-
A Heart To Serve: Where My Journey Began
I didn’t always have a heart to serve others. In fact, anxiety often made it hard to look beyond my own needs. But thanks to the steady example of my husband, I’ve learned that serving others is part of who I am—and who I’m called to be as a follower of Jesus. Christian Service Doesn’t Have to Be Grand Serving others doesn’t always mean doing something big or public. Sometimes it’s the small, quiet things that make the biggest difference. At our church, we use a Meal Train to support families who’ve had a baby, surgery, or other life event. I sign up the moment I see it. Bringing a…
-
Esther
My Bible Study Today: Esther Currently, my Bible study is called “30 Days with Jesus – Experiencing His Presence Throughout the Old and New Testaments” by Lysa TerKeurst (one of my favorite Christian authors). Today’s focus was on Esther. The book of Esther is one of only two books in the Bible named after a woman (the other is Ruth). That’s significant—especially considering the time period in which the Bible was written, when men held nearly all societal power. Esther’s story stands out, and her role in Scripture is incredibly meaningful to me. Esther was a Jewish girl chosen by the king to become his new queen. The king didn’t…
-
When Failure Feels Constant
“How many times a day do we fail—whether in life, parenthood, or marriage? How many times have we unintentionally let others down? I don’t know about you, but I don’t have enough fingers and toes to count them all. I fail constantly. I feel like I fail as a mother when I’m on a time crunch or working on something, and I snap at my kids for asking me to do something they could do on their own. I fail as a wife when I don’t put my husband’s needs before my own—or even before the needs of our children. I fail when… I fail when… It’s a constant battle.…
-
God Looks at the Heart
A Devotional on David, Grace, and the Power of a Repentant Heart The last page of my Bible study today really hit me. It’s a truth we all need to hear and remember — especially in a world that constantly focuses on appearances, status, and perfection. Today’s study focused on King David, through the lens of two powerful verses: 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV): But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Acts 13:22 (NIV): After…
-
We Don’t Do Sleepovers
In our family, we don’t do sleepovers with just anyone. It’s not you—it’s us. I have trust issues when it comes to others being responsible for my precious babies. The invitation to stay the night is appreciated, but if I don’t know you, I don’t trust you. Trust takes time—especially when it involves my children. I’ve seen too much in my career, read too many heartbreaking stories, and watched too many crime shows to casually say, “Sure, you can have my child overnight while she’s sleeping and at her most vulnerable.” No way. Even if your intentions are pure and the situation is completely innocent, I still have the responsibility,…
-
It’s Not About What She Can’t Do
It’s Not About What She Can’t Do One day, a female student walked into my classroom carrying something heavy and awkward. I asked if she needed help. Her response caught me off guard: “Why does everyone think I need help? My boyfriend’s parents don’t think I can carry heavy things either.” I paused. Her words felt more like a defense than a reply. I gently asked what she meant. I explained that I wasn’t trying to insult her—I simply noticed she was carrying something that looked heavy, and I was offering help to lighten her load. That’s it. She seemed surprised by my explanation. Then she shared a story. She’d…
-
The Hidden Blessings of Farm Life
Farming may not always come with financial gain, emotional ease, or mental rest—but when we shift our focus, it’s clear: this life holds a treasure trove of blessings. Farmers work long, hard hours. The work is constant, and the rhythm of life often depends on the weather forecast. From sunup to sundown, the farmer is in the field, and family time can feel like a luxury. But unlike many other jobs, farming allows our kids to tag along. They ride in the tractor or combine, making memories inside the cab. He may be away from home, but the farmer is never truly far from his family. Our children don’t just…
-
The Blessing of Age-Gap Kids
The Blessing of Being an Age-Gap Sister There’s something really special about age-gap siblings. The oldest often takes a lead role in the lives of the younger ones, and it’s such a cool thing to watch—and to live. I’m an age-gap kid myself. I’m one of four girls (God bless my parents!). I’m the third, with two older sisters who are ten and twelve years older than me, and a younger sister who’s just seventeen months younger. When my older sisters were teenagers in high school, I got to tag along on dates (I’m sure they hated it, but they never let it show). I rode to school with them…
-
We Threw A Party!
This year, both of my parents turned seventy-five. That’s a huge milestone—I mean, these people are old! My sweet mama had the idea to throw a surprise birthday party for my dad. After some consideration, my three sisters and I decided it would be a joint party—their birthdays are only four months apart. So, the game was on. We told my dad it was my nephew’s engagement party and led Mom to believe it was just for him. Meanwhile, my sisters and I got to work ironing out the details, each of us using our unique talents—one handled shopping and organization, another decorated the cake, the third brought her craftiness,…
-
Friend Break-Ups
It’s okay if we’re not friends anymore—but just know, I’m still here when you need me. Maybe nothing happened. Maybe we’re just in different seasons of life. Maybe our kids are in different extracurriculars now. Maybe there was a moment—an awkward interaction or something between the kids—and it left you annoyed. Whatever the reason, good or bad: I’ll still be there. You need me to pray for you? I’m on it. You need my brutally honest, ill-filtered opinion? You got it. You need someone to keep your kids—whether it’s an emergency or not? I’ve got you covered. See, we may not talk anymore. We might just be acquaintances now. But…
