A special note: This week our community lost an extraordinary young man tragically. Creed Zandamela was in our son Benjamin’s Junior class and his quiet kindness, intelligence, and thoughtfulness will be deeply missed. When attending the funeral this weekend his father said one phrase to me: Remember my son. I commit to do so. I hope that through […]
Coping with Grief and Loss
Grief can be overwhelming. The loss of a loved one or even something that you loved can often make it difficult to handle our everyday challenges. Our reactions to grief are as unique as our personalities. Our friend Tim recently lost his sister-in-law with whom he was very close. His grief was written, not only […]
Fear Fighting: Stomping Out the Image of Perfect
I blame it on TV. I grew up watching the princesses. You know them, right?! They were the ones whose complexions looked like porcelain, whose lips were the color of rose and whose lives were a hot mess. Until, the prince came in and swooped them up into his arms and forever changed their lives. […]
Brag About Your Weakness
Weakness is rarely celebrated in our culture. All around us the messages are, Be strong! Be successful! Don’t reveal your flaws! This is embarrassing, but I have literally prayed that I wouldn’t cry when facing confrontations or difficult situations. It makes me feel weak. There I said it. I’m prideful and I want to appear […]
My New Job and Why It Matters to You!
At the start of the New Year, I started a new job. Seems fitting, right? To say that this is my dream job seems overly dramatic, but no less true. I feel like every struggle, every heartache, every success, and every seemingly insignificant skill I’ve learned, has prepared me for this moment. At first I […]
4 Things to Do When You Feel Like Quitting
A few months ago the dog was walking me. Yes—I want to quit dog walking! I felt like I was hit with a lightning bolt revelation. I was listening to author Becca Stevens who said: “Everybody’s busy. It’s not a compliment. For me it’s this: what do you want to be busy with? Our days are spent. That’s […]
Reluctant Courage
When I was a kid, my dad often quoted his father, saying: “There are things in life you don’t want to do, but you do them because they need to be done.” I like to call it reluctant courage. Both my father and grandfather seemed to know something that I didn’t as a kid, and would always say this […]
Are You Stuck in a Rut?
Have you ever felt stuck and unable to make progress in your life, your relationships, and even your career? We’ve all been there. Many of us have made New Year’s resolutions with every intention of seeing transformation, only to abandon our ideals 2 weeks into January. It’s the ultimate place of unrest when we are […]
Peace—Embracing a Life of Hope, Wholeness and Harmony
Have you ever felt like peace was just an elusive idea meant for inspirational quotes or holiday sentiments? What would it be like to experience Peace for a Lifetime—real peace in our relationship with God, with our emotions, and with our relationships? This might seem like a far off dream, but it is possible! After […]
Building Extraordinary Relationships this Christmas
Christmas can be a stressful time of year for relationships. Our schedules are busy, our expectations are high, and our patience is stretched to the limit. Unfortunately, our family relationships are the first to suffer. An off the cuff statement can spark an argument, where assumptions are made and feelings are hurt. But Christmas doesn’t […]