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Grace is Messy

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Select a Month January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 June 2015 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 June 2013 April 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 September 2011 August 2011 May 2011 July 2010

June 2016

June 03, 2016

To My Grandfather. The One with Alzheimer’s.

You were the one I could always talk to about the things no one is...

June 02, 2016

When You Wish You Could End Your Pregnancy

I wanted out of the situation. I didn't want a new baby. I didn't want...

May 2016

May 26, 2016

I Cheated: Overcoming the Pain of Infidelity.

I ran into an ex-boyfriend, and we were still attracted to one another, and his...

May 24, 2016

Overcoming the Crippling Fear of Postpartum Depression

A baby is supposed to fill us with unspeakable joy, but for someone who has walked...

May 23, 2016

Miley Cyrus and How to Find Grace in the Midst of the Mess

I have found God in the midst of the mess. And I'll never be the...

May 19, 2016

I was molested. How to overcome the trauma of abuse.

*Trigger Warning: This story contains graphic details of child molestation.* To be a christian means...

May 11, 2016

How to Trust God Through Your Worst Nightmare

We pulled up to our new little cottage and just stared. This was it —...

May 07, 2016

To Those with Less-than-Perfect Moms on Mother’s Day

Do you have a less-than-perfect mother? Is she deceased and your memory of her doesn't...

May 05, 2016

When the Church Answers for My Marriage Weren’t Enough…

Steve and I had been passionately in love during the early years. Date nights, trips...

May 02, 2016

Why I am Teaching My Children to Make Friends with Fear

How and what are you teaching your children about fear? When you make friends with...

April 2016

April 24, 2016

On Target and How I’m Parenting Through Controversial Issues

When abuse is your first memory, it colors who you are. I was molested when...

April 06, 2016

Tangled in the Web of Postpartum Depression

Ben was born September 22. When he was placed in my arms the first time,...

March 2016

March 31, 2016

What a Crumbled Cake and a Broken Bottle of Wine Taught Me about Faith

I’ve not felt very spiritual lately. I’ve just felt busy. The Easter season is supposed...

March 27, 2016

Easter Baskets or Butter Bowls?

The people brought children to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. The disciples shooed them...

March 12, 2016

Learning to Believe I am Enough

Being enough. It’s a common phrase of author, researcher and public speaker, Brene’ Brown. My...

February 2016

February 25, 2016

Choosing to Forgive My Parents

What do you do when those who are supposed to raise you, care for you,...

February 18, 2016

I'm Not Mad at God.

I was supposed to be pregnant. After years of waiting, I’d carried a baby just...

February 16, 2016

God has Always Loved the Girl With the Ponytail

I was at a friend's house watching American Idol when I got a text message...

February 04, 2016

Living Through the Aftermath of My Mom's Suicide

I was twelve when my mom killed herself. My parents were divorced. My dad was...

January 2016

January 29, 2016

Happiness is the Enemy of Joy

It has been said that Hope is an anchor for the soul. And I think...

January 28, 2016

Time Travel, Potatoes, and Grace

For months, my counselor and I worked toward dealing with my emotions instead of shoving...

January 26, 2016

Pastor, Psych Ward, Crazy Good Parent

Janice Lindegard says, "Crazy Good Parent was born out of my frustration at looking for...

January 25, 2016

I'll Stop Watching Porn When…

All through middle school, I thought, I’ll stop watching porn when I get in high...

January 25, 2016

What a Car Wreck Taught Me about Marriage and Parenting

The impact of the other car jolted me awake. I pulled over, dazed, heart pounding,...

January 24, 2016

My Son isn't the Only One Having Tantrums

My four-year-old has had five meltdowns in the past two weeks. It’s a new record....

January 11, 2016

Daring to Trust: Life After My Husband’s Suicide Attempt

I will never forget how cold the tile floor was on that hot September afternoon,...

January 07, 2016

The World Needs Dreamers Like You

The day my son tried to catch an airplane encouraged me to never stop dreaming....

January 06, 2016

My Worst Parenting Moment Taught Me Life's Greatest Lesson

Life doesn't come with a user manual. Unfortunately, neither do children. You don't get a...

December 2015

December 30, 2015

I got my little boy a dog for Christmas and it helped heal my shame.

“Where did this dog come from? Is she coming home with us? Can she sit...

December 30, 2015

3 Ways to Start Over

I’ve made (and broken) several resolutions through the years, but for 2016, these are the...