Praises of a Wife and Mommy

  “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) Navigating daily activities has been more challenging than I imagined. Simple things that I once took for granted now require planning, help, or creativity. But one of the hardest emotional challenges came when I realized it was the start of cross country season —my daughter’s senior year. If you’ve never been to a cross country meet, you may not know that it’s not just the runners getting a workout. The spectators do too! Parents and fans often jog or run from one viewing point to another just to catch those precious few seconds of encouragement as their runner passes by. Realizing that I wouldn’t be able to run from spot to spot this year broke me. I even cried about it in the doctor’s office—it felt so crushing. That morning also brought a taste of fall’s arrival. It was in the low 50s, and my toes were freezing. I couldn’t find a sock or slipper that would fit over my cast to keep me warm. After ...

  “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18 (NIV) Tuesday, August 26th, was one of the hardest days yet— painful both emotionally and physically. It marked one week post-op for Anthony, and he had two appointments: one with the surgeon and one with physical therapy. It was during these visits that we learned there was some nerve damage . With it came a lot of pain during movement, and even more concerning, certain parts of his hand showed signs of paralysis. They made him a new brace, but all the movement—both from the surgeon and the physical therapist—caused his nerves to scream with such intensity that it left us shaken. Fear tried to settle in as we wondered, “Why this setback, Lord?” That day was full of tears, medicine adjustments, and so many prayers lifted up. In the midst of the storm, I was incredibly thankful for the prayers of others and especially for Abigail, who simply opened the Bible and began reading al...

  “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” — 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV) Shortly after my surgery came the first day of school . As a high school teacher, this is usually one of my favorite days of the year—the energy, the excitement, and this year especially, the joy of having both of my kids, Selah and Titus , in the same school with me. I had pictured driving to school together, walking into the building with them, and grabbing those special first-day photos. But instead, I had to watch them head off without me. My own “first day” with students won’t come until later in September, once I’ve healed more. And while I know in my heart that it’s only a few short weeks, emotions hit hard . Disappointment, sadness, and even some grief tried to take over. But I’m learning in this season to surrender each thought and emotion to the Lord. He reminds me that while my plans have shifted, His purposes have not. My heart may ache, but His peace is greater. There will...

  “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” — Colossians 1:17 (NIV) One of the hardest parts of this healing journey has been learning how to be still. If you know me, you know I love to stay active. I wear a Garmin watch and get excited about hitting high step counts and joining step challenges. Having that taken away from me—literally not being able to walk—has been harder than I ever imagined. And to be honest, I don’t think anyone can fully prepare you for the mental side of surgery recovery. It’s tough physically, yes, but when the house is quiet and my family is gone at work or school, the battle in my mind is even harder. In those moments, the only real option I’ve had is to lean into the Lord—crying out to Him, resting in His promises, and letting Him meet me in the silence. One song that has carried me is “Quiet” by Elevation Worship. The lyrics remind me that I am not alone in my healing. God is always near. A few lines that have been my prayer...

 This year, my husband’s birthday looked so different than we imagined. Pain, recovery, and the weight of our daily changes made it hard for it to feel like a “normal” birthday. Even with a birthday sign and balloons to bring cheer, and pizza ordered in place of going out, the day carried a heaviness. I wanted so much to keep everything light and joyful, but as the evening went on and we reached for ice cream, emotions I had been holding back surfaced. My heart ached, and I cried on my husband’s birthday. But in that moment, my husband showed who he really is. Gentle. Patient. Kind. Understanding. He didn’t brush off my tears or make me feel guilty for them. Instead, he met me with compassion and grace—the same way he so often does. His quiet strength and steady love continue to remind me of God’s goodness in giving me a partner who reflects His heart so well. Birthdays aren’t just about cake, balloons, or big celebrations. They are about honoring the person God made—and my husb...

  “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” — 1 Corinthians 12:27 (NIV) This week, I have been so overwhelmed with gratitude for my church family. They have been showing us love in action in such a practical and powerful way—by bringing us meals. And not just any meals, but healthier, yummy meals that bless both the body and the soul. Normally, Anthony or I would handle most of the cooking in our busy household. But with both of us recovering from surgeries, meal prep quickly became one of those heavy burdens that felt overwhelming. Having brothers and sisters in Christ step in to fill that need has lifted such a weight off our shoulders. Not only did they feed us, but I also now have some new recipes to add into our family rotation. What a gift! These meals were more than food—they were reminders that we are not walking this road alone. The love and care of our church family has truly been the hands and feet of Jesus to us. “Carry each other’s bur...

  Scripture of the Day “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” — 1 John 3:18 (NIV)  This day started with a beautiful surprise— love in action. My 14-year-old son woke up early and went to work on a ramp for me so I could safely get in and out of the house. He made a plan, used power tools, and built it out of scraps we already had—completely free. Watching him do this touched my heart deeply. It was more than a ramp—it was a picture of Jesus in him, serving and loving without being asked. He’s growing into a young man who looks like Christ, and that brought so much encouragement to my mama heart. Later in the day, it was MRI time. A huge thank you to Selah and Abigail for driving me and making sure I got there safely. Having them by my side is such a gift. Now, let’s be real—the MRI experience is not one I’ll soon forget. There are some things I wish they would have told me: It’s loud. Repetitive, mechanical noises that ch...

One of the sweetest gifts God has given me during this season of healing has been worship. Music has always had a way of reaching deep into the soul, but in this journey of injury, surgery, and recovery, I’ve experienced it in a whole new way. I’ve been especially encouraged by artists who have walked through their own valleys and allowed their pain to become praise. Forest Frank and David Crowder—both of whom have walked through healing journeys—teamed up to write a song that has touched me deeply. Seeing the Body of Christ come together in unity, sharing testimonies of God’s goodness even in pain, has been a powerful reminder that we are never alone. During the long days of waiting and the restless nights, I’ve had these songs on repeat: Forest Frank – Lemonade This song reminded me that God can take even the sourest seasons of life and bring something sweet out of them.   Forest Frank – Selah  “Selah” became a pause button for my heart—an invitation to rest, breathe, ...

 Tuesday was Anthony’s turn. His bicep tendon repair surgery was scheduled for the 19th, and Baylee and I were there with him. My own pain was minimal that day, but my nerves were all over the place—especially since the hospital didn’t give many updates while he was in surgery. I had my knee scooter with me, so every now and then I wheeled myself around the waiting area just to ease the tension. After what felt like hours, a nurse finally told us they were almost finished and he would soon be in recovery. Baylee and I decided to step outside for a quick walk/scoot to breathe some fresh air before seeing him. When they finally let me back to recovery, I could tell right away that Anthony wasn’t himself. He was very loopy, his arm and hand completely numb, and his balance was off. A nurse brushed it off with a comment that he wasn’t on anything that strong and “should be fine.” But he wasn’t fine. He was weak and unsteady. My heart ached seeing him like that, and I silently prayed ...

I kept reminding myself who I am in Christ and rebuking illness that has hit my family.  We are visiting my dad and the last thing I wanted was for any of us to get sick.  I woke up yesterday morning and had a gut ache that would come and go.  Last night my daughter threw up a couple times and did not sleep well.  She is doing much better.  Then as I was texting my husband who is home he got sick too, but he had it the worst.  He threw up 9 times!  ICKY!  So we are believing and praying for all of us to get better and for no germs to infect anyone else!!