When Chronic Blessings was first published, it was terrifying to trust my story with the world. It was beyond difficult to subject myself to the vulnerability and criticism that goes hand in hand with sharing the struggles, hardships and judgements involved in living with a chronic, invisible illness.
As it turns out, my fears were well founded.
Read MoreHave you ever watched a movie when some precious soul has already spoiled the ending for you? Somehow while your friend is biting her nails and tearing up like a puppet on the director’s strings, you’re sitting there thinking, “I can’t imagine how we’ll get to the ending that precious soul already filled me in on”. You’re not stressed, you’re just interested to see how the story unfolds. When you know the ending, you watch the movie through very different eyes.
Read MoreOctober is Dysautonomia awareness month. Every year I struggle with what to do to raise awareness. I ponder and deliberate and really put a lot of thought into it. So much so, in fact, that November comes and I still haven’t decided what to do. This October came and I thought, Oh great! Quick, I gotta do something! And then a brilliant thought hit me … I already have.
Read MoreYet, in the last couple of years, every time a major tragedy hits, whether it be natural or terrorist in nature, I feel the pain of the initial tragedy. And then I feel the pain of our self-inflicted tragedy after the tragedy.
Read MoreI was terrified to share my story. Actually, that’s an understatement. I don’t think there is a word for the mind sizzling fear that gripped me. But now I see it’s really no wonder.
Something I’ve really struggled with for quite a while now is
Read MoreBrene Brown PhD says she laughs when people call her a “parenting expert” because according to her, the term parenting expert is an oxymoron. There is no such thing.
I couldn’t agree more. I have three kids and I had a foster son. And I. AM. CLUELESS. The biggest thing these kids have taught me is that I seriously need Jesus to take the freaking wheel.
Read MoreEver since we finished homeschooling, I have felt the squeeze on my time with the kids. I look forward to spring break and summer vacation. I think of all the things I want to do with them, all the lost time I feel like I need to make up for.
But do you know what emotion those warm summer breezes elicit in me?
Fear.
Read More“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” —Ernest Hemingway
When I first started writing I considered this a brilliant description of the writing process. And since that time, I have seen many writers refer to writing as bleeding. It still rings true for the act of writing itself.
Read MoreAnd I feel something within me surging and burning and rising up and wanting to SCREAM, How can the mundane normalcy of life continue?! Why isn’t the entire world stopping and taking notice that one of our brightest shining lights has been extinguished? Doesn’t everyone realize the world is darker today than it was a few days ago?
Read MoreIf you’ve come here, chances are you fit into one of two categories. Either you are a fellow chronic illness sufferer looking for someone who just gets it. Or, you are who I was 10 years ago, a busy mama running. Always running. Perhaps you are both of these at the same time. If you don’t fit into these not-so-neat boxes, fantastic. There is room for all.
Read MoreThere is a reason no one enjoys reading peaceful, predictable stories. So why would we want to live one? Testimonies are born through the agony of testing.
Read MoreAhhh, the Christmas season. The freshness of a new year and a new beginning. The twinkling lights, the carols playing, the excitement of the children, the live nativities. Such beauty and peace … in an ideal world.
I don’t know about you, but my reality is a smidge … different.
Read MoreAt the end of the day, how do we reconcile within ourselves the discrepancies in what we expect of ourselves and what we actually do?
I will tell you how. Did you know that Jesus addressed this very issue concerning us chronic illness warriors?
Read MoreAre you one of those annoying people who has all their ducks in a row and everything goes according to plan? Yeah, I didn’t think so.
Maybe you easily identify with
Read MoreCan I just be really honest here right off the bat? I don’t want to write a blog. I’ve actually debated the idea for years and decided it’s really not for me. It makes me nervous just being on Instagram. Heck, most of the time
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