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Dare to Be Imperfect: Freedom Found In Grace
My daughter adores the movie about the little red, yellow, green, blue and purple people that live in a little girl’s mind. You know the one where each person represents a different emotion and they help guide her through adolescence. Well, in the movie, they talk about core memories and how it makes the girl…
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True Freedom
Why are there no knock-knock jokes about America? Because freedom rings! Okay, okay. That was corny, but hopefully, I have your attention or at least a smile. I don’t know about you, but I have taken my freedom for granted almost my entire life. I was always told that living in America, I was free.…
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Freedom From Fear
I have never understood the fascination people seem to have with being scared on purpose. I am not a big fan of haunted houses, horror movies, or roller coasters anymore. When I was younger I participated in my fair share of amusement park rides but as I’ve gotten older it has lost its appeal. I…
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Finding Family
Let’s be honest: most of us did not grow up in a house that looked like a Hallmark Christmas movie. (Although, I do have a good friend whose hometown could LITERALLY be the scene of one.) My husband and I both came from less-than-picture-perfect homes, think more dramatic reality TV than picturesque TV sitcoms. But…
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A Family Restored
I love the book of Ruth. If you haven’t read it in a while I encourage you to read it (or listen to it) this week. It’s the story of a family; an unconventional one. Those are my favorite kinds of families because it looks more like mine that way. In this story, Ruth is…
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Blood Is Thicker Than Water
I’ve heard this said countless times while growing up. If I was fighting or arguing with my siblings, or expressed anger at a family member, someone was always quick to remind me that “Blood is thicker than water. You’ll get over it, if only because you have to.” It makes sense, doesn’t it? Blood as…
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Discovering Faith, Hope and Love Through My Family
“Where is he going?” I asked myself as I watched my father hike up a mountain in the middle of the Arizona desert. Rest assured, this was a normal vacation occurrence for the Young Family. However, he took the car keys with him and left us in the car with no air conditioning. What were…
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Hope & Encouragement for Caregivers
I have struggled with how to write this blog for several weeks. I called a friend for prayer and I told her that I was struggling with how to bring hope and encouragement to others in a part of my life where I often need it too. She encouraged me to share what I’ve learned…
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Mental Heath Care Through Grief
“The pain I feel now is the happiness I had before. That’s the deal” –C.S. Lewis I grew up untouched by sorrow and unacquainted with grief. I literally grew up in a home with a white picket fence and a loving family. I was never hungry or went without necessities, and almost all of my…
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The Thorns In My Mind
I’m going to be honest, I can’t remember who on our blog team suggested the topic of mental health for this month. But whether by divine appointment or by coincidence, I’m grateful for the opportunity, because this conversation is long overdue in the church. I’ve long been an advocate for open and honest discussions about…