Praises of a Wife and Mommy

  What a perfect fall day! The sun was shining, the air was crisp, and I knew it was time to take a few more literal steps in this healing journey. So, Baylee and I packed up the crutches and headed to the levee... well she drove me there because that would have been a walk just getting their.   Now, when I say I walked a trail, don’t picture some long, scenic marathon moment. We’re talking maybe 1/6 of a mile  which to some might sound small, but to me?  It felt like victory and freedom!  There I was, crutching my way along this brand new little path, feeling the breeze and hearing the water nearby. I can’t tell you how good it felt to be outside again surrounded by a few trees starting to show their fall colors and the calm ripple of the river beside me. There’s just something about the water that draws me closer to God’s presence. When I finally sat on a small bridge and just breathed , I felt it deep in my soul, that peace that only comes from Him...

There’s something about a sunrise that speaks straight to my soul. Maybe it’s the stillness before the world fully wakes up, or maybe it’s how the colors seem freshly brushed onto the sky by the hand of my Creator.  Every morning, I feel this quiet whisper from God “I’m still here. I’m still painting beauty into your story.” Healing has brought some hard evenings lately… the kind where the pain feels stronger, the emotions run deep, and tears come a little easier. Those nights can feel long and sometimes lonely. But then morning comes, and with it, a reminder that His mercies really are new every morning. Psalm 30:5 says, “Weeping may stay for the night, but joy comes in the morning.” And I’ve felt that deeply.  Not because the pain magically disappears, but because His presence brings light into the darkness.  When I see the sunrise, I feel close to Him, like He’s reminding me that no night lasts forever.   Each morning sky tells me He’s still working, ...

  Today, I got the sweetest surprise at work...flowers!  Beautiful sunflowers , radiant orange roses , and soft touches of purple blooms that made my whole day brighter.  They came all the way from Florida , sent by two of the kindest, most faithful encouragers — Jerry and Linda . I can’t even describe how perfectly timed this gift was. Sometimes, when the days feel heavy and the healing long, God sends reminders through the hands (and hearts) of others. These flowers were one of those reminders — a colorful whisper from the Lord saying, “I see you. I know what you need today.” It made me want to hop on a plane and go get a real hug from them, but the flowers will have to do as I am not getting on a plane any time soon.  Jerry and Linda have always been like parents to me and grandparents to my kids . Time and distance have never changed that. Their love, prayers, and encouragement have carried me through more seasons than they even know. The Word says in ...

 Okay, this one might be a little gross — but it’s real. My foot has started shedding so much dead skin that when I take my sock or pants off, it looks like a little dandruff storm. I can’t even sugarcoat it — it’s nasty. But as I was looking at all that dry, flaky skin, I couldn’t help but think… this is what healing really looks like. See, my body is literally getting rid of what it no longer needs. That dead layer served its purpose — it protected the wound, it covered what was tender. But now, it has to go so that new, healthy skin can grow. And it made me stop and think: how often does God do the same thing with us ? Sometimes He starts peeling away the things we’ve held onto — old ways of thinking, old hurts, old identities — and it feels uncomfortable, maybe even embarrassing. It’s not pretty. It’s not the “highlight reel” kind of healing. It’s the messy middle where everything looks worse before it gets better. But that’s the part where God is quietly doing His b...

 Week 7 turned out to be one of the hardest weeks yet. After getting the boot, everything felt heavier — literally and emotionally. My body was adjusting to bearing more weight, but my spirit was also feeling the weight of life. It was a full week with parent-teacher conferences that went late into the night, plus the balance of trying to walk again, and then two funerals and visitations to attend while wearing my pastoral hat. If I’m honest, I really wanted to be at those visitations. Just over a year ago, I earned my chaplaincy certificate and was filled with excitement for what God would do with it. I’m still waiting — waiting for the right season, the right timing, the right open door. But in the meantime, He keeps reminding me that being present for people, even when I’m still healing myself, matters. By Wednesday night, I hit my breaking point. I had been at school since early morning and worked until 8 p.m., but I was given permission to leave for a bit to attend a visit...

  Teaching high school has been a new adventure after 13 years in the elementary world, and I continue to be amazed at how God uses the smallest moments to touch my heart. One of my students shared with me about his own healing journey — he had surgery about a year ago and used a walker for a while. As we talked, he told me how much he loved elderberry syrup and asked if I’d ever tried it. I said no, but I’d love to. The next day, he showed up with the cutest little gift bag — inside was a small jar of homemade elderberry syrup. It had the perfect blend of cinnamon and nutmeg, a cozy fall flavor that made it extra special. I could practically taste the thoughtfulness!  It might seem like a simple gesture, but to me, it meant so much. At my last school district, I rarely received gifts from students, so this thoughtful act caught me off guard in the best way. What moved me most wasn’t the syrup itself, but that he saw me. He understood what it’s like to go through a heali...

 Trying to get to my kids’ activities isn’t always easy these days, but they’re the one thing I’m determined not to miss! I love being their biggest fan in everything they do. Last week my daughter had her fall choir concert, and thankfully I found a great seat. I was a bit worried about where I’d park my trusty knee scooter. After some strategic maneuvering (and a few tight turns that could’ve qualified me for a scooter obstacle course), I found an edge seat and made it work. Our school’s theater area is cozy —that’s the nice way of saying it’s a little small and could use a few more accessibility updates! The funny thing is, I noticed two other people using knee scooters that night. I almost felt like we should have formed a scooter squad—maybe come up with a secret handshake or synchronized parking plan. There’s something oddly comforting about knowing you’re not alone in your wobbling and wheeling! I even thought I would be strategic and leave through the emergency exit as I ...