General
Tunnel Living
Have you ever had a moment when hope or faith got a bit difficult to carry on your own? Or maybe you just decided to put them down because you didn’t see any reason to keep holding them so tightly. These moments can be the most scary and lonely places we find ourselves in. The other day I happened to have one of those moments, and when I feel one coming on there are a handful of people I reach out to. People who have earned the right to hear and be a part of my story, the good, bad and the very ugly. This time I tagged my sister in. I called and asked her if she could come over, thankfully she lives about 10 doors down. She said, “I’m on my...
Read MoreWhat do Blueberries have to do with Obedience?
Recently I took 21 kids from our youth group to SIFAT (Servants in Faith and Technology), in Lineville Alabama for what I would call a mission “Experience”. Now I have been on many mission trips, in country and out, but this was the most powerful and difficult thing I have done. I am still processing all that cracked my heart open and left my head spinning. One of the many lessons that I took home was something that was presented to us after the “Experience”. The program director, Addison spoke a lot on what missions meant, which for me came down to loving, no matter where I am or who I am with. It is what we are called to do. Then he brought up a...
Read MoreWe get wet, we get dry…We get dry, we get wet.
This past week I was hanging out, drinking coffee with this hip, funny, creative young man. We are friends. Actually he is friends with my big boys, but he somehow tumbled in became one of mine. We enjoy getting together for coffee to share, encourage and inspire each other. He reached out last week but I was busting a breakout to NC and could not meet until this week. When we finally got together and found a great perch to drink our coffee, I asked him, “What’s up?” He explained what the challenges had been the previous week and the messy emotions he didn’t quite understand yet, but said he was better. Time settled and heals most things. As we...
Read MoreWho are you?
Today a visiting preacher came to church to speak and I was tempted to stay home, warm and piddle. So glad I didn’t. I knew I loved him when he opened his mouth and said in his deep tone, “Temptation hovers over us like a flu virus!” How true is that? He told tales of how we all are tempted to lose our temper, cover things up, cheat when no one is looking, take the easy path, and not live up to be who we are. He was right, we easily forget and listen to who the world tells us we are or should be. Not smart enough, rich enough, skinny enough, good enough, attractive enough, or loved enough. We are tempted to figure out how to be who we think we need to...
Read MoreHalftime, Girl Talk and Landing Spots
I started out this year saying I was going to blog at least 3 times a week. Well, you can see how well that one went. I think that I have had so much in between my ears that I was afraid to actually write it! This is the year I turn 50. I am not scared, sad or upset about it like so many of my friends, but is has stirred a great deal within me. I feel incredibly blessed to have made it to the 50 mark with good health, 5 amazing children who like to be with me, a daughter in law that I enjoy and think of as my own. I have a job that I love, to be invited into others lives to watch them grow, let go, become and create the life they were born to live, what an honor. I...
Read MoreTHRIVE
Every year I ask my clients to pick ONE WORD that they want to define their New Year. In the past I have chosen Intentional, Health, and Leap. All words that were carried with me throughout the past years to hold me accountable. It really does work if the word can represent all areas of your life. This year, as I am heading towards 50, and after prayerful moments between the crazy Christmas time and ringing in the New Year, I decided on THRIVE. THRIVE: 1. to grow vigorously : flourish 2. to progress toward or realize a goal despite or because of circumstances. Yes, I like that word. I need to thrive. Some say, “Bloom where you are planted.” The point is...
Read More
Merrill Is a mother of 5 who has found her calling in sharing her experiences from life with others. She can help you break out of your routine to live life to its fullest potential.