My hubby and I are celebrating 19 years of wedded bliss choice today. Truly, loving someone is a choice you make. Daily. Because although the euphoria of “feeling in love” is typically what leads a couple down the aisle, that feeling never lasts. Somewhere between mortgages, diapers, laundry and sick days, it gets lost. You…
It was my Birthday and my husband took the day off. It’s always a treat to have fun days planned with him. He bought me this gorgeous sweater that fit just right! It was a big deal! I was having morning after morning breakdowns in my head because my clothes didn’t look right on me. Everything was…
It was a quiet Sunday afternoon, and we were doing the usual things to prepare for the week. I was in the kitchen washing dishes when I heard a loud crash. My husband had fallen from a ladder in the next room! Knowing how high the ladder was, my mind immediately started racing. A flood of…
Several years ago, my neighbor was having a difficult time in her marriage. Her husband was leaving her and she could not stop crying. I remember finding her scrunched up in the corner of her sofa. My heart broke for her. I sat with her and I cried alongside her. I tried to…
Marriage is wonderful. Marriage is also hard. When getting married, we all bring some things from our pasts into the marriage. But what if some of those “things” are remnants and products of a previous marriage? I’m a second wife to a second husband. I never thought I’d marry twice. When I married the first…
My imperfections were glaring when I met my husband. At 19, I had already been divorced from an abusive man and endured indescribable difficulties. My young son had just turned one year old, and I assumed no one would ever truly love me. There was too much in my life that made me unworthy of love….
Dear Self, (A letter to myself on my wedding day, February 20, 1993) The day you’ve been dreaming about since you were little has arrived! Best of all, you and Paul can finally be together without saying good-bye. You won’t be dependent on the post-office and long-distance phone calls to make your relationship work. By the way, you…
The expectations we carry into marriage influence us in many ways. If those ideas and assumptions are met, the relationship is happy and peaceful. If expectations are not met, disappointment with the other spouse and disillusionment in the marriage sets in. Early in our marriage, I wondered why my husband wasn’t doing things I thought…
The beginning of my relationship with my husband was built on a shaky foundation. The relationships that were to serve as healthy models during our childhood had instead given light to what we didn’t want. Barely adults, we stood upon a threshold littered with tiny shards of hope. Taking a leap of faith, at the…
There we were, young college students living far from our families, clueless about this institution we’d just signed onto called marriage. After the honeymoon, it didn’t take long for us to realize we were polar opposites. I was from the North; he was from the South. I liked to talk; he liked it quiet. I…
Unfortunately, it’s possible to sabotage your marriage while living as an otherwise happily married Christian woman. I know this from experience. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, I was guilty of relying on my husband for the comfort and peace that can only come from Jesus Christ. That’s an impossible expectation and when my…
“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): The following is a review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a copy of the product in exchange for this review and post. ABOUT THE BOOK To move…
“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): The following is a review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a digital sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. About PASSION albums: Since the…
Jenn saw the doctor, at Valle Vista, today and has been been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and possible autism. She has been prescribed new medications and took her first doses tonight. They want to observe her until at least Monday. If she shows a substantial improvement (75%) she will come home then. I did…
Imagine being trapped alive under the rubble of the collapsed World Trade Center Towers. For hours you shout and scream until you have no voice left. No one hears your cries for help. You feel all alone and scared. Your tears begin to dry up. Your emotions fade away into the darkness. Fear is overtaken…
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my review. Opinions are my own. No compensation was received for this review. About the book: The Golden Braid (Thomas Nelson, November 2015) The one who needs rescuing isn’t always the one in the tower… Rapunzel can throw a…
Welcome to Grace & Truth Week 47! [x_accordion_item parent_id=”aboutgraceandtruth” title=”What Is Grace & Truth?”]The Grace & Truth Link-up exists to point people to Jesus! We hope this link-up will be a source of encouragement each and every week. It’s run by 8 Christian women (see below, under “Your Hosts”). If you’re a blogger our hope…
I had the privilege of attending the Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker this weekend. My mom was my guest and the tickets were provided by US Family Guide in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and experiences are my own. I hadn’t been to a ballet performance since I was a child, so I…
Welcome to Grace & Truth Week 46! [x_accordion_item parent_id=”aboutgraceandtruth” title=”What Is Grace & Truth?”]The Grace & Truth Link-up exists to point people to Jesus! We hope this link-up will be a source of encouragement each and every week. It’s run by 8 Christian women (see below, under “Your Hosts”). If you’re a blogger our hope…
That whole thing about the apple and the tree? Yeah, it’s kinda true. This isn’t breaking news, mind you. It’s just that four times in the last week, I’ve had conversations with different people about Luke’s various idiosyncrasies. These discussions inevitably resulted in some form of, “Where does he get that?” At which…
Welcome to Grace & Truth Week 45! [x_accordion_item parent_id=”aboutgraceandtruth” title=”What Is Grace & Truth?”]The Grace & Truth Link-up exists to point people to Jesus! We hope this link-up will be a source of encouragement each and every week. It’s run by 8 Christian women (see below, under “Your Hosts”). If you’re a blogger our hope…
The day my nine-month-old fell off the bed, a friend was over. We were chatting in the hallway, sorting clothes to donate. I’d set him down on his back, sure he was in a good spot. I briefly hesitated, but knew it would only be a minute or two, and satisfied myself with…
My oldest son will be twelve years old in a couple months. That’s old enough that we should have had more sensitive subject talks sooner than now. Unfortunately, we have put it off. I guess I’ve been the head-in-the-sand kind of mom without realizing it. We have used the real words for private parts since…