I was bursting at the seams with stories from engagement and the wedding, and I think there are a few reasons I shelved them instead of posting them right away. Engagement was a whirlwind, then I was in such a happy blur from the wedding that I needed time to write and process. And then … Continue reading The Wedding Scoop
choices
My Birth Story, Part II: Labor and Delivery
If you missed part I, go read it first! The best way I can describe what a natural birth without pain medications felt like to me is a marathon. If you've ever run a marathon, you know what a muscle cramp feels like, and that you can't think "I can't do this" or overthink about … Continue reading My Birth Story, Part II: Labor and Delivery
My Birth Story, Part I: Pregnancy and War
You wouldn't think the two would go together, pregnancy and war, but oh, they do. From the minute I started even thinking my body might be hosting a new life in the near future, I started preparing. I started taking prenatal vitamins 4 months (yes, pretty much right when we got engaged) before the wedding, … Continue reading My Birth Story, Part I: Pregnancy and War
The Disease of Hatred
I've been silent for months, just being "in my life" and enjoying being engaged and getting married and being a newlywed. My day-to-day home life has been overall very, very positive. I have been overwhelmed with thanksgiving, peace, and love. Then I log on to Facebook and I am bombarded by hatred. I glimpse the … Continue reading The Disease of Hatred
Why I’ve Been Silent
I used to write about once a week, sometimes twice. I also used to write a devotional every single day. All these things went out to a set list of readers, straight to their email inbox. Then life got a bit more complicated for me on the emotional zone. I began to feel that this … Continue reading Why I’ve Been Silent
A Stranger’s Party
Last month, I was invited to a party for a stranger. I was in the middle of doing something else, and the invitation surprised me. I accepted. I found myself sitting at a table, surrounded by people I didn't know. We laughed. I was offered food, and I realized I was really hungry. I ate, … Continue reading A Stranger’s Party
Bitter and Sweet
My warm cup of very caffeinated coffee cheered me on to a new morning. I was so proud of myself for managing to drink it without sugar, only with a heavy pour of unsweetened soy milk. It was a perfect traveling mug of goodness. By itself, that is. In my lunchbox (yes, I'm four and … Continue reading Bitter and Sweet
I Accept
The love of God. The forgiveness of Jesus. The counsel of the Holy Spirit. I took the quickest moment, in the midst of the anxiety I felt in my stomach, and I whispered a prayer that messed me up. I'm talking snot and tears everywhere. I said "I accept Your forgiveness, Jesus." Apparently that's all … Continue reading I Accept
God Isn’t Willy Wonka
Have you ever found yourself greatly discouraged and flipped through your own notes/pictures/prayers with God, and those scribbles ministered to you? Yep. I'm discovering through a really rough season that my faith in God is a foundation. You can't tear down a wall without running into your foundation. It's incredibly important to solidify your faith, to … Continue reading God Isn’t Willy Wonka
Trolls and My Vain Book Cover Story
Did you know that I put my face on the cover of my first book? There's a story behind that picture, and I'll get to that, but first, let's talk about trolling. I got some hate mail today. The sad part is this person doesn't know me at all. And for that exact reason, I … Continue reading Trolls and My Vain Book Cover Story
Hey Hey Helena 