Most of us don't wake up excited to have a hard conversation. But avoiding them comes at a cost. Having hard conversations is just that… HARD! Sometimes we believe leaving sleeping dogs lie, avoiding problem areas, and sweeping things under the rug is the best way to keep peace. In reality, this is a recipe for built‑up resentments and anger — like a pot of water waiting to boil until the steam gets so pressurized the lid flies off the kettle. What motivates us not to have ha

Grieving an Important Loss Many of us have gotten a call or news face‑to‑face that was sudden, shocking. News that takes your breath away, makes your chest feel heavy, feels mentally overwhelming and hard to digest. Emotions go wild—anger, disbelief, unbearable sadness, even numbness. It’s hard to take in things that are hard. It’s a huge reminder of how powerless and out of control we really are. A family friend died recently in an accident. I’m sure he didn’t leave his home

I noticed tonight that my last blog article was back in June! And I paused and thought, Wow! Where has summer gone? We are close to August already. So, this blog is simply, a few rambling thoughts (insert title here) that I am having this evening after a walk with my dogs. We returned from a fun, family vacation late last evening! On the drive back I noticed the orange glow of the sun, and it made me pause and think about how close to harvest we are and how SPECTACULAR South

Learning to live slowly, gratefully, and with intention It’s been nearly a month since I wrote a blog, and as many of us say, “Time flies.” I read something the other day—I cannot recall where—but it mentioned that if you want to think about how short life is, count it by summers. So for me, I will have experienced 60 summers once this one has passed. That really hit home and reminded me how life, as the Bible states, is but a vapor (see James 4:14). Hearing this caused me to

Because the best moments happen when life finally slows down. So, I was given the gift of an extra day off recently, and it was such a blessing — a reminder that balance and having extra margin, even in semi‑retirement, is truly a gift. Because I’m someone who likes to contribute and say yes to things, I still, admittedly, need to practice boundaries. With that said, I had four days off in a row, and I chose to spend them doing things that filled my heart: attending my grands

A gentle reimagining of purpose, pace, and calling in life’s next chapter. As I look back to last year about this time, I was at the cusp of just beginning a part‑time job as a medication aide in a senior living community. While I had worked in healthcare previously, it was in corporate land and not in the nuts and bolts of hands‑on direct resident care! I was exposed to it in my corporate job, had a curiosity about it the whole time I was working, but I totally wasn't sure I

The Power of Presence What is our natural instinct when someone gets upset about something? We either shy away because we don’t like conflict, we go into the “just calm down, it’s not that big of a deal” speech to smooth things over (which I would never recommend), or we can do something truly powerful and transforming — simply listen. Listen with an open mind, an open heart, and a heart full of love, patience, and compassion. When someone gets upset, we have no idea what has

Work reimagined as worship to glorify the Lord! I’ve had several conversations with people who are either in what I call the visionary stage of imagining what retirement could look like, and others who are well past retirement age who have said, “This just isn’t what I thought life was going to turn out to be for me.” That latter phrase really hit home and got my thoughts and writing wheels turning. It reflects so much of the discernment I’ve personally had over the past fiv

Is This All Mine to Carry? At times, yours truly falls off the wagon, so to speak—which is always a lesson in humility, especially when I recognize it in myself before anyone else does. Insert grace here: I, like all of us, am a work in progress. Sometimes I take steps backward and simply need to get back on track. One area that has been hard for me to discern lately is this: When am I truly staying in my own lane—focusing on what I can control and contribute—versus slipping

Sharing Your Path Can Encourage Others - Our Transformation is a Witness to Others I got to thinking the other day about why I’ve been so open about my life and the things I’ve learned — especially over the last five-plus years. Yes, it’s vulnerable. Yes, it allows people who don’t know me to see deeply into the things I’ve walked through and endured. But my motive for sharing has always been simple: I have a heart and a calling to help and serve others. It certainly isn’t fo

A reflection on unexpected news, unwelcome outcomes, and the quiet gratitude that follows. There are certain clubs in life we never expect to join. Some we choose — book clubs, Bible studies, walking groups. Others… well, they choose us. And recently, I found myself drafted into a new “club” I didn’t see coming. The Bridge Club. Not the card‑playing kind. The dental kind. One minute I was sitting in the dentist’s chair expecting a routine cleaning and check‑up, and the next m

Stepping into the future with hope and wholehearted intention Beginning the next decade in my sixties is fast approaching! It really has been a year of discernment—reminding myself of my values, being more intentional with my time, and still creating those bucket‑list experiences I want to have while I am still on the planet. One of the things I am pondering is how to celebrate my special day this year. How do I want to get the next decade started? Do I want a low‑key day doi

A kinder way forward—one aligned step at a time. Since semi‑retiring, I’ve been paying closer attention to the connection between my values and my daily choices. A meeting I attended last night reminded me again how easy it is to say we have a list of values we care about, yet rarely pause to compare our actual behavior to what we claim matters most. I haven’t always been intentional about this, but as I approach a new decade of life, I’ve been asking myself whether my value

Learning to walk together, even when the path changes. One of the things I’m most passionate about in this stage of life is having conversations with young women—and men—about marriage. The secular world sets our young people up from the beginning with fairytales and rom‑coms featuring the dependent, helpless princess who needs her knight in shining armor to be full, whole, and happy. Without him, she is incomplete or somehow less than. (And here is where we insert the import

Take It One Sunrise at a Time Do you struggle with the time change? Me too. I hear you. And yet, I don’t want to get pulled into the negativity that often surrounds it. I’ve been there in the past, and one thing I’ve learned is this: resisting and rehearsing how much I dislike something does nothing to change it. Like so many things in life, there are circumstances we simply don’t have the power to control — but we can choose the attitude we bring to them. So, this year, I’

Turning absence into a legacy of presence I’ve been thinking lately about how few photos and memories I have from my childhood. Not out of blame or disappointment—just an honest noticing. Life looked different back then. Cameras weren’t always nearby, and my parents were busy doing the best they could with the responsibilities in front of them. Still, as I get older, I find myself wishing I had more glimpses into those early years. That longing has taught me to treasure the m

Change often brings a wave of uncertainty. When routines shift or life moves into a new season, feelings of unrest, loss, and loneliness can surface. These moments challenge us deeply, stirring emotions that are hard to navigate. Yet, in these times, God calls us to rest in Him and His truth. He offers a steady presence that can calm our worries and fears, guiding us through the unknown with peace that surpasses circumstances. A peaceful forest path symbolizing guidance throu

Recently, I experienced a few minutes that felt much longer—one of those unexpected moments when emotion rises before understanding does. In the middle of celebrating my granddaughter’s birthday, waves of feeling washed over me so quickly that I’m still trying to process them. Tears welled up, and it took every ounce of strength I had to keep them from spilling over. It was a beautiful party—wonderful people, good music, and the tender unfolding of a little girl savoring each

Your role is influence — the results aren’t yours to hold. Last night, I received two true gifts — the gift of real, tender, totally unsolicited conversations with individuals who simply wanted me to listen to what was on their hearts. After they shared with me, they asked questions like, “What do you think?” and “What’s your opinion?” In those moments, I paused and responded with words of encouragement: “That must be hard to watch, especially with someone you love,” and “O

Saying yes with intention—and no without guilt. Today was a day I had to say no to something so I could take care of myself while feeling a bit under the weather. There’s only so much TV I can watch before boredom sets in, so writing felt like the perfect sedentary activity for where I’m at today. Saying no made me pause and remember how I became someone who felt overly responsible—someone who would have pushed through at my own expense without a second thought. That reflecti