July 25, 201516 Comments
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
March 28, 20159 Comments
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
March 24, 201534 Comments
Wait. Don’t lose your cool, don’t assume the worst, don’t jump to conclusions. Don’t throw in the towel and say “God must have forgotten about me” or surrender to the idea that change is never coming or give up hope of ever falling in love or listen to the naysayers who want you to believe you’ll never find your way. WAIT. Breathe. Give things time to work out. Let God bring things to pass in … » Read More
January 22, 201530 Comments
I didn’t write this quote, but this could well be my mantra for 2015. RELAX, I just keep hearing God whisper into my spirit. Stop striving. Stop seeking after things that others have. Stop DOING so much and just learn to BE. Because here’s the thing. You can easily scroll through Twitter or Facebook or any other social media stream at any given time on any given day and feel completely lacking and inadequate when … » Read More
December 20, 20148 Comments
There’s a ranch kitty, Effie, who I have bonded with who sort of seems to consider my deck her unofficial home. Because she’s out there so much, I’ve put a bowl out just for her and have started feeding her. Effie has taught me such a lesson in patience. I will often wake up and see her sitting so still and quiet in front of my front door, obviously hoping I am coming to feed … » Read More
December 8, 201486 Comments
I’ve been trying to come up with a fun “single” twist on Advent season for the past week and I haven’t had much luck. The truth is, it can be easy as a single woman to feel a bit alienated from the mainstream Christmas traditions and books and such, as they are mostly family-oriented in nature and often serve to remind us singles that we don’t yet have a family. We shop for Christmas presents … » Read More
November 22, 201439 Comments
I started this blogging challenge over a year ago and I’ve only worked my way up to Day 18…though the timing of writing this particular blog is so perfect, I can’t help but believe that even in our busyness and forgetfulness and procrastination, God’s timetable still manages to have its way with us.
I’ve just finished reading Every Bitter Thing is Sweet by Sara Hagerty, and though she’s married with five kids, I saw so many … » Read More
October 28, 201441 Comments
Sometimes we get mad and frustrated when we don’t find what we’re looking for. Or sometimes we find what we’re looking for but it’s not looking for us. But what we can’t see at the time is that the things that we DON’T find are the things that were never meant for us anyway. Pause a moment and consider the fact that maybe you haven’t found that dream job yet because God knows there’s a … » Read More
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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.
