The Broken Leg

November 28, 2016 by

As of this writing, my husband has been a soldier in the United States Army Infantry for just shy of 13 years.

Of those 13 years, he has endured three combat deployments totaling 45 months, as well as numerous other intense and potentially dangerous missions/assignments.

We count ourselves incredibly blessed that the Lord has protected him from injury all that time. Because we have many, many friends and battle buddies that cannot say the same.

Well, about a week and a half ago, that injury-free dynamic changed a bit in our family.

Long story short: My husband recently fractured his fibula (the small bone in his leg) when he landed after executing a required jump into Florida with his current job as a Ranger Instructor.

Let’s just say that this turn of events was NOT part of our no-plan-plan. (But are things like this ever on our radar?)  [Read more…]

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Bad things. Good People. Great God.

December 22, 2014 by

In lieu of the holiday season, I am taking a quick breather (for a couple of weeks) from cranking out lots of fresh material. There will still be blogs posted, some new, some reposts. Like this one. I pray it speaks to your heart today!

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I have heard this phrase in many conversations. I have witnessed it on Facebook statuses. I have even seen it on a billboard.

“Why do bad things happen to good people?”

That is a good question. And a tough one at that. I’m not gonna get all theological on you today (my brain isn’t quite up for that level of discussion) but I think that “Bad things” happen to “Good people” due to sin. [Read more…]

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Through the Thorns (And Past the Spiders)

September 29, 2014 by

This just in…

Life is not easy.

Ok, that statement is far from a breaking story. If you have been on earth for more than 6 minutes, you have probably lived this truth first hand.

We live in a fallen world that involves pain, suffering, unanswered questions, and some downright sorrowful moments.

But here’s the thing: Although we live in a messy, gross, sinful world, it is GOD’S world. And His world is what I like to call a Romans 8:28 world.

“God works all things for good for those who love him and are called according to His purpose.” [Read more…]

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Why We Need Sticky Moments

September 11, 2014 by

Welcome to another week of our Everyday Jesus link-up. Be sure to link-up below this post, comment on your neighbor’s blog and share with your friends… Because Jesus is everywhere, every day! 

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The following post will probably involve awkward and TMI (too much information) moments.

So read at your own risk.

To catch  you all up, there are a few things you need to know:

1. This year is the year I learn how to run.

2. Buying workout gear is fun… yet not cheap. (Hello, Goodwill!)

3. Genetics (and Jesus)  made me one of the most “pear-shaped” people on the planet. [Read more…]

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Stay In Step

August 27, 2014 by

You might have noticed that Wednesdays are my days to take a breath. To rest. Recharge. To work toward some super-awesome God-sized goals for 2014. So here is a blast from the past straight from the archives. Enjoy, dear friends… and thanks for the grace. 

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“TTWWWWWEEEEEETTTTT!!”

Click, click, click, click… “One, two, three, four…”

Oh, the glory days of marching band. Now, before you start the cracks about being a band nerd, know that my high school was kinda tiny. Tiny like I graduated with 18 people in my class. And had about 80 people in our entire high school.

Which meant you were either in the band… Or you weren’t. (And seriously– who really wanted to go to an extra study hall? Pshaw.) [Read more…]

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Embrace the Suck (Repost)

July 9, 2014 by

Hi friends… For the next few weeks, Wednesdays will be dedicated to re-sharing some of my favorite posts. I am so blessed to be working on some “big rocks” and pretty awesome God-sized dreams, but I need time to make that happen. So after much prayer, here we are. I pray you enjoy these words… And thanks for extending me Christ-like grace. Oh. And everything is still business as usual for our Thursday #EverydayJesus link-up, so don’t miss it!

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Sometimes, life sucks.

Yeah, I said it. And yeah, I said it on a Jesus-loving Christian blog.

But its the truth. Sometimes life sucks.

We live in a world of pain. Of hurt. Of disease. Of evil. Of hard circumstances. Of moments where we wonder how the heck we are supposed to continue to function.

“Sucky” things in life range from the seemingly small and trivial (I lost my stupid wallet– again!) to the painfully large and unexplainable (Acts of terrorism. War. Violence. Etc.)

So yeah, it’s the truth. Sometimes life really just kinda sucks. [Read more…]

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iPad Art for the Heart: Walking on Clouds

June 4, 2014 by

Hi friends… For the next several weeks, Wednesdays will be dedicated to re-sharing some of my favorite posts. I am so blessed to be working on some “big rocks” and pretty awesome God-sized dreams, but I need time to make that happen. So after much prayer, here we are. I pray you enjoy these words… And thanks for extending me Christ-like grace. Oh. And everything is still business as usual for our Thursday #EverydayJesus link-up, so don’t miss it!

***

My iPad is the bomb diggity. (Yes, I’m bringing that phrase back. Excited for it to catch on.)

Honestly, I probably don’t use my trusty iPad to the extreme that some hardcore Appladdicts do. (That’s my new name for people who love Apple products.) But I L-O-V-E the convenience and entertainment it brings to my life. Plus, it was a gift, so that’s a total bonus.

When I still worked at Christ Community before our PCS, we would all have the chance to do staff devotional during our staff meetings every so often. This blog is what happened when it was my turn. And while it was initially unexpected, I managed to integrate some iPad art into the heart message. Here’s how things went down… [Read more…]

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Would you REALLY??

May 27, 2014 by

My woman brain goes weird places every now and then.

If you don’t believe me, just ask my husband. (He says I am “abnormal.” But this is coming from a man who chews his toenails and watches weird space documentaries on TV… sometimes simultaneously. So I vote his “abnormal” is unfounded.)

But my brain really does come up with crazy thoughts sometimes. Occasionally they are good thoughts, just letting my imagination run about what God might have planned for us in this world. Sometimes I daydream about heaven and anticipate meeting Jesus for the first time. And yes, my brain will often try to put “scary” thoughts in my head revolving around severe sickness, accidents, death etc. (At which point I promptly tell Satan to GET BEHIND ME as I pray Philippians 4:8)

There are a few occasions when a semi-profound Jesus thought randomly pops out of these thought tangents.

Like this one: “Would I REALLY die for Christ?”  [Read more…]

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Pumping Iron with Jesus

May 14, 2014 by

Hi friends… For the next several weeks, Wednesdays will be dedicated to re-sharing some of my favorite posts. I am so blessed to be working on some “big rocks” and pretty awesome God-sized dreams, but I need time to make that happen. So after much prayer, here we are. I pray you enjoy these words… And thanks for extending me Christ-like grace. Oh. And everything is still business as usual for our Thursday #EverydayJesus link-up, so don’t miss it!

***

“Ninety-eight…ninety-nine… one-hundred!”

Oh hey. Didn’t see you there. Sorry, I was just working out… you know, pumping some iron, getting in shape. (Does that sound a little too much like Will Ferrell in Anchorman?)

Obviously, I am not pumping iron… but instead am clicking keys. At a pretty rapid pace, I might add. But I didn’t get to this typing speed overnight. [Read more…]

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Embrace the Suck

May 8, 2013 by

Sometimes, life sucks.

Yeah, I said it. And yeah, I said it on a Jesus-loving Christian blog.

But its the truth. Sometimes life sucks.

We live in a world of pain. Of hurt. Of disease. Of evil. Of hard circumstances. Of moments where we wonder how the heck we are supposed to continue to function.

“Sucky” things in life range from the seemingly small and trivial (I lost my stupid wallet– again!) to the painfully large and unexplainable (Sandy Hook school shooting. Boston bombing. Explosion in Texas.)

So yeah, it’s the truth. Sometimes life really just kinda sucks. [Read more…]

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