at a time. When something comes to your attention, ask Me whether or not it is part of today’s agenda. If it isn’t, release it into My care and go on with today’s duties. When you [...]

What do you love? Who do you love? For me, I love my husband more than anyone in the world. I love my family. I have some very dear friends that I love deeply. I also love to plan the future. I love writing and hope to grow this blog to 10,000 followers by January [...]

My emotions grabbed my heart. I sobbed uncontrollably. Hiding in a dark office, the feelings were all too familiar. The unanswered questions about Michael’s health left me ridden with anxiety and fear. The mile high medical bills seemed to remind me at every turn of my inadequacy. The uncertainty of the future turned my focus [...]

After publishing Am I Worth Loving? Wrestling with Rejection, I have sifted through emails and comments from many and even cried over one. I cannot express how it hurts me to see you suffering and on top of all that suffering believing lies about yourself. My college journals reveal several lies I wrote about myself [...]

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 [...]