Hope Matters

Raspberry Jam and Refining my Soul

Recently, my family and I visited an apple orchard close to our home called HoneyHill Orchard, in hopes of picking some scrumptious apples. My girls love apples so much that I need to always have one on hand. And I frequently find half eaten one’s randomly lying around the house with tiny bite marks in…

Turning a worn out Vintage find into a Little Girls Treasure

Ever since my daughter graduated out of her crib she has been in her very cute ikea bed. It had me at “expandable bed.” You see, this amazing bed goes from toddler bed to in-between bed and then to a twin bed. The ikea mattress comes in three sections and you add or take away…

How to Align your Life with the Right Target

The young boy grabs his jacket off the hook and runs after his dad into the crisp morning air. The sun is just peaking over the pine trees casting glimmers of light onto the dew in the grass. His rain boots squeak as they follow a much larger & aged pair of work boots. The…

Better than diamonds

On Mother’s Day I wrote a post that eventually was deleted by my own mistake. At first I was upset, but ultimately I’ve always taken the approach of Gods perfect timing with my writing. I never push a post, they must flow from the mouth of God through my fingertips to your eyes. When a…

Stone by Stone

Hands tightly grabbed each of her arms carrying her down the long dirt path A sin exposed for all to see regret, sorrow, pain, and presumable death They threw her down against the wall her face landing in the dirt Her hands gripping the tiny stones beneath her tears falling onto her soiled scarlet skirt…

After the “exodus”

Almost a year ago we moved out of our house, in obedience, unsure where God was leading us. We only knew we were called to leave. We minimized our belongings and moved into the basement of my parents house until we heard the next step. We had/have no idea where God may be leading us…

The Promise Land and our Pregnancy

I sit at a high top table in the corner of a coffee shop today trying to write for the very first time in months. My protruding belly almost hits the table and I am reminded of God’s faithfulness and love toward his people. In October we found out we were pregnant, again. This will be…

A Letter to End Internet Bullies

Sometimes I wish I could go back in time and pluck the internet from existence. There are times when I thrive on social media and enjoy how people from all over the world can interact with one another. I enjoy the community that it creates and the opportunities it has given people. But, what I…

I AM 1 of 4

Today began just like any other day. I stumbled out of bed, grabbed the babes and headed to the kitchen and waited for the coffee maker to pour me a cup of gold. Black. That’s how I take it these days. Enough with the frills, lets just get down to business, right? I wish, honestly…

A Confession and My Purple Jeep

I sat silently in a car full of noise on the side of a very busy road. A few minutes earlier my precious 1998 Jeep Cherokee decided it was time to rest. With my flashers on I slowly rolled it to a stop on the side of the road. Semi’s and cars whizzed past us…

The Forgotten Letter

The car came to a stop and I took a deep breath. My feet hit the Texas soil and a warm breeze blew my freshly fallen blonde curl across my face. I wondered why I wore my hair down in the first place as the humidity took down each curl by the second. As my…

How To Find Community & Giveaway!!

I am part of a church where community is important and needed. Community is where life happens, love is shown and grace is given. But how do you find your community? How do you keep your community when life is so busy? Recently, as most of you know, I have been a part of a…

Say Anything

While I was on my way home from an amazing week in Bolivia, God prompted me to purchase a book to read on my kindle app for my last flight home. I normally steer clear of kindle books because I am in love with the new book smell, the first thing I do when I…

Waters Deep

I stand with my feet in the ocean, the sun shining down on my bare shoulders from above. The perfectly white sandy beach is in front of me. Mostly everyone I know is on this beach. They are sun bathing, throwing frisbies, drinking wine & laughing, chasing kids and splashing in the water next to me….

Just Love

As I sit her in the airport awaiting my final flight home,that has been delayed three times now and counting, I can’t help but reflect on this past week. How do I even put what I experienced into words? So many emotions, so encouraged and I am changed beyond understanding. There are things about this…

Bolivia- coming soon!

As I am prepring to leave for Bolivia in less than a week, my heart is anxious to see the Holy Spirit move in everyone’s life! This trip doesn’t just affect the kids, but everyone involved. It is a ripple effect. It will drastically change the lives of the team members and each person that…

Keeping up with the Clutter

I haven’t been able to write in awhile because God has been working on me in a different area, the outside! He has been sending little hints my way for the last couple weeks and this week I put those hints into action. It may be drastic for some and encouraging for others, either way…

Fearless Love & My bestie, Jen Hatmaker

Back in February I received news that changed my life. My life did not physically change but it changed in a way where I chose a different path, this particular path pointed me in the direction of living my life differently. To love people better. The person responsible? Jen Hatmaker. Jen is a wife to a…

The morning God showed me a little bit of Heaven

The sun was just peaking over the horizon and the rays were trying to sneak into the room through the holes in the blinds. Distant worship music filled the quiet house and everyone was asleep, including myself. As I slept, I found myself in the midst of an early morning dream. For me, those are…

To My Daughter’s Birth Mother

Ever since you came into our lives I haven’t been able to go one day with out thinking about you. You created our daughter and I see you in her everyday. Her sweetness, her beautiful skin, and her small frame is from you. You went through the nausea, the heart burn, the food cravings, food…