What’s the most unexpected thing you have ever experienced? For me, it was a stage four cancer diagnosis for my husband at age 40. When he graduated to Heaven less than 4 months later, my faith was shaken. I was paralyzed by guilt, confusion, shame and fear about the future. My husband’s death was unexpected and I had to learn how to navigate [...] Keep Reading
death
Book Review: A Grace Disguised
We are moving in a week. As I’ve been preparing for the move, I’ve been sorting through boxes upon boxes of books. This is an almost torturous task for me – a book lover who would much rather be reading books than tossing books to the donation pile. The other day I happened upon a copy of the book A Grace Disguised by Jerry Sittser. This book was [...] Keep Reading
If God wills: How to pray when healing doesn’t come
On the day my husband received a stage four cancer diagnosis, a group of our closest friends and family gathered at our house to pray. They all crowded in our bedroom and circled around my husband, our three daughters, and me. On one of the scariest days of my life, I was strengthened by the fervent prayers of those in our community. We cried [...] Keep Reading
{Summer Blog Swap} How to keep your eyes on the light when darkness surrounds you
Welcome to my Summer Blog Swap. This month I am inviting four of my blogger friends over to this space to share some of their posts and perspectives. It's a fun way to introduce some of my favorite people to all of you. This week I'd like you to meet my friend Tara Dickson. We met through a writing group called Hope*writers. Tara is a recent widow [...] Keep Reading
The steepest path: A single parent’s choice of faith vs. fear
My feet felt heavy, like someone had filled my trail shoes with rocks. I followed the path before me. Each step brought me closer. I stumbled, but eventually regained my footing. I could make out a fork in the road just ahead. The cadence of my heartbeat increased. My feet slowed. I found myself at the intersection of fear and faith. Which [...] Keep Reading
Running After His Glory in the Darkness
“Three, two, one, go!” the race director bellowed, his voice echoing through the forest. And we were off. My lungs burned as we headed straight uphill through the grove of sequoia trees at 5,000-feet elevation. Inhale. Lift. Exhale. Lift. Inhale. Lift. I tried to find the rhythm of my breath and feet to make it up that first long hill. I had [...] Keep Reading