I am unashamed of the gospel and a follower of Jesus.
I learned to HOPE: hang onto possible endings, through my daughter’s teen pregnancy, my mother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, and the tragic death of my sister. It was a year from hell that God turned into hope.
I am married to my college sweetheart, Tom.
We have an imperfect marriage and life hasn’t been easy. Despite unforeseen and unwanted circumstances over the years, by God’s grace, we are still in love as we approach the 40- year milestone.
Three beautiful daughters are among my closest friends. We enjoy shopping, crafting, and baking together. Spa and dance nights have given us some fun memories. I love being Nana to Bradyn, Avery, Myles, Audrey, Caroline, and Eli.
I reside in St. Joseph, Missouri; where the Pony Express began and Jesse James ended. Weekdays find me teaching little hearts how to read, write, and love Jesus at St. Joseph Christian School, where I teach kindergarten.
Evenings and weekends might be filled with adventures with grandchildren, hanging out with my daughters, mentoring young women, preparing to speak, teaching Bible studies or writing. I also look forward to date nights with my husband.
I love all things crafty, baking, and planning parties. Reading historical fiction and watching movies help me relax and give me a new perspective.
My father died when I was 15. Thankfully, he was saved the year before cancer consumed his body.
My mother, although she loved Jesus, spent most of her adult life dealing with stress and anxiety. Health issues plagued her, then Alzheimer’s hijacked her. Recently she found freedom when she moved into heaven.
Four siblings have taught me many things about conflict resolution, forgiveness, overlooking offenses, joy despite circumstances, loyalty, and unconditional love. The death of my sister in a car accident taught me to trust in the sovereignty of God.
Transparency and authenticity are important to me as I follow my Lord and Savior. Life can be hard. But I’ve learned I can do hard things, because God gives grace; and it really is sufficient for me.
Sharing God moments fuels my faith and infuses me with hope. “Yay God” is one of my favorite sayings. My desire is to encourage, challenge and inspire you to find joy in your journey through life. If you’re skeptical about God, I pray this blog shows you how real he is. If you’re disillusioned with religion, I pray you’ll find truth in a relationship. If you’re a committed follower, I hope you find the courage to share your story someday. We are alive for such a time as this. We can hold out hope for others as we hang onto possible endings together.
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12
I’d love to hear from you.