Three Guiding Principles of Relationships: Embracing the Journey
Relationships are a mystery, don't you agree? You've probably heard the saying, “Some people are in your life for a reason, some for a season, and some for a lifetime.”…
Unlearning Learned Helplessness
On Saturday, I did the quintessential single-mom thing – I learned to mow my own lawn. I had put this off for a while. Why? Learned helplessness. Of course, I…
In Praise of My Husband on Husband’s Day this April
In Praise of a Husband? I can hear what you're thinking, this is a women's blog! I know, I know, but I want to spotlight how important men and husbands…
The Perfectionist Trap
Do you tend to evaluate your worth in terms of your performance or achievements? Beat yourself up whenever you make the smallest mistake? Find it hard to relax and accept…
The Lies and Truth of Marriage: Growing Together and Apart
The lies of marriage make it difficult to have a "happy" or "thriving marriage, the truth is we grow together and apart. Here I am learning how to let go…
Embarking on Growth: Purple Sweet Potatoes Brought Me Closer to My Grandfather
"Where there is no gardener there is no garden." -Wolfgang von Goethe . This quote reminds me of a conversation that my grandfather and I had after we lost my…
7 Tips to Set Healthy Boundaries with Our Relationships
"Being human is hard not because you're doing it wrong, it's hard because your doing it right." Glennon Doyle, Untamed How can we set boundaries in our relationships and especially…
Parenting Adult Kids is Hard: 4 Lessons I’ve Learned
It's been two years since my twins moved into college dorms and began "adulting" as they describe it. These years of empty-nesting were supposed to be relaxing and stress-free. I…
Where My Girls At? Cheers to the Low Maintenance Friends
This Is A Shout-Out to the Low Maintenance Friend. She’s been on my heart lately and I just wanted to take a minute to tell her how much she means…
Spring: Moving From A Long, Dark Winter to Restored Hope
Awakened by tweeting and the singing of birds outside my window, my heart did a flip and my spirit soared. What a welcomed sound! It was the reminder I needed…
Expectations Got in the Way of My Happiness: How to Let Go of Control
Okay, I know what you're thinking. How can expectations get in your way of happiness? You have to have expectations to achieve more. How do your children achieve the high…
Calling All Peacemakers: Making Peace with the Need to Keep the Peace
Being a peacemaker is a lot of work. I’ve been trying to keep the peace in one way or another, with one person or another, for years. And in today’s…
Embracing Distraction with Kindness: Tips for Intentional Writing
With my cup of coffee steaming, the notion was simple: it was the perfect morning to enjoy some creative writing. Free from any plans and distraction-free, I was excited to…
To My Partner: Thank You for Your Investment in My Friendships
Months ago, pre-Covid, as I cleaned up after the gathering of friends we had hosted for dinner, a stack of dishes stared indifferently back at me from my sink. I…
Three Ways to Overcome The Challenges of Being a Caregiver
Being a caregiver can be very challenging and sometimes difficult to overcome but it can be done. On January 31, 2017, the rest of mine and my mother's lives changed…
Change: Transitioning Well Through the Different Seasons of Life
As she entered this world, she needed me to physically care for her every need. It was essential that she have me hold, change, feed, bathe, clothe, and nurture her. Then,…
Before You Break His Heart: A Letter to the First to Break My Son’s Heart
Dear First, Before you break his heart, will you hear me out? As I write this, there is a precious, 8-year-old boy asleep in the other room. He has a…
Sensitivity and Imagery: The Meaning and How They Impact You
Are you someone who is sensitive? If you are, do you sometimes ask yourself or just question, "Why am I so sensitive?" I have many times throughout my life, so…
The Gift of a Sister: The Journey of Togetherness
A giggle escaped from across the backseat of the crowded Ford Super Cab pick-up truck. An exasperated groan escaped my lips as, yet again, my little sister crossed the boundary…
My Husband’s Happiness is Not My Responsibility
June 30, 2002, I walked into a random church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Little did I know that a handsome man would hit on me there and later become my…
The Surprising Benefits of Conflict
Many people do not recognize the benefits of conflict. Instead, they avoid it at all costs. They've been trained to be nice, and conflict just seems so "ugly." Witnessing conflict…
Best Friends: Celebrating the Relationships Between Women
My best friend of almost 34 years is a wonderful human being. I don't really know where I'd be without her. Her husband sometimes jokes that we share a brain,…
Growing Through Rejection, Indifference, and Self Preservation
I was fourteen years old as I stepped off the school bus. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I had just experienced deep rejection. Behind me, the voices of former…
From 30 to 40, a Decade of Transformation
For me, the time between 30 and 40 was truly a decade of transformation. Sometimes it can feel like we haven't accomplished much. Usually, though, when we take time to…
Empowered Women Should Not Equal Disempowered Men
I would say that I got onto my own path of empowerment in my early 20's. I was a single mom with my daughter for 8 years, went to college…
Love and Kindness Go Together: A Relationship Reminder
Love and kindness go together. They really do. In my 20 years as a counselor, I've been astounded at how many people say and do the most unkind things in…
Sleep Deprivation: Affecting Your Daily Function, Relationship and Sex Life
What is it about you having a lousy night’s sleep that makes everyone else seem so awful? Sleep deprivation is no joke when it comes to having children and the…
Holiday Blues: Coming Face to Face with Loneliness and Discovering Joy
It was a crisp autumn day, down under in the southern hemisphere of New Zealand. Wandering around the city of Auckland, I found myself people-watching while simultaneously soaking up my…
Going for the Win-Win: Decision Making in Relationships
We value strong, healthy relationships, but nothing can damage them more than poor decision making skills. Whether it is a spouse, sibling, long-time friend, or business partner, we want to stay close and feel connected. Going for the win-win is the solution to this problem.
I Got You, Babe: Creating Authentic Female Friendships
Every December for the last five years or so, when my husband and I sat down to list our goals and intentions for the next year, I’ve included “make new…
What Dancing with My Husband Taught Me
I used to be the girl who was afraid of dancing. I was afraid to be in front of other people and worried about what they might think. Picture this:…
I’ve Been That Girl! Forgiving Myself For Not Knowing Better
"Forgive yourself for not knowing better at the time. Forgive yourself for giving away your power. Forgive yourself for past behaviors. Forgive yourself for the survival patterns and traits you…
Embracing Gen Z: Learning to Relate Across the Generations
Allow me to be brutally honest. I struggle understanding adolescents and the young culture of today. It is more than not understanding their eye rolls or deep sighs upon, yet again,…
Mind Your Gurus: How to Manage All Those Voices We Follow
Jim Rohn, a renowned businessman, once said, "You're the average of the five people you spend most of your time with." In short he's saying we emulate who we surround…
My Reactive Behavior Almost Ruined My Marriage: What I’ve Learned
It's really hard to bring awareness to the parts of yourself that you don't like, especially when you hurt those you love the most.
Coming Clean: The Most Refreshing Benefits of Being Totally Honest
The truth is not always simple, as the saying goes. Ain’t that the truth! Over the last several years, as I grow older and a little wiser, I’ve had to…
It is What You Say it is: The Pivotal Power of Perspective
It was a warm summer evening and our family was taking a walk together, which is something we do often when the weather is nice. We were walking and talking…
Coffee, Love, and Other Things Important in My Life
My Coffee Pot died today…. well, kind of. It ALMOST died today...it was a tragedy for about 10 minutes. Don’t worry...I already had a new one bought in my head. …