We hold hope and despair, one in each arm, and we cradle them close to our chest, because they both have something important to say at every moment. ~ Kaitlin B. Curtice, Glory Happening A few days before Natalie and I traveled to Rwanda, she hit her head on the side of the neighborhood pool.…
The Companion’s Prayer: Pointing Our Kids to Trust Along Life’s Uncharted Paths
Over the past year, I’ve been called to companion my thirteen-year-old daughter through challenging new territories due to a severe health issue. I use this word as a verb because though I am actively moving alongside her, I cannot take this journey for her. My role is to walk beside my daughter as a…
Only Love Today: Acceptance
Love is a good place to start a new beginning. BUILDING ON LOVE I wear a worn wristband that bears the words Only Love Today Recently, someone asked me what that phrase meant. Although it began as a mantra to silence to my inner bully, it has become so much more. Only Love Today means……
Hope In Light of the Unexpected
This life you didn’t necessarily plan for is becoming quite beautiful on you. In the Light of the Unexpected It might be that day of the week, or that particular season, or that darkest hour when you’ve come to the end of your rope; when your dreams seem impossibly far away, when nothing seems to…
Only Love Today: My Vow to Soften
By being softer you can hear more, learn more, feel more, and love more. I’ve had enough of my hard edges. I’m tired of straining my voice. I’d like to loosen up and laugh a little more, be positive rather than negative. I’d like to feel the upward curve of my lips. I’d like to…
Hands Free Life: Unimaginable Strength
“I want be on the swim team like Natalie,” Avery announced shortly after she turned six. She’d even put on Natalie’s team suit and Speedo goggles to show that she meant business. The suit was drooping in the rear and the goggles were on upside down, but this was no laughing matter. In fact, this…
Only Love Today: One Kind Thing
In a world quick to condemn, criticize, and overreact, be quick to be kind. The summer before I started middle school, I gained a lot of weight and developed unsightly stretch marks on my thighs. I was ashamed. While my parents worked during the day, my older sister took me to the neighborhood pool. I…
Daily Doses of God’s Grace: Take the Pressure Off So Others May Too
I wasn’t sure how Natalie would react to hearing me admit my most painful truths in a bookstore filled with friends, colleagues, neighbors, and complete strangers. Although Natalie had heard snippets of my past mistakes and the lessons I’d learned from them, this particular book-signing talk contained a steady stream of the most difficult admissions…
Creating a Sun Delay
Creating a Sun Delay I remember the first time I started collecting hellos. Instead of staring at the screen of my phone or reviewing my to-do list that day, I simply watched for my child to exit the school doors. When she did, I had to fight back the tears. I never knew that the…
10 Books Moms Will Love
Mother’s Day is less than a month away. Now is the time to pick out some great new books for Mom that will be sure to invigorate her heart and soul! Here are some of our favorites – perfect as gifts for the mothers in your life (and you’ll love them, too!). Save up to 60%…