living proof of God's grace & living free to share hope, encouragement & adventures
When John asked me if I wanted to tag along on his work trip to Savannah, GA, it was an easy YES. Granted, it's easier for me to say yes because I have a remote job; however, I would've made it work regardless because Savannah holds a special place in my heart. It was the …
Continue reading A Long Weekend in Savannah, GA: Our Itinerary
Have you ever shared your story? I've shared pieces of mine plenty of times on this blog, on Instagram, once on my friend Janice's podcast, and to individuals here and there—but never in front of a live audience. That is, until November 12, 2022 at the TELL Women's Conference in my hometown of Union City, …
Continue reading My First Time as a Christian Women’s Conference Speaker: Sharing My Story
I never thought I'd visit Bosnia. It wasn't a destination on my bucket list, I'll be honest. My familiarity with Bosnian culture consisted of references to the 1984 Sarajevo Olympics and bleak news broadcasts about its status as a war-torn country in the 90s. Yet, there I was in 2019, planning a solo roadtrip through …
Continue reading My Solo Trip to Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
The end. I'm kidding... about ending it there. NOT about the title. That is no joke. Losing weight truly will not make you happy—or even happier—in life. Trust me. No, I'm not a medical or mental health professional. No, I'm not discussing any potential benefits to your body's functionality. I speak purely from experience as …
I'll never know for sure if they were angels. I'm talking about two men who seemingly came out of nowhere to help me with car trouble in Croatia. But, let's back up. My one night in Zagreb, Croatia This was November 2019. My last solo international trip. My longest solo international trip. After visiting five …
Recovery doesn't mean it stops being hard. Recovery is doing it anyway. Read that again. Now, maybe you're thinking, Oh, this doesn't apply to me. I'm not currently in recovery for anything. OR There's nothing I need to recover from. But, I challenge you to read on, because—even if that's true—I think you'll find some …
The older I get, the more I realize that the most quoted verses in the Bible don't tell the full message. Now, I don't mean the Bible is lacking whatsoever. What I mean is that those verses are part of a greater context that is sometimes missed. Or, at least, sometimes missed by ME. While …
Continue reading What Does It Really Mean to Be a New Creation in Christ?
"...throw off everything that hinders..." (Hebrews 12:1) This was the lesson I learned after hiking Angels Landing in the rain. My experience hiking Angels Landing trail It was March 2020—early March, right before the world shut down. My friend Kara and I took a trip to Zion National Park with the goal of hiking Angels …
Continue reading Angels Landing Hike in the Rain—And What It Taught Me
Adventurous dog owners... this one's for you. Have you ever thought about taking your dog kayaking? We did this with Gus a month or so ago and I wasn't sure what to expect. It's not that I was worried—I just had no idea what Gus would do, if he would jump out, if we would …
Does your everyday life seem boring? Does it feel like you're just trying your best to get through the ordinary? Or living for the weekend? Or longing for your next trip or adventure? If you're nodding yes, you are NOT alone. The regular days of life can easily feel mundane and even burdensome, when compared …
adventure and the girl 