When I was in my early elementary years, on a pretty day, or any day to get me out of her hair, my mom would send me outside to play.  Our back yard was fenced in and very woody.  There was a small patch of a somewhat grassy hill but the rest was called a “natural area”.  But really it was woods.  We had my dad’s heavy, army green tent he used when he was younger, a small sand box, and a metal swing set with a couple of swings, a trapeze and a slide that my sister and I playe

I’m still trying to process the experience I had last week. I’m trying to think of the best words to put on this paper, the most amazing story that will capture your attention, because I want you to have experienced the same thing that over 550 women did as we gathered to worship God, study His Word, communed with other believers, and be equipped to spread the Gospel. I sit in this chair holding an empty bowl.  It’s empty for a purpose.  It has a crack right through the middl

Another month passed and another busy month ahead.  A lot of trips on rainy weekends to soccer games and pollen are just two of the many things that filled our calendar and noses.   It’s time to look back and see what I learned this past month. 1.  Chick-fil-a’s new lemonade milkshakes are light, delish and worth every penny.  For Christmas gifts 3 out of 4 in our family received those funny and so creative Chick-fil-a calendars.  We went to cash in April’s coupon which was t

Over 125 women hear this girl say with a shaky voice while eyes welling up, “Where do I even begin?  How in the world can I put this weekend into words that can be remotely close to describing what a holy experience this is.  I do know that you are here for a reason.  I do know that God’s Spirit is present and among us right here.  In this time.  This place.” This time and place we’ve been waiting for, praying over and planning for was finally here.  There hasn’t been one day

Last February I experienced the first ever IF:Gathering.  And what is IF:Gathering you may ask?  Many reading this probably already know at least a little bit if you follow me on Facebook or read some of my blog posts but now it’s less than 3 weeks away and I need to take deep breaths to calm my restless spirit.  In a good way. As a refresher before I share what I’m wrestling with these days, here’s my long and short version of 2014.  I found out about IF:Gathering – a first

Today I’m joining in a blog link up with Emily Freeman at Chatting at the Sky.  Each month we’re encouraged to share what we’ve learned the past 30 days, but since it’s the end of the year, then I’ve taken some time to look back at what I’ve learned in 2014.  (Thanks Emily!) 2014 is over and done.  Looking back, it’s hard to define in one sentence all that happened and all I learned.  The ironic thing is that my 2014 Word was define.  My year-goal was to define my life missio

If there’s anyone who knows about waiting, it’s my sister.   Being three and a half years older than her, growing up I thought I had the right to do things first since I was the oldest.   She waited for me to play Glamor Gals with her (did I ever, sis?).  She waited until I was off the phone talking to my friends so she could use it to call hers.  And I’m sure she could hardly wait until I moved to college so the downstairs bathroom was all hers. But those are nothing  compar

It’s somewhere in between what is real and just a dream. Have you ever felt like that?  Where you’ve been hoping something you really want to happen will happen now but it hasn’t happened yet? A dream job.  A dream to have a dating relationship with someone who just wants to be friends.  A dream to get that baby in Haiti in your arms and hold but it feels like it’s taking forever. But you can’t stand still…you feel like you’ve got to do something.  Now. How long do you have t

Oh my.  How sweet it is to be at a table with other women who long to be heard and eager to hear others’ stories. Women come around to the backyard not knowing exactly what to expect.  There’s some hugs, there’s some small smiles and eyes seeing a place where they’re welcome.  There’s a table under a maple tree filled with twinkly lights.  A gentle breeze carried the smell of fresh coffee right to the nose.  The lit candles floating in mason jars are sitting on an old, wooden

Those words echoed loudly in my ears as I sat in a dim conference room. It was February 8, 2014. The only light in the room was the gray clouds on the other side of the wide glass window. There was a large table with 12 oversized, cushiony chairs that swirled around on wheels.  One corner of the room had a counter with baskets full of individual snack bags and a coffee Keurig accompanied by who knows how many different flavors to choose from.  Beside it was a mini fridge stas