To the Man I Thought Was ‘The One’

To the Man I Thought Was “The One,” or my “Almost, Not Quite Love”:

This is the last time I will ever write about you. I’ve given you pages, chapters, BOOKS of my life…but now it’s time for me to write a new story now. One without you in it.

I’m ready to do that now. But to start a new chapter, you must first close the old one.

For years I asked God to bring closure to » Read More

A Beautifully Uncertain 31-Day Challenge: Week Two

I hope everyone enjoyed Week One of the challenge! I have to say…I think I’m even more excited about Week Two!!!!

To recap: I decided to do things a little differently in 2016. This year, I’m inviting you to ditch the resolutions and instead start a New Year’s REVOLUTION with me, in the form of achieving one very simple, attainable goal each day. Since so many of us are in seasons of waiting (waiting for love, waiting for » Read More

Let the Sun Go Down On 2015

I snapped this picture of the sunset last night and it occurred to me as I drove into one of the last sunsets of 2015…What if we just let the sun go down on all our mistakes this year? Our losses? The times we wanted so badly for the answer to be yes but it was no? The times we tried our hardest and still failed? The tears we cried, the friends we lost, the first » Read More

Dash of Sass: Whatever You’re Facing Today, Tomorrow Is On Its Way

I have a dear friend going through a big heartbreak right now…and this morning she texted me “How is it possible for this to still hurt me so horribly?” And I texted her back: “It hurts because you’re human, and because you were vulnerable with someone who didn’t value your heart and THAT’S NOT ON YOU…” And you know what? It also hurts because she’s stuck in the Today of it all. The newness of » Read More

Dash of Sass: Sentence, Chapter, or Book?

You know what? Sometimes this happens in life…we dedicate entire chapters and books to people who barely give us a footnote in the story of their lives. I’ve done it. I did it – literally! For years I tried to cast someone as the romantic lead in my story who hadn’t even auditioned for the part. And there are moments I want to take my book I’ve Never Been to Vegas but My Luggage Has » Read More

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

Dash of Sass: You Did All You Could. Now Let Go.

Maybe there wasn’t one thing you could have done differently to make things turn out differently. Maybe you did all you could (and then some). Maybe you should give yourself a break. Maybe, just maybe, you tried to love someone who didn’t love themselves enough to accept your love. Maybe the fact that you simply cared shows how brave you are. Maybe next time your efforts will be matched by someone who appreciates everything you » Read More

Dash of Sass: Why a Bad Relationship Can Be a Blessing

If you’ve been single for any amount of time, you’ve been in at least a few less-than-ideal relationships (that’s my polite way of saying horrible relationships) and the temptation can be to grow weary and frustrated and even disillusioned when true love seems to very elusive. However, dear friends, there is no better way to really figure out what you’re looking for from life and especially from love than by experiencing what you don’t. The » Read More

We Are All…The Single Woman

The following is an excerpt from my book The Single Woman: Life, Love, & a Dash of Sass:

Instead of “single & fabulous,” the life of a single woman in her late 20’s and beyond is all too often labeled “single & desperate.” Instead of viewed as a choice, “single” seems to denote a lack of options. Everyone seems to want to meddle in the life of the woman who refuses to settle; setting her up on » Read More

What Does Letting Go Look Like?

HOW do you let go and move on from ANYTHING in your life that no longer fits, no longer works, no longer brings you joy but pain, no longer brings you sunshine but rain?
Here’s how:
You take a deep breath, you say the words that you never imagined yourself saying, and you walk away. Battle-scarred and scared and unsure about the future as you may be, when you KNOW in your heart that this is not » 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