Thankful For What I Have…Thankful For What I’ve Escaped

I am nearing the end of my One Thousand Gifts Devotional by Ann Voskamp. It holds 60 devotionals, and I’ve read through them slowly, savoring each one, because Ann’s writing is like poetry and I never want the book to end. And yet, here we are at the end. I have one more to read tomorrow and then I’m done.

There’s a place in the back of the devotional to list your own gifts. One to » Read More

Why I Think God Loves Single Women a Little Bit More

Sometimes my fingers literally start itching as inspiration strikes me, and I have to run and grab up my laptop and start writing immediately…let the words come tumbling out onto the page as fast as I can type before the moment escapes me and the idea gets tossed aside and forgotten.

As I was sitting and reading my daily devotionals this morning (and the number has grown to five. FIVE! Good grief.), I came to a » Read More

A Lesson in Gratitude, or, How the Little Things Became the Big Things

I’m sitting here in my tiny little kitchen that I don’t own…gazing out at my cozy little loft with the turquoise carpet that someone else picked out long before I ever arrived here…watching my sweet kitty, Prince Hairy, stalking a bug across the room, carefully following the bug’s path so he can “protect his domain.” (He never actually harms the bug, he just likes to monitor the bug’s every move.) Steam rises from my coffee » Read More

I Told You I Was Strong & Independent. I Lied.

It hit me yesterday that I talk regularly about how strong and independent I am as a single (and fabulous) woman…

…and yet, it’s all a big, gigantic LIE.

The message in church yesterday was about singleness and how our contentment can only be found in God, not in the safety of marriage or the independence of single life (Thank you, Pastor Trevor Atwood, for BRINGING IT). And as I sat there and listened and let the » Read More

Day 17: What Are Your Spiritual Beliefs and How Do They Impact Your Relationships/Relationship Status?

My spiritual beliefs are pretty simple. Jesus is Lord. And it impacts every single thing that I do, big or small…simple or complicated. You know how at the end of The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy turns to the Scarecrow and says: “I think I’ll miss you most of all”? Well, I think my walk with Jesus impacts my love life most of all.

God has saved me from toxic, damaging relationships. He has protected me from » Read More

Day 16: If You Planted a Time Capsule Right Now To Be Opened in 20 Years, What Would Be In It?

If I planted a time capsule right now that represented my life…what would be in it? Hmmm. I think I could probably fill it to the brim with books and call it a day. But that wouldn’t be very diverse, now would it?

There are the obvious things. My two books…words that will hopefully stand the test of time long after I’m gone. Writing is immortality, I suppose. It’s kind of nice knowing that 20 years » Read More

Quiet.

If every season of life has a word, I think the word for this season of my life is QUIET.

I’ve spent 35 years talking and analyzing and verbalizing and theorizing and chattering my days away. I’ve talked at other people and at God for far too long now. At what point does it stop being a conversation if you never just shut up and let the other person speak? I’m honestly tired of talking. Not » Read More

Where I’ve Been. Where I Am. Where I’m Going.

I’ve been on a bit of a “hiatus” for the past three months and I thought maybe it was time to explain myself.

Some of you may have noticed I haven’t been tweeting or blogging or posting on social media in general as much (or at all. My blog sadly hasn’t been updated since March until today and my Facebook page went largely neglected as well). Some of you might not have missed me at all. » Read More

Help Us Change the World, One Child at a Time

Dear friends:

As you guys know, we are currently in the midst of “The Sass, Class & Compassion Tour”…and as a matter of fact, are currently driving through some very beautiful mountains somewhere in West Virginia!

Our first few live events have been wonderful and we cannot wait to see all God has in store for the rest of the tour.

Some of you might be wondering why we chose to call this “The Sass, Class & Compassion » Read More

A Lady Never…

In honor of the release of my brand new book, I’ve Never Been to Vegas but My Luggage Has, I thought I’d put together a list of the Top Ten Things That a Lady Never Does, inspired by the book. So read, share, enjoy…and feel free to add your own thoughts about what a lady does (or doesn’t do) in the comments below! And also grab your copy of the book now anywhere books are » Read More

Something wonderful is on the horizon
Life doesn’t always look the way we want it to look. In Mandy’s upcoming book, Turn Toward the Sun: Releasing What If and Embracing What Is, you’ll find encouragement to live in the moment, sit with your experiences, and trust God with the unknown.
Preorder from Baker Book House for 40% off and free shipping!*
*US shipping only
Something wonderful is on the horizon
Turn Toward the Sun CoverLife doesn’t always look the way we want it to look. In Mandy’s upcoming book, Turn Toward the Sun: Releasing What If and Embracing What Is, you’ll find encouragement to live in the moment, sit with your experiences, and trust God with the unknown.
Preorder from Baker Book House for 40% off and free shipping!*
*US shipping only