light in darkness | peace in chaos | hope in uncertainty
Digging deep into the crevices of my bag, I prayed to find any morsel with which to appease the hunger pangs of my over-stimulated, worn out toddler. The museum was crowded. The day was long. My time was up and the bag supplied nothing. Not even a half-eaten granola bar or a couple sticky fruit … Continue reading Can I Have This Dance?
My world was closing in and I felt suffocated. My soul was landlocked, hemmed in, and I desperately needed to stretch and breathe. I had looked forward to my vacation at the beach for weeks. Grabbing my camera, I headed out the door of the condo. The sun warmed my shoulders, though there was a … Continue reading Take Off Your Shoes
Down she went into the hole. My 13-year old daughter disappeared from view. Heart pounding I climbed down after her. Darkness took over. Bumps and shouts slammed my ears as I crawled through the tunnel. "Shelby!?" "Come on, Mom!" The sound of her voice faded into the distance. My breathing quickened as I questioned … Continue reading A Fearful Follower
Wave after wave of excruciating labor coursed through her body. When the insides of a woman begin to cramp and push, there is an intensity and purpose which will not be hindered. Lack of control over what is happening in her can lead to despair. From the depths of her being my daughter summoned the … Continue reading On the Other Side of Pain
Have you ever wanted to run away? Not permanently – just for a couple hours or days … okay, let’s be honest … a couple months. When the kids were little and the house was boisterous I had a recurring fantasy. I would go someplace pretty and quiet. The quaint cottage where I would stay … Continue reading Make Mine Almond with Honey, Cream, and a Side of Quiet
It started innocently enough. I watched people interact with their smartphones. They were so happy together. They enjoyed each other’s company. And the apps … all the apps. These tiny pocket pals were helpful, came in a variety of styles, and could be tailored to meet the needs and desires of their owner. I knew … Continue reading How to Break Up with Your Phone
I was in the dairy section at the grocery store when a man next to me reached for sour cream and said, “So, how ‘bout them Chiefs?” Looking around I realized he is talking to me. “Uhh …,” and I made a vague comment as I moved on to the cottage cheese. So did he. … Continue reading Of Impostors and Moments and Living Truth
I walked into a coffee shop on the fancy side of town. The usual crowd was assembled. Pairs of 40-something women sipped lattes and talked about work, church, and their kids. 30-something men sat alone and stared at the screens of their devices, tethered by earbuds. I assume this was so they wouldn’t have to … Continue reading An Extra Shot of Gratitude Goes a Long Way
Remember taking multiple choice tests? They were a favorite of mine because even if I didn’t know the answer, there was a 25% chance I’d get it right anyway. If the teacher threw in a silly option the odds increased greatly by process of elimination. Decision making can be similar to the multiple choice test. … Continue reading How to Decide When You Can’t Decide
Some days it’s just so hard to focus. Confusion sets in when things don’t go the way I think they ought. Consistent change is slow coming. Old behavior patterns rear their ugly heads. What follows are the effects of stress: the extremes of lack of appetite or binge eating, insomnia, little-to-no motivation for daily tasks, … Continue reading How to Impress God
Treasures Hidden 