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

Your Next Chapter Begins with One Doable Step Taking the Next Right Step: It Doesn’t Have to Be Hard As a new year approaches, many of us feel that familiar nudge: It’s time for a change.  Maybe it’s a goal you’ve been circling for months. Maybe it’s a habit you want to build. Maybe it’s a shift you can’t quite name yet, but you know something needs to move. Here’s the good news—your next step doesn’t have to be dramatic, overwhelming, or burdensome. In fact, most meaningful

Because the next page often holds what we can’t yet see. I don’t know about you, but I personally struggle with waiting for plans or circumstances to unfold. As I quickly approach a new decade of life, I’m learning that God’s plan for us often unfolds in painfully slow ways. In the quiet and stillness, I sometimes doubt whether I’m choosing the right thing. At times, I even feel guilty when He brings me into a season of rest — mostly because I feel uncomfortable in the “not d

Looking Ahead to 2026 — I’d Love Your Input! As I prepare for the new year, I’m planning to be even more intentional about the topics I write about—especially those that speak directly to the hearts of my blog subscribers. What encouragement do you need most right now? What questions or struggles would you love to see addressed in a gentle, faith-rooted way? 💬 I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment or message me with your ideas, and I’ll prayerfully consider them as I pl

Let Hope Float and Fill Your Cup In the darkness of winter, we may find our minds feeling heavy too. For many, this season is a reminder of loss, struggle, and the difficult things the year has delivered. I was reminded yesterday that it is okay to mourn, grieve, and feel sadness. The only way to move through those feelings in a healthy way is to allow yourself to feel them, talk with someone you trust, have a good cry, and eventually notice the weight of those emotions begin

A blank page gives room for God’s voice, for prayer, and for reflection. Just over a year ago, my employer reorganized, and my role was eliminated. For the first time in my life, I faced the loss of a job. I had worked since I was 18—through college and throughout my entire adult life. My first job began in 1985, and for 35 plus years I worked steadily in a variety of roles, always with longevity, tenacity, reliability, a willingness to go the extra mile, and a commitment to

Marriage is often described as a partnership built on love, respect, and understanding. Yet, anyone who has been married for a while knows that it’s not always smooth sailing. Sometimes, the most frustrating moments come not from big fights or major disagreements, but from the small, seemingly insignificant ways our spouse disrespects us. These moments may look tiny on the surface, but they can pack a powerful punch that chips away at the foundation of our relationship. If yo

Waiting can feel like a challenge, especially when life’s problems press hard and solutions seem distant. Yet, patience is more than just enduring time—it is a powerful act of trust. When we learn to wait with faith in Jesus, we open the door for problems to work themselves out in ways we might never expect. This post explores how embracing patience and letting go of control can lead to peace and transformation. A calm river symbolizing peace and patience in waiting Understan

Because God’s truth doesn’t shift with circumstances. You are NEVER Alone You are ALWAYS Loved You are FORGIVEN You are FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY MADE You are PROTECTED As we go through our lives, we grasp and look for other people, places, or things to provide us with company, love, forgiveness, worthiness, and safety. These are all needs we have as humans. These needs are not incorrect or shallow. It’s when we look to things on earth and place them in a position higher than

Five years ago, I began a simple practice: making a gratitude list every single day. Yes, every day . Not just in November when thankfulness is popular, but all year long — as a way to remind myself daily of the blessings God provides. To keep it fun, I found creative ways to stay consistent. I hung a small whiteboard in my home office so I could jot down a few things each day with bright markers. Knowing I wouldn’t always be in that office, I also picked up some cheerful not

Trust isn’t rebuilt in a moment—it grows slowly through patience, grace, and intentional steps. Trust is one of the hardest things to build and the easiest to break. Whether you’re starting a relationship with someone who struggles to trust, or you’ve broken trust yourself, the journey back is slow and intentional. It doesn’t happen overnight. We all carry backgrounds and experiences that shape how easily we trust others. And if we’re honest, none of us perfectly keep our pro

Simple Ways to Lift Others with Grace and Truth I was reminded this morning of what a gift it is to be blessed with opportunities to encourage others. Each of us has different gifts, talents, and abilities. We may not always recognize how we can bless others, but we often notice when others bless us! Here are a few simple ways to encourage and bless someone today. Make it your goal to uplift at least one person you encounter—whether you know them personally or not. Pay attent

Nourish with purpose—fuel your body, feed your joy. Disclaimer:  This is my personal testimony on how I changed my eating habits to significantly lower my cholesterol—enough to avoid medication, at least for now. As a woman with a long family history of heart issues, high cholesterol, and other health concerns, I’ve learned a lot through observation. I watched both my parents pass away from cancer and heart disease, and that loss stirred something in me. In my mid-thirties, I

Your values are the compass. Let them guide you. Goals, desires, wishes, dreams, visions—we all have aspirations for change, accomplishment, purpose, and a sense of drive. But at times, we struggle to stay on track or decide which direction to take. We face indecision, sometimes out of fear of making the wrong choice, or because we’re holding our decisions up to the lens of our values, wondering which path best reflects the life we want to live. Regardless of how you're feeli

Taking a Nap Is Not the Only Answer... Do you ever experience days—sometimes many in a row—when your energy is low and you just can’t pinpoint why? Or maybe you do know why, but you're unsure how to fix it. If so, I hear you. I understand. I’ve been there—and still find myself there at times. This is a common struggle, and one worth exploring. How can we make meaningful changes to improve our energy and well-being? Reflection Questions... How many hours of sleep are you getti

The Voice of Truth is Within Your Reach Today, I was reminded of a powerful set of lyrics from the song “Voice of Truth”  by Casting Crowns, written by Mark Hall and Steven Curtis Chapman. These words stirred something deep within me: "But the giant's calling out my name and he laughs at me    He's reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed    And the giant keeps on telling me, time and time again:    'Boy, you'll never win!' (You'll never win) 'No, you'll nev

Who Do You Turn to for Guidance? Do you ever feel like everything is going wonderfully well—like a sweet gift you’ve longed for—and then, slowly over time, subtle shifts and signs begin to appear? You start to sense that all may not be as it seemed. A new reality sets in—one you didn’t see coming. Or maybe, deep down, you knew all along but held on tightly to the feelings, the experience, or the environment because of what it brought you. Regardless of which scenario fits, cl

Discover the freedom found in letting go and embracing life’s sacred spontaneity. Being a planner is something I’ve always believed I’ve...