Happily Ever After

…and they lived happily ever after. I’m not sure who dreamed up this phrase, but they certainly aren’t familiar with real life. I’ve always been brutally honest with all of you. And here’s the brutal honest truth: Blending two families into one is not for the faint of heart. Don’t get me wrong. I love […]

Life as a Sheep

Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Psalm 100:3 Over the last few years, my younger son, Cole, has been heavily involved in the national FFA organization. The mission of the FFA organization is to make a positive difference in […]

Prayer for Joy

Lord, how ironic that I set a writing schedule over a month ago, and today I’m supposed to pray for joy. You see, I feel anything but joy. No happiness. No excitement. No sense of well-being. Only fear. Anxiety. Exhaustion. Frustration. Confusion. Joy is about the farthest thing from my heart and mind. The tears […]

A Prayer for Peace

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. Isaiah 9:6-7 Father, you came as the Prince of Peace. You came to […]

A Prayer of Thanksgiving

Thank you. Lord, the words don’t even seem adequate to express the gratitude in my heart. You are more than I deserve, more than I could ask for. You are with me always, in all circumstances. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians […]

My Knight in Shining Armor

Monday. The word can strike fear into the hearts of the most courageous person. And this week, Monday hit me HARD. I woke up with my head pounding, sending waves of nausea throughout my body. I stumbled out of bed and found the ibuprofen, swallowing it and praying for some quick relief. I grabbed a […]

Today, I Choose

My heart has been shattered into a million tiny fragments over and over the last few weeks. I’ve watched so much pain in this community, in my own home. I’ve shed thousands of tears, unable to control my own emotions. I’ve rallied all of my strength to fight for my child, to do what’s best […]

In Loving Memory

When I was walking through my divorce, I remember that moment of surrender. “Lord,” I cried out, “I don’t want this journey, but I will take it if this is what you have for me. But don’t you dare mess with my kids!” I’ve dealt with my share of hurt and pain over the last […]

Loving the Least of These

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was […]

Trouble In Paradise

Our blissful first week of marriage was interrupted by a major test: I found my new husband on a dating site! A mutual friend knew we had just gotten married, and she sent Roy a picture of his online dating profile on a dating site known as Bumble. Just imagine having walked through adultery and […]