Merry Christmas, Single Ladies…

My dear friends…it’s that time of year again when being single can…well, sort of suck. When the happy family outing pictures from your married and taken friends on your Facebook feed seems to be on steroids. When you just can’t seem to muster the desire or will to rock around the Christmas tree as a party of one. But never fear. If you’re feeling especially solo this Christmas, I’m here to bring you good tidings of » 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

2015 Was a Hard Year

It’s been a hard year.

2015 has been a hard year.

I’ve hesitated to write about it in-depth up til this point because I don’t think I was ready to see it all in words, on a piece of paper. I didn’t want to seem negative or whiny or discouraging. I didn’t want to be that vulnerable. 2015 was the year I became less vulnerable, and I hate it. I’m more guarded now…less open, less trusting. And » Read More

Dash of Sass: Palms Up. Palms Open.

A reader reminded me of this quote from my book “I’ve Never Been to Vegas But My Luggage Has” over the weekend and I wanted to share it with you guys along with a revelation I received a couple of days ago. During my prayer time the other day, God reminded me that the posture for releasing something and the posture for receiving something else is identical: Palms up. Palms open. Not clenched tightly together » Read More

Endings…& Beginnings

I’m leaving the ranch.

For those of you who follow my Instagram feed, you know that for the past year I’ve lived at a peaceful little ranch (the road to the ranch is pictured in the photo here) out in the country that is almost too beautiful to be real. And you might be surprised to learn that I’m leaving, given how much affection I have for this place, this magical place, that saw so many ups » Read More

You Are Not Invisible

Sometimes I feel particularly invisible to the opposite sex. Kind of like Harry Potter tossed his magical Cloak of Invisibility around me when I wasn’t looking and then darted off to go do whatever it is Harry Potter is doing these days. (Of course, old Harry is a male so he probably didn’t see me in the first place!) But seriously…as much as the idea of having a super power appeals to me, I could » Read More

40 Days of Surrender

As a follow-up to 40 Days to Feeling Good, my dear friend Caroline and I have decided to kick off 40 Days of Surrender, and we want to invite all of YOU to join in with us! Basically the goal of this process (for me, at least) is to learn to loosen my grip on the things that I can’t control (which is most things). To stop trying to force and manipulate and endlessly overthink life and » Read More

Dash of Sass: God’s Plan Vs. Our Plan

How many times do we get angry and upset with God, thinking He has forgotten us or is ignoring us or isn’t answering our prayer? Only to later look back and see how detrimental it would have been to us had He brought us the thing we were begging for and thought we couldn’t live without? We’re stuck down here in the details of everyday life, but God sees all. He sees the big picture. » Read More

Ten Easy Ways to Instantly Improve Your Mood & Increase Your Confidence

•Let yourself off the hook a little.•Be kinder to you.•Speak to yourself the way you would a friend.•Show yourself grace.•Realize that no one’s life is perfect and stop comparing your bloopers to their highlight reel.•Forgive yourself. You are doing the best you can.•Replace the negative self-talk with positive affirmations.•Begin each day with gratitude.•Stay mindful and present. Leave the past in the past and let the future take care of itself.•Accept everything about yourself, because God » Read More

And Then Suddenly…Everything Changed

This winter in Tennessee seemed to stretch on forever. One gray, cold day after another passed…the trees bare and stripped of life, the flowers hidden far beneath the winter snow, the sky heavy with clouds that looked like they might never part. Every day for the past few weeks I have looked around as I drove these country roads home, searching for any sign of LIFE. I remember even saying to my mom: “Why is » 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