Shadows are everywhere we go. With every step we take, there is a shadow lurking in the wind. How often have you looked at someone else’s life and circumstances, wondering he or she got to the place they are? How did she get that promotion? How did he get with her? How does she get all of that done? How did she learn how to speak so well? How did they afford that house? If you’re anything like me, when you start to make assumptions on how things are going for people around you, you end up comparing yourself against that person.                                          What did she do that I didn’t do?                                          What does he know that I don’t know?                                          Who does she know that I don’t know? You wonder how things for them turned out the way they did. You question what you could have done differently to reach those same ‘desired’ results. You start to doubt yourself. This doubt starts the d

Gobble! Gobble! It’s Turkey Day! Have you earned your meal? Family sitting around a table. Multiple generations represented. Everyone smiling, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company. Music playing in the background. Children as happy as can be. People reunited. Connections re-established. Memories re-lived. Isn’t this what Thanksgiving Day is all about? 1.        Leave the difficult past in the past . Instead of focusing on who hurt you, focus on how you grew from the experience. There’s a reason why things happened in your life. You may not yet understand that purpose, but trust me, there is one. Instead of dwelling on the pain of the past, focus on the hope of the future. 2.        Don’t get overconsumed in the marketplace . Yes, it can be loads of fun to go out into the masses for Black Friday shopping. But don’t lost sight of what’s important. Thanksgiving is a time of togetherness. Don’t abandon your loved ones to go waste time and money. Moments of togetherness ca

“Mom, does Maddison have a running activity tonight?” “No, why?” “Do you want to go to a softball game? If not, it’s okay because there will be other games.” No, we did not go to the game. Was I interested in watching a softball game that she was not playing in? No. Did I have something else planned at home? No. Was there a financial lost in attending the game? No. Guess what?! We did not go to the game.    This was odd because I typically find a way to say YES to everything. After all, how can I say to these beautiful faces? We are coming up on a new year and will be implementing new rules. It is not okay for my daughters to think that they completely control my schedule. Yes, I knew when I had children that a majority of my time would go to them. Yes, I know that they did not ask to be here and that their cultivation is my responsibility. However, I am learning more and more that it’s important to set boundaries for myself. I am learning that I am only as good to others, as I

Have you ever had to tell someone around you to watch their step? “That’s an ant bed!” It’s identifiable by a mound of dirt that has lots of tiny holes. It’s low to the ground so if you’re not really zoned in, you could miss it. Unfortunately though, some of us miss the warning signs and feel the impact after our toes our itching and our feet are covered in small bumps from ant bites. Our lives are much like this. Some of the smallest, most discreet situations trip us up. There are warning signs but we sometimes miss them. It’s amazing how such a small thing can have such a stinging impact. In spite of how annoying ants can be, there are some unique characteristics of an ant that we can all learn from. Even Proverbs 6:6 urges us to “ Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! ” What is it about the ‘ant’ that makes it so wise and powerful? For one thing, ants have a strong, effective way of communicating with other ants. Like with humans, pheromones are