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...

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...

Each of us is born with remarkable natural gifts that serve as superpowers in our lives and help us make a unique contribution. Additional gifts can (and should) be developed, but these gifts are hardwired in us. Science and philosophy call them lots of different things -- aptitudes, innate abilitie...

I'm in the middle of creating something new, and it's a decision I have felt divinely supported in. Even with this powerful assurance, my mind still cycles back to what I've seen and known in the past, then doubt creeps in, and then I start to sink and choke on the waters of "but what about..." It's...

The last 48 hours at our house could be summed up with 1 word: unexpected.

Nothing major, and a good variety ranging from potentially-amazing to, "Oh wow. That actually happened."

At either end of the spectrum and everywhere in-between, we had expected something different. If we had been clinging to o...

Not going to lie...I've been feeling pretty crummy the last couple of days.

I caught some sort of bug, and I feel like I've been hit by a bus. I forget how amazing healthy feels until it's gone.

It's crazy how a microscopic virus can wreak such havoc on my system. 

It's also crazy how many microscopic...

It's "back to school" day here in Virginia, and last night we bid farewell to the amazing summer break we enjoyed. This was probably my favorite summer we've had so far (more to come in a future post about the details), and it would be bittersweet to say goodbye if I didn't feel like we could build ...

I went to a workshop at a women's conference years ago, on the topic of the power of prayer. During the discussion portion of the presentation, an audience member shared a story of a "lightbulb moment" she had experienced. The simple gem she shared has proven useful to me hundreds (possibly thousand...

Recipes only work when you gather the ingredients and follow the steps. Turning to the page and wanting to make it won't get you very far, no matter how good the recipe is, no matter how much you think about it.

And just because you choose and make one recipe, doesn't mean you're limited to only ever...

A beautiful gift can be given and not received.

The giver can want the recipient to accept and cherish it, but that doesn't mean they will.

This doesn't tell you anything about the gift or the giver. 

It simply says that the recipient wasn't ready or able to accept the gift.

God's gifts are everywhere,...

I had the best customer service welcome EVER yesterday. Our twins and I spontaneously decided to stop at 7-Eleven (can't say I've ever actually written that out...) for a treat. We chatted normally as we walked in the door, but were greeted by the most surprisingly cheerful gasp and a jolly middle-a...

If you didn't catch the sunset yesterday, it doesn't mean God is punishing you. It might just mean you weren't available or positioned to see it (He loves you enough not to force you to get outside and enjoy it).

Sometimes we scratch our heads and wonder what we did wrong, when things aren't going th...