I feel like the past few months have been an ongoing spiritual tutoring session, during the "birthing" phase of creating my online resort. One thing I've noticed is that inspiration (thankfully) doesn't just dump on you like a big tsunami. It pours in slowly, as capacity to handle it expands and as ...

When I was in 4th grade, I joined Girl Scouts. I didn't know much about the mission or what joining would entail... I just reeeeeally wanted to sell the cookies.

My involvement lasted about as long as the "cookie season," and that was enough for me. In that short time, however, I did learn that there...

Loss hurts.

We don’t have to gloss over it just to make it look like it doesn’t.

When we lose a meaningful connection—when life as we know it ends—our world changes.

We have to adjust.

This takes time and space.

Give it what it needs.

Let it be heavy.

Lean on the rock of Jesus Christ. Cry on His sho...

It's been quite the week of spam and awfulness on my phone. 

New, very sneaky tactics are trying to use tragedy and emotion to prompt link clicks. Some of these messages seem so legitimate, and then a beat to think and step back allows wisdom to whisper, "False."

At closer glance, I can see that payin...

We attended "back to school" night for our high schoolers last week, and something we heard in the girls' choir class stood out to me. 

"You'll see your students' grades kind of go like this," their teacher said, making an up-and-down motion with her hand. "This is by design."

Sensing the rising intri...

When a gift is given, there is a 3-part (minimum) exchange that takes place. 

(1) The giver offers it, but the act of offering does nothing if it isn't (2) received, then (3) used. 

...and ideally (4) the receiver expresses gratitude.

In other words, someone can give you something -- even the most exqu...

Have you ever watched a bird take flight? 

There's a jump and a few wing flaps, and it's airborne. Larger birds like swans and geese take more of a run than a jump because of their size, but even then it doesn't take much.

Their natural design -- strong muscles in the chest and feathers that catch the...

The toddler who is learning to walk doesn't ask for help.
The loving parent simply reaches down and offers a finger to hold. 
Tiny feet, chubby thighs, wobbly knees all work together as they learn to fight gravity -- 
all while the loving parent smiles, delighting in their progress
because they know th...

My triceps are killing me.

I started a new strength training program, and the first 30 days are all about learning "proper form," each day just 5 minutes, with your lightest dumbbells, focused on a single muscle group.

Yesterday, I learned that, of the probably thousands of tricep kickbacks I've done ...

It's an exciting time at our house -- our youngest is about to lose one of her top front teeth! She's been showing everyone how wiggly it's getting (leaning really hard into her teenage siblings' cringes, which is hilarious to watch), and it's at the point now where I think if she sneezes too hard i...

You can get a decent view of the sunrise if you're facing South, but you might wonder where all of the bright colors are. Turn 90 degrees to your left, and all of a sudden, bam! Right there, all along, are the vibrant corals, pinks, purples, oranges, and blues you had hoped to see. 

If we're not gett...

In any important journey, there comes a point where you have to decide between 2 lovers:

Growth or Comfort.

Growth is far less attractive, but can take you to unlimited heights. 
Comfort makes big promises (gradual climb, thornless paths, plenty of snacks), but can't guarantee them.
Neither comes witho...