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High-waisted Pants and Emotional Muffin Tops

in (In)Courage· Colorado· Friendship

As I readied myself for church on Sunday, I pulled a new pair of jeans from the closet — wide-legged jeans with a super high waist. They’re on trend, people, and I am here for them in every way. As I zipped up this blessed piece of clothing all the way north of my belly button, I thought, Where have…
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When You Must Walk Through Life-Stirring Change

in (In)Courage· Change· Courage· Faith in Action

I swivel in my office chair, wrap my hands around my chai latte, and think to myself, “Now, if I could only wrap my head around this writing project due soon . . .” I move up to my desk and tap tap tap a couple sentences on my trusty laptop, then look up to stare outside the window. Tap, tap, tap, prop…
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For the Mama of the Graduate

in Courage· Faith in Action· Family· Parenting· Teens

I stand over the kitchen sink, eyeing several familiar Eskimo Joe’s cups in its open mouth. My son James, the one who brought the cups from his room some time ago, rummages through a cabinet. “Uh, James darlin’,” I say, pointing at the stacks of colorful plastic cups. “Do you plan to put these in the dishwasher or do you…
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A Peek into Our Kids’ Futures

in Change· Faith in Action· Family· Parenting· Teens

As the sun slides behind the front range mountains of our Colorado town, my family of five slides into our seats for a late dinner at home. Over tasty Change Your Life Chicken, Ethan asks me to retell a story from his when-he-was-little years. I set my fork down, run my paper napkin across my mouth before placing it next…
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When You’re Outside—Or Inside—the Clique

in (In)Courage· Change· Friendship

After moving to the sparsely landscaped Albuquerque, New Mexico, I discovered the most vibrant group of friends within a local church’s Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) group. When the day dawned on our second year in that arid desert town, I eagerly anticipated joining MOPS once again and connecting with those same awash-with-life mamas. The morning of our first gathering, I…
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How to Build a Life Remembered by Others

in Faith· Faith in Action· Family· Goodbyes· Home

Perhaps like you, I learned in the early morning hours of February 21st that Billy Graham had died at 99 years of age. And as my daughter and I wound our way through the slushy, snowy roads toward her school that day, we listened as our radio station payed tribute to this man who for so many was a hero…
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Waiting for Comets

in (In)Courage· Parenting· Teens· waiting

I’m tap tap taping on my keyboard inside the Starbucks at Target when a dad carrying two infant carriers, one in each hand like barbells, comes in to sit at the table next to me. The carriers are draped with matching sky-blue blankets, and I smile knowing it’s likely twin boys snugged under them. Since I’m also the mama of…
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Letting Christmas Linger

in Christmas· Family· Rest

I’m sitting here savoring the last bite of my velvety smooth cinnamon roll (delicious rolls a result of the pioneer woman’s easy to follow recipe rather than any of my own baking skillz). As I lick the butter and powdered sugar frosting off my fingers, I can’t help but be thankful it isn’t this time last week. While I usually…
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The Bookend Years of Parenting

in Family· Fear· Parenting· Teens

Today, I googled “men’s jeans with a 38 inch inseam.” And after traveling the superhighways of the internet for a good while, I finally reached the desired destination thanks to the Levi’s website. Bravo, Levi’s 505 blues, for coming through for my long-limbed, tree-man son.  Kids keep on growin’ on, especially when we’re not looking. If yours are 18 like…
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Recalibrating Our Hearts

in (In)Courage· Family· Gratitude Attitude· Thanksgiving

I sit at the Thanksgiving table of my in-laws, rub my full-to-the-brim middle and swear I won’t eat another bite till Christmas. Even as I say it, I swirl my fork on my dessert plate to catch the last salty-sweetness of pecan pie. While my husband talks with his brother Andy about how their alma mater, Oklahoma State, fared this…
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Looking for Friends in Unlikely Places

in (In)Courage· Being a Woman· Family· Friendship

It was a bright July morning in London this past summer when my husband, kids and I stepped out of our Air B&B flat to the sun-streaked pathway outside. As we started our walk toward South Kensington, we met up with a woman living in another flat down the row from ours. She said hello to us and kindly commented…
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A Prayer for Those Suffering Loss

in Loss· Prayer

When the news rolled in about the shootings in Las Vegas early Monday, I immediately prayed for the Lord to be close to those who had faced unimaginable horror. And after my sons left for school, my daughter and I climbed in my car, driving down pine-lined roads toward her school. We listened to radio reports of the events, both…
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On Instagram

Instagram post 2199853494775878211_27499051 It’s snowing now, I cut plenty o’ pine branches for the mantel, and I saw three deer across the road.

Christmas in Colorado🌲 is incredibly idyllic, and I’m mighty fond of it.

What do you love about Christmas🎄in your neck of the woods?
Instagram post 2196740842864252945_27499051 Do you have a favorite activity that adds to your or your family's daily rhythm during the Christmas and winter season?
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For me, it’s lighting candles. I light candles simply because they add warmth and cheer. And during this time of Advent, the candlelight reminds me that Jesus, the Light of the world, came to light the way for each one of us to belong.
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#whereIbelongwednesday
Instagram post 2194696375777061748_27499051 “Hospitality has a hidden power that is difficult to explain but even harder to deny.” ~Margaret Feinberg, Taste and See: Discovering God Among the Butchers, Bakers, and Fresh Food Makers.
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I’ve been thinking long and hard about how I can better reflect a hospitable spirit to those in my life. How do you practice everyday hospitality?
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If there’s one who goes the distance to show you a hospitable spirit in your own life, tag 🏷 him or her in the comments below!
Instagram post 2190243021252204401_27499051 This pretty little thing might just make the perfect stocking stuffer for someone who:
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📦Moved to a new town or state and is trying to find her people.
👶Has a new baby and is trying to figure out her new role as mama.
🧳Is still getting used to her first or final kiddo moving away from home.
🤔Changed employment and isn’t sure of her place within her new job.
😟Sits in a new season or environment and worries she’s too much or not enough.
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Basically, it’s for anyone experiencing a crisis of belonging and wants a companion 👋🏼moving through it.
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Right now, both Amazon and Target have #backroadstobelonging for under $10. (Right now, its only $6.36 on Amazon when you apply a $3.43 coupon.😱🎉) Note that Target has it via their website (not in stores) + extra deals on top of the low price. Swipe to see this book’s big sister, #girlmeetschange, which is available for around $10 on Amazon, too! Check my profile for links to purchase.
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🏷 Tag a friend who could use a little holiday help with change and belonging, and check out the hashtag #fromthebookstack to see other book recommendations for those on your Christmas list. 🌲📚
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