HOPE

Hang Onto Possible Endings

Where do Moms find hope?

I didn’t know a single soul. New to town and desperate for friendship, I joined the Newcomer’s Club in hopes of meeting a kindred spirit. Instead, I met women eager to climb the social ladder. Rather than finding companionship, I was met with competition.  Perfectly manicured size six women wearing the latest swag, talking about Caribbean cruises, and which hot tub to install were not usually in my circle of friends. Invited to parties at the country club, and to join the Junior ... continue reading...

Hope in the New Normal

Normal is just a setting on the washer in-between "wrinkle control" and "bulky sheets". COVID-19 has hijacked our lives and replaced it with a new normal; lying somewhere between hand wash and deep water wash, leaving hands and hearts sore or living in plastic gloves and fear. Where do we find hope in this new normal? Do you find yourself vacillating between trying to control the wrinkles in your schedule but needing to wrestle with the heavier matters of bulky sheets instead? How do we ... continue reading...

Does God really have a purpose for our lives?

It's been ten years since I was jolted awake to hear my younger sister's frantic voice on my answering machine. "Cindy, Cindy, wake up! Cindy, please answer the phone!" I don't know how many times she called before I finally woke up. Stumbling into the kitchen at 1:30 a.m., she'd hung up before I could reach the phone. My husband, now fully awakened, joined me. Anticipating bad news, he returned the call. As he dialed the number and spoke to my sister, I watched the color run out ... continue reading...

Resurrection’s Freedom

This may be my favorite kindergartner's response to the writing prompt, "Dear Jesus, Thank you for dying for my sin of..." I'm pretty sure this student was thinking about classroom behavior and the need for self-control, but it got me thinking about my behavior and my need as well. Self-control lays the foundation for healthy choices, and not just the eating and drinking kind. What we watch, what we think and say, what we fear, and even what we regret can all spin out of control if we have ... continue reading...

I came out of the closet

It's been 90 days since I came out of the closet. The Glutton Closet that is. The sugar sirens have finally stopped luring me into a stupor. For the first time in my life, I can honestly say I have hope to conquer my cravings. For three months now, God has given me the strength to overcome my natural desire to consume sugar on a daily basis. This supernatural strength has been nothing short of a miracle for me. The miracle came when I stepped out of the dark closet of ... continue reading...