I grew up terrified of dogs. Deathly afraid. If I heard a dog bark, my heart would ramp up in speed, my body ready for flight AND fight. If I saw someone walking their dog on the sidewalk, I’d cross the street so I wouldn’t come close to the dog. Forget being afraid of scary …
Nearing the evening, fear likes to invite itself onto my chest. He has waited all day and now has my full attention. The light is fading, the sun is setting below the trees. My throat tightens, my breathing gets more shallow, and I feel my body tense. Anxiety and fear loom in the darkness like …
“This is for you,” my small group leader handed me a verse card, eyeing me tenderly. Through tears, I looked at the verse she had given me. I had seen this verse so many times before, even sang the song from time to time. But that day, the words seemed new to me. Although scripture …
**Warning: This post contains sensitive and triggering topics. Please be mindful of reading or sending this post as this writing contains graphic imagery of postpartum depression and suicide ideation. Severe depression robbed me the joy of my second son’s first year of life. I feel a complicated guilt as I look back at photos of …
I love how toddler stories morph into life lessons that relate to God’s work in my own life. I see the correlation between what my kids’ are facing and what I’m facing. There are parallels that, as a writer, I can see more clearly than some. And maybe the correct word is not just see …
The movie Frozen has a song that my boys enjoy: “Love is an Open Door.” My boys love to play it again and again. I’d like to say I’m sick of it, but frankly, I’m not…just yet. Ask me again at the end of the day ;). The characters Anna (or as my son lovingly …
Many times my mind travels back to my past where I begin the blame game of my postpartum depression. When I am healthy, I can redirect these thoughts to acknowledge all the faithful ways God has provided in my life. As we move through life, pain and suffering become inevitable in our stories. This oftentimes …
“Mom, it’s too cold to go outside!” yells my 4 year old. I never thought I’d see the day when he actually preferred to be inside. He is usually the first one running, pants-less, shirt-less, and shoes-less, out the door. Go figure. My 3 year old, in these colder months, just wants Blippi monster trucks …
In these frigid January mornings of the new year, I let my dog out and embrace the chilly stillness. A distant hum of energy is heard from car engines on the highway, but the sun is just emerging over the tree line. A faint pink and orange light breathes up and over the bare branches. …
Ready, set, BANG! goes the starting pistol, and we’re off to the races again. Happy New Year!? Horns blare and fireworks crack. December had us galloping toward Christmas, whipping that sleigh horse into gear. Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up those clod-hoppers! What had commenced as jingling around the literal clock all Christmas season has now …