living proof of God's grace & living free to share hope, encouragement & adventures
Have you heard the saying, "Comparison is the thief of joy"? While I do believe that's true, I don't think it goes far enough. Comparison doesn't just steal your joy. It takes your life. The Comparison Trap How often do you compare yourself to other people? No judgment. I'm writing this for myself just as …
I wonder. How much do I miss on a daily basis because I'm not paying attention? Here's what prompted the question... We bought a house Back in February 2023, my husband John and I bought a house in Apollo Beach, Florida—not to move from our home in Knoxville, TN, but to renovate and turn into …
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. …
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
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
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 …
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
Ecclesiastes 3:1 "For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven." (NLT) For three years, I had a season of solo travel. 2017, 2018, and 2019. The year before this season—2016—my life changed pretty dramatically. I recovered from a 10+ year battle with bulimia, broke up with my long-term boyfriend, and …
Everybody has a story. A major part of my personal mission is to: Share my own story to point people toward God and hope. Encourage others to share their stories, too. We need to hear each other's stories, because stories say, "You're not alone. I've been there, too. I understand." That is powerful stuff. But, …
adventure and the girl 