Well, after 18 months I am back.

I never intended to take such a long hiatus but then, as you know, life happens. Demands pile up. And so many memories are being lived out that it can be tricky to stop and actually write about them.

Last year started out with a resounding word of breakthrough for our family. God was so clear in this, nailing it home for me 3 times in those first 11 days of 2017. But breakthrough is funny because in theory it carries loads of excitement and possibility, but in actuality it means the entrance of unexpected twists, turns, and transitions to nicely laid plans. We shouldn’t be too surprised when upheaval becomes the passageway to breakthrough.

And so came one significant happening after another last year, to the point that I am amazed at how much our circumstances have changed since I last wrote. It’s probably the amount of transition we lived mixed with starting a fresh new year and turning a year older (34 today!) that make me ready to write and create again. Fresh seasons do that for me.

So in an effort to dust off this blog, let’s play a game of catch-up with more writings to come in much less time than the previous one found here.

The biggest news of last year is that our Caden Asher came into this world late November (and quickly, might I add). We are totally in love with his unique mixture of chill and spunk. I remember so clearly on my birthday a year ago looking at Eloise and having this overwhelming sense that everything she adds is life and goodness. All I could see in her was a world-changer and it was in that moment that I became ready to grow our family, to add more life and value to the world around. The transition has been wild and full of all kinds of challenges (more thoughts coming soon), but my mama heart is unbelievably thankful for these two littles.

Another big thing that happened was that I officially graduated from seminary with my Masters in Divinity. It’s a fancy name for what was way more about the journey than that piece of paper at the end. But I have to say, when I held that diploma in my hands in May (which as you can see from the photo was ginormous), it felt amazing. Not because I am now qualified for something special, but because I completed something that was way more difficult than I ever imagined.

Most of our 5 years of marriage I’ve spent in school. In fact it was only 2.5 months in that I signed up for two seminary classes on a whim. By the time I questioned my choice and wondered if I should quit, I was committed. And one thing about me is that, even if it may kill me in the process, I rarely quit when I have purposed to see something through.

As I waited for my name to be called 4.5 years later, I felt like I could collapse, burst into tears, or fall asleep. Thankfully I made it across the stage with my diploma in hand, so clearly sensing the overwhelming pleasure of God. Because really, this crazy season of school was all about partnership with him.

Other exciting things that have happened?

Well, we packed up our life in Orlando, I said goodbye to an unbelievable community of moms who I had done life with day-in and day-out, and we moved back to Atlanta. It’s hard to put into words all the reasons why because ultimately it was God’s whisper we heard above all the practicalities, to-dos, and common sense of the matter. We sensed his leading, so we followed.

And finally, one exciting creative project for me is that I wrote my first book. It’s been a dream of mine for a decade and this summer I actually put those words down on paper. I clearly sensed as I entered my second trimester last summer that it was going to happen then, or it’d be a long time before I’d find space and time again. I just knew it was my season. And little by little it took shape to a completed rough draft, though it’s definitely still in process.

One reason I wanted to share about my book is because it’s my goal to get it released this year in tangible form. I want to hold it. I want others to hold it. And I want to contribute an offering of hope and promise for those stuck in the middle of life’s waiting. So I’d say this is my commitment made public that this will happen, because sometimes the best way to keep moving forward in a dream is to tell others exactly what that dream is.

But the other reason I share is because I’m guessing you, like me, may have come into this year with some half-finished or barely-started dreams from 2017. And in case you think you need to start afresh on everything, instead you can take those things, as imperfect or incomplete as you may deem them to be, and keep journeying with them. I think some of the boldest resolutions are the ones where we purpose to keep going with that dream, to keep believing for it and working towards it and holding it closely because we’re not willing to give up on ourselves.

I’m guessing that’s probably enough for your Thursday, but I’ll be back soon and I can’t wait to share more.

Get your free copy of
Live Here. Love Now.

6 Practices for Cultivating a Life of Presence, Purpose, and Power

Get the Ebook

You have Successfully Subscribed!

When you get this free ebook, you’ll also receive updates about future resources like this. However, nobody likes spam and you can unsubscribe any time.