For some, leaving Christmas decorations up into January (or after!) is a way to hold on to the joyous scenes of the season. For me, I prefer to spend the week between Christmas and New Year's slowly but surely taking down the last trace of tinsel. My household celebrates and decorates Christmas big—down to each room getting a makeover, from our vintage Christmas cottage comforter to the ice-skating Mickey & Minnie shower curtain in our daughter's bathroom. Simplifying and cle

Advent tells a different story: Love entered the imperfect and chose to come close.

Faith allows me to know that even though I’m often caught unaware by my life circumstances, God never is.  He’s already planned how to work through them for my good (Romans 8:28).  It’s hope of God moving in all things that allows me to move forward with joy and freedom, tackling my issues with faith instead of being dominated by them.

Even at night when my thoughts trouble me, I will bless the Lord… but learning to release control was not as easy as I wanted it to be.

When you feel like you’re not enough, remember: your worth isn’t defined by rejection or circumstances. True strength and peace come from anchoring your identity in Christ’s unshakable love.

I struggled with the cross after Jonathan died. Still, the Cross whispered truth.

He alone can turn my mourning into dancing and put my pain to good purpose.