(In)Courage
Keeping It Real
Apr 29th
I threw open my front door this past Saturday and welcomed friends old and new into my home.
I wasn’t the only one, either.
Now just between you and me, a whole lot of my to-do’s for this shindig went undone. I didn’t mop my doggy streaked floors, place freshly laundered rugs and hand towels in the guest bathroom, make my mushroom appetizers, or arrange crafts and ice breakers. I did hang a few Chinese lanterns, fill vases with daffodils and sunflowers, prepare a couple goodies {guests kindly brought everything else}, and set a tea table pretty enough for Princess Kate but laid More >
For the Days You Think You?re the Only One Not in the Club
Apr 13th
Sometimes, the more your dream is woven into your deep places, the more you see it out in the world.
When I ached to be a mama but couldn’t get pregnant, I saw pregnant women everywhere. No matter where my feet traveled – grocery stores, movies, church – there they were, members of an exclusive club where everyone knew the password but me.
Of course, this wasn’t true at all. But tender things longed for and not held distorted my vision.
As my thirtysomething self looks around the?dining room table at three shrinky dink versions of my husband and me, I see plain More >
Because There?s Nothing Wimpy About Being an Encourager
Mar 13th
I’ve heard it whispered and seen it written in more than one place:
Some encouragers are soft clich??whipper-outers with faith deep as a kiddie pool. Sure, they’re nice and all, but they lack thoughtful opinions, creative ideas, and savvy smarts.?Their words aren’t all that courageous or brave.
I can’t deny this has been a fear of mine {says the girl whose blog is named?Chasing Blue Skies?}. But when push comes to shove, I always revisit the same word to describe this line of thinking:
Hogwash.
Yes ma’am.
As an encourager, there is nothing namby-pamby about you. Ready why over here? And if you like the More >
Two Things to Inspire a Yes
Feb 7th
Every Friday night, my daughter and I have a date with TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress. But sometimes, just to be different, we saunter over to?Say Yes to the Dress: Bridesmaids instead.
One particular episode began like all the others: A bride waltzes in with her bridal party to the popular Atlanta shop Bridals by Lori looking for bridesmaid dresses. However, this particular outing took an ugly turn when two bridesmaids began fighting over which one of them loved the bride best and would therefore be crowned maid of honor. Their bickering overshadowed the appointment to such an extent, the More >
The Next Best Thing to Having Friends Fall Out of the Sky and Land on Your Doorstep
Jan 14th
It was a song I was sick to death of hearing.
Kristen moves to a new town.
Kristen makes friends just in time to move again.
Friends promise to stay in touch with Kristen.
Kristen’s friends literally and figuratively disappear into the wild blue yonder.
So when the Air Force moved us to another new town, I figured I’d hear the same old song. Making friends usually wasn’t a problem, although sometimes it took an eternity to do so. But while I found people to hang out with, I did not have real heart friends. You know, the kind of friends that stick close whether you More >
When You Need to Lower Your Expectations This Christmas
Dec 1st
The air moved thick with anticipation of summer?and?our family’s Disney vacation. Before the big departure day arrived, I asked one of my favorite Orlando girls,?Stacey, what non-obvious essentials we should pack. She replied with many helpful ideas but told me no matter what I brought, definitely?leave expectations of a perfectly magical vacation at home.
I took her words to heart. And lo and behold, once I left the pie-in-the-sky-expectations outside my heart’s luggage, there was so much more room to relax and enjoy.?Because?real?magic happens when you forget grand ideals and embrace reality.?And the reality is family vacations?will?include cranky moods, tired behavior More >
and
