Praises of a Wife and Mommy

Sometimes it’s the little, silly things that can cheer me up, like sparkling water. I don’t know what it is about all the different kinds out there—orange crea, strawberry mango, peach, or whatever fancy flavor someone came up with this week—but it feels like a treat without the calories. There’s something about cracking open that can, hearing that pfffft, and taking that first fizzy sip that makes a hard day feel just a little more doable. Now, I know it’s just water with bubbles. It’s not a cure-all for stress or healing or emotional days, but it’s funny how even the smallest things can lift our mood. Maybe it’s the reminder that refreshment doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes, the Lord uses the ordinary to bring a smile to our faces and remind us of His goodness in the middle of our messy, tired, “I just need a break” kind of days. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6 That verse hits different when you’re sipping s...

  It’s a more common problem for homes with larger gardens than you might think. A lot of people are glad to have plenty of space, but aren’t certain what they can do with it. Not utilizing the full potential of your exterior is not only a waste of the space you have, but it might stop your home from reaching the potential value that it could be worth, too. For that reason, we’re going to look at some practical, recreational, and overall quality of life-improving upgrades to your outdoor space that are worth considering.  Credit - CC0 License Decide What Your Priorities Are Before you decide what you want to do with the space that you have, you have to consider what it is that you’re currently missing. Do you need a functional space, such as somewhere to work or extra space to cook? Are you looking for quality of life upgrades that can help you relax and enjoy your space a little more? Or are you more focused on maintaining the value or even the aesthetic attractiveness of the...

I often talk about physical healing, but lately, I’ve realized that the emotional and spiritual side of healing may be even harder to face. This post feels different to write because it’s deeply personal. It’s about being honest with myself and with God about the parts of healing that no one else can see. As an educator, I’ve always known that when a student has a big reaction over something small, it’s usually not about the “something small” at all. It’s about everything else beneath the surface—the unspoken pain, the bottled-up frustration, the weight that finally spills over. And now, I get it in a whole new way. During this healing journey, I’ve had moments when something seemingly insignificant—like a comment, a small disappointment, or an unmet expectation—has completely undone me. I’ve crumbled into tears, felt anger rise, or just shut down. It’s like my emotions were waiting for one last drop to overflow the cup. God has been showing me that I’ve developed a habit of stuffing ...

Here we go again with self-esteem and finding a dress. A few weeks ago, I shared about the frustration of trying to find something to wear to a wedding  and now it’s time for a Gala! This is an event my husband and I love to attend to support an organization close to our hearts. I’ve always enjoyed getting dressed up for it, but this year felt a little different. The truth is, I’m still wearing my boot. I knew I wanted to feel confident, not self-conscious, so I decided I was going to make it work. My daughter came with me for a little mother-daughter shopping trip, and I actually found two dresses that I really loved. I may have splurged more than I normally do, but when I tried on that elegant black dress — the one that would cover my boot perfectly — I felt… beautiful. Not because the dress was perfect, but because I realized I could still feel like me. The injury didn’t take that away. The boot didn’t define me. My scars don’t tell the story of shame, they tell the story of hea...

 I am eleven weeks post-surgery. It feels both so far from the beginning and yet, somehow, still like yesterday. The scar is healing nicely, and I can really see how far I’ve come, but this week brought some new challenges. Physical therapy started off a little rough. On Monday, I felt pain on the lower right side of my ankle, and honestly, it discouraged me. My mind went straight to questions: Did I overdo something? Is this normal? Am I still on track? Wednesday's PT felt much better and I got some new movements to do.   Pain has a sneaky way of trying to plant seeds of fear. But even in that moment, I knew I didn’t want fear to take root. Healing isn’t always a straight line; it’s often two steps forward and one step back. Still, I had to remind myself that progress isn’t just measured in how I walk but in how I trust the process and lean into God’s faithfulness through it. By midweek, things were looking up again. The pain started easing, and I could see that even wh...

One morning, I woke up and noticed something strange — my feet were two different shades. My left one looked perfectly normal, but my right, injured foot had a purplish tint to it. I honestly have no idea why it looked that way, and for a moment I just stared at it. But here’s the beautiful thing — I had no fear. A few months ago, that might not have been the case. Early on in this recovery, every ache, color change, or new feeling would have sent my mind racing. But this time, I just looked at it, breathed, and reminded myself, “God’s got this.” Sometimes, healing looks a little different than we expect. It’s not always pretty or perfectly even. It’s a process — a living picture of how God works in us too. He’s constantly restoring, renewing, and refining, even when things don’t look “normal.” Scripture: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” — Psalm 147:3 God’s healing isn’t just about the physical; it’s about the peace He places deep in our hearts when we trust Hi...