• Books and Reading - Uncategorized

    The Reading Report, Vol. 26: Spring Reading Refresh

    April 2, 2025 - By 

    Welcome to the April edition of The Reading Report! Although the weather has cooled off significantly from just one week ago when we were having an early taste of 70 degree weather, it is still officially spring. (If nothing else, my allergies are confirming this fact!) I am in denial about the fact that snow is currently in our forecast for this weekend, and choosing to focus on a little spring refresh needed in my reading life! Over the past couple month or so I fell out of the solid reading routine I had going, and I can’t quite say…

  • Homemaking - Uncategorized

    Our Container Gardening Ideas for 2025

    March 26, 2025 - By 

    With signs of spring popping up all around us–crocus blooming, robins returning, buds coming out on the cotoneasters–I am thinking it is time to get my spring and summer garden plans finalized! This year will be different from other years as we live in a rental property now. I don’t have a reason to invest large amounts of money into garden soil amendments, rearranging the landscaping, or constructing large garden beds, even if I felt like I was “allowed” to do those things. Really, all we are required and encouraged to do with our yard is keep the grass growing…

  • Faith Talk - Uncategorized

    Practical Application of “The Princess, the Dragon, and the King” Part 4

    March 17, 2025 - By 

    This week I am wrapping up my series on my journey through depression with the final portion of my conference talk. In this part, I focus on truths and practices anyone can make part of their lives in order to lessen and/or relieve emotional distress. Of course, I am not a doctor or health professional, and my counsel here is not to be taken as healthcare advice. I simply aim to encourage anyone struggling with similar things as I did by sharing my story and the steps that have helped me personally. So, what can I tell you that will…

  • Faith Talk - Uncategorized - Writing Life

    Journey: Five Minute Fridays

    March 14, 2025 - By 

    This post is part of Five Minute Fridays Link-Ups. Here is my post for this week’s prompt: Journey. Time begins now…. As I considered this week’s prompt, I was reminded of the study I have been doing in the book of I Peter. In this letter to the dispersed church, Peter encourages the believers to live as “sojourners and exiles” in the world. This world is not their final destination. Heaven is our home, and in the meantime, we are to live in this world in a way that shows were are different. We have an identity that is in Christ,…

  • Faith Talk

    “The Princess, the Dragon, and the King” Part 3 – The Allegory Explained

    March 10, 2025 - By 

    This week I am sharing the next part of my conference talk given in 2023. In this part of the series, I will explain the allegory I posted previously and describe my personal struggles with postpartum depression and anxiety. I have redacted some of the names to protect my family’s privacy, but otherwise, this is all as it was originally delivered. This is my story, and although couched in the form of a fairy tale allegory, it is all true. If you’ve heard my testimony of salvation, you know that I was raised in a Christian home, had a good…