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

A Testimony of God’s Quiet, Steady Transformation About five years ago, I turned toward a way of living that has completely changed my life. Some call it a “life skills management program,” which makes me smile — but honestly, that’s exactly what it has been for me. Now, approaching 60, I can finally see what true maturity looks like. I’m learning to respond to life from a calm, grounded, peace‑filled place rather than from a pace of reactionary panic, control, or quick decis

Sometimes one memory explains so much of who we became. This is mine. Long ago in my childhood, I witnessed abusive behavior toward someone much older than me. I didn’t have the language for it then, but looking back, it was a watershed moment —a moment that quietly shaped the way I lived for decades. It pushed me into an overly responsible state, always hypervigilant, always scanning the room, always bracing for what might come next. Today, I can see how that moment framed s

What is in your Locket or Pocket? Writing from the state of South Dakota — where the feels like  temperature is sitting at –21 degrees  — I’m reminded how much it matters where I place my thoughts. Rather than joining the chorus of complaints about the cold, I’m choosing to lean into warm memories from years past. It’s amazing how quickly that simple shift softens my attitude and opens my heart. My morning started the same way it usually does: a warm cup of my favorite coffee

A small slice of life with a big lesson on identity. Have you ever noticed how something as simple as the way you like your toast can become a surprisingly complex story? For years, I enjoyed my toast well done—crispy, firm, but never burnt. Then someone close to me preferred their toast lightly toasted, and over time, I found myself changing how I made mine. It might seem like a small thing, but this shift in toast preference opened my eyes to a bigger truth: how easily we l

Are Both People Willing to Do the Work to Repair? In any of our relationships—and the success of them—the topic of trust is a huge deal!  It is hard to open up, be vulnerable, and share our hopes, dreams, and inner lives with others when they are not trustworthy. It is easy to become righteous about this, as if we play no part or never break trust ourselves. We are kidding ourselves if we think we can live out trust one hundred percent perfectly. Over our lifetimes, we can le

Are You Living According to Your Values? I woke recently and realized I needed to take an honest look at my life. Was I truly living according to my values, or was I easing into semi‑retirement while still filling my time to the brim out of habit? I had to ask myself whether my daily actions actually reflected the intentions I had for this next season—or if I was simply staying busy because it felt familiar. That moment of reflection became a turning point, inviting me to rea

Remembering the Legacy, Lessons and Blessings They Leave Behind I remember the first time I lost a family member. It was my paternal grandma—a lady who, through her example, taught me so much: How special mornings could be The importance of writing letters and staying in touch through snail mail The discipline of writing out checks to pay bills The art of flower and vegetable gardening—and the importance of pulling weeds How to be a good neighbor The joy of baking from scratc