I am a woman radically changed by the overwhelming love of an amazing God.
Growing up with a of a view of God as an impossible-to-please taskmaster kept me in a constant cycle of performing as I desperately tried to earn His approval.
My personal decades-long battle with autoimmune disease, combined with the pain of watching my son battle cystic fibrosis reinforced my view of a God who was indifferent to my pain. I knew in my head He was good. But my experience told me a different story. That truth had not made its way to my heart.
Mercifully, God opened my eyes to the “Real” God, not the god of performance I had been serving for so long.
As I made room for this “new” (to me) God in my heart and mind, He began to overwhelm me with His love. And bring spiritual, mental, emotional and physical healing that has left me completely changed.
The change in circumstances that i prayed for wasn’t the change I most desperately needed. I needed a change of heart. I needed a change in my view of God. I needed to know His heart. I needed a new and continual awareness of His overwhelming love.
God did a “new thing” in me and it is changing everything.
Step by step, He’s blessing me with a new revelation of who He is, healing my mind and heart and freeing me from my fears.
I say, “I want to know the destination.”
Jesus says, “Trust Me step by step.”
I say, “I want You to change my circumstances.”
Jesus says, “Allow Me to change your heart.”
I say, “I’m anxious about the future.”
Jesus says, “Rest in Me.”
I’m finding these to be hard, but beautifully freeing truths as we walk this life, friends.
My heart’s desire is to journey alongside women in the midst of all life’s messiness.
As we follow Jesus — step by step —we will find Peace, Love, Joy and so much more. Because He doesn’t just give us all those things. He IS all those things. And the more we are aware of His presence, the most we will experience all He has to offer. It’s there for the taking.
I hope you’ll join me on the journey.
I’m a graduate of Taylor University in Indiana with a degree in Mass Communications. I am also a Certified Professional Life Coach. I received my training from the Christian Coach Institute and the Institute of Life Coach Training, both accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the coaching industry’s gold standard credentialing body.
I am currently working toward my Master’s degree in Clinical Christian Counseling.
I spent most of my career as a freelance writer for healthcare companies. In my mid-20s, God began to spark in my heart a desire to write for and minister to women.
About 20 years ago, I began leading weekly women’s Bible studies. I’m currently my church’s Women’s Director. I lead studies, retreats, plan events and conferences and encourage women and ministry leaders to go deeper in their relationship with Jesus.
I also coach women to overcome barriers in all seasons and struggles of life. Areas of specialty include relationships, ministry, leadership, writing/speaking and spiritual life.
For three-and-a-half years, I co-led an online blog and ministry called Mothering From Scratch. The blog gave birth to my first book, co-authored with Kathy Helgemo, Mothering from Scratch: Finding the Best Parenting Style for Your Family.
My latest book, Invisible Wounds: Hope While You’re Hurting, chronicles my chronic illness journey — mine and my son’s — and the deep hurts, questions and wrestling with God that I’ve experienced — how God has revealed Himself to me in the midst of it.
I’m also a Contributing Writer and Speaker with the national ministry, She Found Joy.
My work has appeared in Focus on the Family’s Focus on Your Child newsletters, Clubhouse, In Touch, CBN.com, Lifeway’s Journey devotional magazine for women. My work has also appeared on The Mighty, Mom Babble, Mamapedia, Bonbon Break and For Every Mom.
This may look like the perfect photo, but trust me, there’s a lot of messiness behind those smiles. A lot of hard-won closeness. Flawed people who keep battling to love each other well.
My husband, Mike, is a high school teacher and track coach. He also leads the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at his school.
I’m mom to Micah, my strapping teenage son, and Molly, my beautiful and entertaining college-age daughter.
God has used these incredible people in my life to humble me, inspire me and draw me closer to Him. I am so grateful for and am so in love with each of them.
