From Surviving to Thriving: A Blessing

You have probably heard it said (or uttered it yourself):  The days are long but the years are short!  When in a situation where you feel stretched to nearly breaking, you remember:  This too shall pass.  The reality of the challenges (and exhaustion) we face is:  This will not last forever, but it may be

From Surviving to Thriving: The Joy of Appreciation

“Are you so desperate for attention you need to act like this?!” I sputtered in exasperation at my oldest. After three days of doctor visits and scans my younger child had returned home with a casted arm. In the let down from anxiety and vigilance, exhaustion washed over my body. I had nothing left to

From Surviving to Thriving: The Joy of Radical Acceptance (Psalm 139: 19-21)

“O that you would kill the wicked, O God, and that the bloodthirsty would depart from me —those who speak of you maliciously, and lift themselves up against you for evil!“Psalm 139:19-21 Practice radical acceptance this week with a meditation prayer.  While sitting with your palms facing upwards, breathe in slowly and then exhale completely. 

From Surviving to Thriving: Radical Acceptance (Comfort: Psalm 139:19-21)

“O that you would kill the wicked, O God, and that the bloodthirsty would depart from me— those who speak of you maliciously, and lift themselves up against you for evil!” -Psalm 139:19-21 This is not the life I thought I’d be living. Whether it’s the sleepless nights of new parenthood, the stressful realities of

From Surviving to Thriving: The Joy of Truth-Telling

Spend a few moments today journaling the truth of your situation. Find a comfortable space and using your journal, loose-leaf paper, or an index card, take time to do an unedited brain dump of some truth you are carrying around in your head and heart. Perhaps it’s a short list of what you know for

From Surviving to Thriving: Telling the Truth (Comfort: Psalm 139: 15-16)

My frame was not hidden from you,when I was being made in secret,intricately woven in the depths of the earth.Your eyes beheld my unformed substance.In your book were writtenall the days that were formed for me,when none of them as yet existed.Psalm 139:15-16 A few years ago, when our family was going through a tough

From Surviving to Thriving: The Joy of Being Myself (Psalm 139:

“For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works;that I know very well.” Psalm 139:13-14 How do we practice being ourselves?  How do we celebrate being unique while still participating in community life?  We are

From Surviving to Thriving: Being Myself (Comfort: Psalm 139:13-14)

“For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.”  -Psalm 139:13-14 Recently, I had to take a trip for work. It involved masks, airports, ubering. Essentially a lot

From Surviving to Thriving: The Joy of My Work

Studies show that the level of self-compassion we have for ourselves directly correlates to the amount of grace and care we are able to extend to others.  When the demands on our time are intense, whether from emotionally demanding work outside of the home, the efforts of parenting, or the exhaustion that comes from caregiving,

From Surviving to Thriving: To Each Their Own Journey (Comfort: Psalm 139: 11-12)

“If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me,and the light around me become night,‘even the darkness is not dark to you;the night is as bright as the day,for darkness is as light to you.“Psalm 139:11 and 12 We’re sitting at a middle school soccer game and a parent off to the right, down along