living proof of God's grace & living free to share hope, encouragement & adventures
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 …
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
Let's talk anxiety. Again. Anxiety is one of those ongoing, "work in progress" areas for me. In case you missed it, I wrote this post all about anxiety—my thoughts, experience, and how I'm daily giving it to God. Daily is the key word there. For me, it's not one of those things that will just …
Does the Bible ever surprise you? So often, verses jump out at me that I know I've read before—but suddenly they resonate. Case in point. First15 is my daily devotional, and recently, the passage of the day was Psalm 107. While listening via the audio option on the Bible app, I did a double take …
Continue reading Bible Verses That Perfectly Describe My Eating Disorder Recovery Story: Psalm 107
Yes. A poop story. Y'all. I waited five years to tell this story. Five years to share about an incomprehensible peace that I experienced on a solo trip to Barcelona in May 2017. Literally, a peace in God that surpassed my understanding. And I waited because, to tell it would mean talking about poop. One …
Continue reading Peace That Surpasses Understanding: A Poop Story
How do you feel about New Year's resolutions? Maybe it's just me, but it seems like—this year more than ever—making resolutions is a polarizing topic. Darned if you do. Darned if you don't. Do you know what I mean? On the one hand, there's pressure to make one because, gosh, isn't everyone? No one wants …
Continue reading Simple New Year’s Resolutions—Progress Over Perfection
I used to think I didn't have anxiety. Never had a panic attack. No physical jitters or racing heartbeat. My day-to-day worries aren't debilitating. I take risks, challenge myself, and do things that scare me. Plus, I'm naturally optimistic. How could I have anxiety?
Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." It's one of those Bible verses I've known since childhood. Such a beautiful, powerful promise from God. But I can't say I fully grasped it till recent adulthood—when I moved to Tennessee and met my husband John. Sure, …
In January 2019, I wrote a blog post titled, When God Gives You Abundantly More, as a reflection on 2018—and I was awed by all that God had done in just one year. I hadn't dreamt big enough. So, I trusted Him for more in 2019. Bigger things. And still... Still. I didn't dream big …
Life is an adventure. I believe this to my very core. Every single day is a choice to embrace this mindset: to live with ZEAL. Zeal. Zeal. Zeal. Fun to say and one of my favorite words because I truly believe it captures the essence of how I’m determined to live my life—with enthusiastic diligence. …
adventure and the girl 