“Familiarity breeds contempt.” The pain is recognizable. The parallels are shocking. The red flags became clearer much quicker this time. It’s hard not to filter this experience through the previous one. There must be more to learn here. “Familiarity breeds contempt.” But maybe there’s another way forward this time. Maybe the familiarity can instead spark … Continue reading Church Hurt
strength
Anchor
It’s been a long 6 months… and I have missed sharing in this space. Originally I took a break from blogging to focus on motherhood; the work-home balance had pushed me to my limits. Instead, parenting a child with special needs took some unexpectedly hard twists and turns. Add in some stress and overwhelm (and … Continue reading Anchor
Dear Children
Your resilience knows no bounds. In new places, surrounded by new faces, you keep showing up. You shine and you sparkle. You reflect God’s love and you give Him glory. You persevere; you don’t give up. You make a decision, and you move forward boldly toward your goals. You overcome negativity and naysayers. You triumph, … Continue reading Dear Children
Courage for When You Can’t Do It All
The past two weeks have been a whirlwind. Which is why I’m so thankful to have a 48-hour retreat with the staff from our church. Perfect timing to pause the whirlwind, to connect with God and others, to enjoy the fresh mountain air (and rain)! The launch of Mint Thrift on April 8th went incredibly … Continue reading Courage for When You Can’t Do It All
Practical Ways We Deal with Emotions
Life has been a little busy lately, which means emotions have a tendency to run wild. Multiply that by four kids, and you have an incredible opportunity to practice what you preach. I’m an advocate for expressing emotions and feeling your feelings, but we have definitely come across some helpful tips and tools along the … Continue reading Practical Ways We Deal with Emotions
Limited People, Unlimited God
Sometimes we need to remember that we’re human. We need to be aware of our limitations. Then we can gently remind ourselves that we don’t have to check everything off of our endless to-do lists right this very moment. It’s okay to leave things unfinished today. It’s okay to save some stuff for tomorrow. It’s … Continue reading Limited People, Unlimited God
Valley After Valley
Recently I’ve been reflecting on our different seasons and chapters, our various moves and the similar challenges in each new place. It was then that I realized: I’ve spent the majority of my adulthood living in four different valleys. I lived in the same small town for 21 years (Marysville, Washington). And then my family … Continue reading Valley After Valley
My Race to Run 