living proof of God's grace & living free to share hope, encouragement & adventures
I have to admit, I never thought I'd write a Christian devotional. For much of my life, I struggled to even read devotionals regularly. (More about that part of my story here.) Writing my own? Years ago, I would've laughed in disbelief. I grew up thinking I'd never be qualified to offer any sort of …
Continue reading Why I Published an Eating Disorder Recovery Devotional
It's my birthday today. I'm officially 40 years old. At one time, this age felt SO OLD. I mean, heck. When you graduate from high school, you haven't even lived half of 40 years yet! But today, as I embrace this age, it doesn't feel old. I don't feel any different than I did yesterday. …
Have you ever felt disqualified or unworthy because of your past? Maybe you fear judgment. Maybe you wonder if anyone will take you seriously or trust you. Maybe shame holds you back. Or, maybe you question how God could possibly use you after what you've done. Friend, if that's you. If you can resonate, please …
Continue reading How to Overcome Your Past and Use it for Good
If you've followed my blog for a while, you know I traveled a LOT in 2017, 2018, and 2019 when I was single. Back then, more of my blog posts centered on those travels. Even today, I have travel posts peppered in whenever my husband and I take a trip—so travel will always be part …
Continue reading Best Places to Travel by Category: My Travel Superlatives
And so we are... WHAT? I'm glad you asked. 1 John 3:1 (ESV) tells us this: "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And so we are." A declaration And so we are. It's interesting to me that some versions leave this section …
I was that kid who dreamt of writing a book one day. And now, just shy of 40 years old, I can call myself a published author. Well, self-published. This blog takes you step-by-step through my self-publishing journey. Click here to skip to that part. Why I wrote a devotional You can click here to …
Continue reading How to Self-Publish a Book on Amazon (KDP): Tips From My Experience
Last summer, a stark reality hit me. I complain a lot. Wowwww, I complain a lot. And, I didn't like who I was when I complained. Ouch! For me, it's all too easy to justify complaining about things in this life. I complain when I'm frustrated with a situation that I don't like—and sometimes can't …
To all the Jesus believers out there, does spending daily, intentional time with God seem daunting or intimidating? Where do I start? How long does it need to be? Do I have to wake up early? What if I forget? Or, what if it's a really busy day? I've wrestled with all of these questions, …
Continue reading How to Spend Time With God Daily Because You Want to—Not Because You Have to
It's that time of year when it feels like literally everyone is setting a goal. Multiple goals, even. Maybe you're one of them. Or, maybe you're feeling overwhelmed by the pressure of it all. Are you a failure if you don't set a goal going into a new year? No! Is it wrong if you …
Continue reading Goal Setting Tips for New Years or Any Time of Year
Are you struggling to overcome an obstacle in your life? Something daunting? Something that—some days—feels impossible? Maybe that obstacle is an eating disorder or substance abuse. Maybe it's a health battle. Or even a relationship issue or financial struggle. Whatever your personal challenge, I created a playlist that might help. This playlist was inspired by …
Continue reading The Ultimate Recovery Playlist: Christian Music Version
adventure and the girl 