This spring, I shared Part I of my thoughts on Martha and Mary in a blog focused on the idea that it is in our best interest to break our busy habits and table our to-do lists with purpose. I wrote about learning to sit at the feet of Jesus to experience rest and peace, while creating a space to connect and hear from God. This was my story—a story of relationship building with God.

As I...

To everything there is a season.

Can you hear it? These words come with a melody. And most of us know the song to which they belong: “Turn! Turn! Turn!," written by Pete Seeger in 1965. Chances are, if you like it as much as we do, you’re probably humming it as you read this!

This song made history using words from Ecclesiastes, an Old Testament book of the Bible. The inspiration...

I grew up in the Baptist Church. We learned our Bible and sang some beautiful hymns. One comes to mind now as I sit down to write this blog:  I Surrender All.

As I sang that song in my childhood, I had no idea what a journey of surrender would look like. It is not a word that excites us as strong, capable women. We do not want to think of ourselves as surrendered to anything or...

My backyard is my haven. It’s my favorite place to retreat.

And my favorite time to be outside is from spring through fall. I walk barefoot in the yard all the time, even when it starts to get cold. 

I love to discover unexpected beauty, but most of the time I discover weeds. Lots of weeds. 

My first summer in the house was an experiment. I was new to serious yard care and...

Have you ever had a call that took your breath away? 

A call that gave you that horrible sinking, rushing feeling that goes from your heart to your thighs immediately, and then all through your body—seemingly all at once? (It’s usually followed by a word or burst of words, which typically aren’t found in God’s Word.) 

I have--and I remember the call from my...

We have a friend who’s a self-proclaimed “hug dealer.” 

She has a hug for anyone who wants one, and even some that don’t! She proudly wears a t-shirt with this title written in large letters across the front. If you were to ever receive a hug from her, we’re convinced that, like us, you’d want more. 

These hugs are legit! But there’s more to...

In this 21st century way of life, it’s easy to believe that we have to keep running, keep doing, keep achieving in order to fulfill the plans and purposes God has for us. Personally, as a scientist, my mind is always on overdrive with lists and protocols that are prepared days or weeks in advance. 

But even with the best preparation and planning, I have often found...

I don't remember a lot about my very early childhood years, but I do remember one of my favorite childhood toys was a Jack In The Box.  

I know… I’m telling my age here. 

For those of you who have NO idea what I’m talking about, this was a simple toy. Usually a metal box with a clown on it, all in primary colors. There was a crank on one side. When you turned...

My husband hasn’t always been Mr. Fix-it, and his quiet demeanor doesn’t scream leader, but he excels at both.  It is one of the things that I love most about him—his desire to learn.  Whether it’s finding a YouTube video to help him troubleshoot an issue with the car or getting his hands on the latest John Maxwell book, he is always seeking out ways to learn a...

For many years, my pursuit of purpose was anything but purposeful.

I often found myself in the aftermath of seemingly right decisions that left me struggling within myself wondering, what in the world went wrong?!  

In hindsight, I can see a pattern in the decision making.

I’ve pushed my way through doors that weren’t for me to open.

I’ve stepped through open doors...