A Prayer for My Husband

Today I just want to say how thankful I am for my husband and son, and for the father my husband is to our our son. He has been working hard over the last year to make positive changes in our home, and I’m really proud of and inspired by him. Here is my prayer … Continue reading →

Christians Can Say the Worst Stuff

We just found out that my sister-in-law has terminal lymphoma. She called one of her good friends to tell her the devastating news, and this woman’s response was, “Well, it’s not a matter of if we die, but when.” Wait… what? Who says something like that to someone who just got a cancer diagnosis…to someone … Continue reading →

Why I Don’t Work at Having a Happy Marriage

I’ve been in two marriages now, one that was bad and one that isn’t (praise God). Interestingly, thinking about both has led me to the same conclusion. The goal should not be to have a happy marriage; rather, it should be to be a godly wife. Most of us Christians probably accept that on the … Continue reading →

Mailman Moments

As some of you know, I now have a step-dog. He’s a 9-year-old Rottweiler who’s actually very sweet, but who guards the backyard as if its his sole purpose in life (maybe it is?). Since we have a short fence in the back that parallels a greenway, there is no shortage of things for him … Continue reading →

It’s Time for a Time-Out

Sometimes you just need a break from a relationship. A breather…some space to re-evaluate what you’re getting out of it and whether it’s even worth it. I’ve decided I’m at that point. TV, Facebook, Pinterest—I’m looking at you. So I’m taking a step back from media. I’ve had the vague sense for a while now … Continue reading →

A Not Very Valentine’s Day Post

I hadn’t really planned on posting anything today, but I randomly came across a song this morning that’s really digging in. A splinter in my heart, so to speak. Because this song is like an anthem for those of us who’ve had to walk away from someone we cared about because they’re so broken, a … Continue reading →

Perfectionism: Good or Bad? (Part 2)

It took a while, but here’s the follow up to Perfectionism: Good or Bad? (Part 1). #6. You’re a people-pleaser. We find people not liking or approving of us borderline unbearable, so we have trouble setting appropriate boundaries. We end up saying yes to requests and accepting treatment that we secretly resent. We might make … Continue reading →

Perfectionism: Good or Bad? (Part 1)

For most of us who have it, perfectionism is probably both a blessing and a curse. The obvious upside is that perfectionism is associated with exceptional performance and achievement. Perfectionists tend to be driven to do whatever it takes to meet the high standards they set. But there are drawbacks to perfectionism too. In a … Continue reading →

When to Hold ‘Em, When to Fold ‘Em

We all have had relationships in our lives that are consistently wounding. Maybe it’s with a critical mother, a narcissistic sister, or an unreliable friend. And you’ve tried to make it work, but you always just get more of the same. At some point, we have to ask the question, “If the other person won’t … Continue reading →

Monday Morning Truth: Come out of Hiding

So much of the time, I feel overwhelmed by life. It’s a powerful river dragging me downstream, moving me in directions that I can’t predict, can’t control. It occasionally yanks me under by the ankle—cold, muddy water rushing into my mouth and nose, choking me, causing me to sputter and spit when I finally manage to … Continue reading →