Slaying Your Giants

Do you have giants in your life you can’t seem to overcome? Right now, the giant we are facing is my husband’s upcoming surgery. Unknowns exist. Some aspects are a little scary, especially since the surgeon gave him a backout opportunity at the pre-op appointment. But we are going ahead, with faith, and trusting God […]

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Flourish

This week, I closed on the sale of my aunt’s house. Getting to this point has been a 10-month process. At times, I felt I would never come to this day because the task of cleaning out the house felt like a mountain too high to scale. But like many things in life, reaching this […]

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The Rewards of Respect

  For weeks, my mother’s eyes were closed. On the rare occasions when she opened them, they were clouded with confusion, not recognizing me as her daughter. But one day, she turned her head toward me and opened her eyes. The brown irises, speckled with green, were clear and comprehending, “Thank you for being so […]

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What We See and Perceive

Several weeks ago, my husband and I attended Italian Renaissance Alive at Biltmore in Asheville, NC. It was a multi-sensory, immersive experience. The main room included smells of the time period and brightly-colored paintings on the walls and floor. Some of the paintings also included motion, which added a new dimension. It was interesting to […]

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The Truth about Forgiveness Lies

Forgiveness is an elusive concept, its path circuitous and rocky. Staring boldly at forgiveness, it appears to require more than anyone should be asked to give. Although I’ve chosen the path of forgiveness often, I sometimes select it reluctantly, like a child grabbing the doorjamb and screaming “no” when being put down for a nap. […]

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When Plans Go Awry

Are you a planner? Do you fit your life onto a calendar and dare anything or anyone to mess with it? Planning gives a sense of control, yet none of us can totally control the course of our lives. Plans go awry without notice. How we respond to change determines how well we adjust to […]

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5 Points on Pivoting

Basketball fans know the meaning of pivot—to turn while keeping part of a foot firmly planted on the floor in an effort to protect the ball from a defender or gain a better vantage point for passing or shooting. Sometimes we encounter situations that force us to pivot. Life pivots require courage and a willingness […]

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The Brevity of Life

Some weeks, as I sit at the computer to write a post for my blog, the concept comes together quickly, and words flow through my fingers. Other times, I watch a flashing cursor and white screen until an idea finally gels. This week was different. I started a post, had a full outline, knew where […]

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Overlapping Seasons

Thus far, this has been a year of overlapping seasons. Winter never fully took hold before warm temperatures encouraged a premature spring. The colors of fall hung on amid the budding trees and greening grass. Then, winter returned, with temperatures below freezing. At times, we experience overlapping life seasons. We hardly complete the handling of […]

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The Power of Your Story

Last weekend, I taught at a writing conference. Each time I teach at a conference, I become increasingly aware that our lives weave a story. Some lives are stories of abuse, neglect, betrayal, and struggle. Other lives involve miracles, healing, and thankfulness. Life stories are powerful. Your personal story is unique and multifaceted. Each life […]

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