Mar 18, 2019 | Community Life
When we get stuck in our friendships, we listen to harmful voices to clarify what went wrong. When I started college in 2009, I had a lot of unspoken expectations for community. I assumed it would be: + like-minded women who thought about their faith exactly like I...
Mar 8, 2019 | Community Life
When Tim and I met, it was pretty close to “love at first sight.” Within weeks we knew that this was good, and God gave us green lights to move forward towards engagement. Within a year of our first “hello,” we were married. Oh…and then months later, we found out we...
Mar 4, 2019 | Community Life
When we feel tension in our friendships, it usually stems from small unchecked habits practiced week-by-week versus one big explosive point of conflict. Small, seemingly harmless things creep in and negatively impact the heart of our friendships. Unless we...
Feb 22, 2019 | Community Life
Thou shall serve other moms. Every mom is struggling in some way. Whether it is getting dinner on the table or shoes on kid’s feet. It is a general rule of thumb that if you see a mom wrestling her child while juggling snack containers, jackets and a diaper bag, that...
Jan 22, 2019 | Community Life
The most important question we can ask ourselves in friendship is: “How do I confront my own emptiness?” It may seem ironic to begin growing as a friend by focusing on yourself, but you need to know your own “belovedness” before you can offer that gift to someone...
Dec 20, 2018 | Community Life
Guests are about to walk into your home, yet you feel exhausted from your day and slightly frustrated when you see the mess of toys on the floor that you need to pick up? Perhaps your roommate’s dishes are piled high for everyone to see, or work is preoccupying...
Dec 2, 2018 | Community Life
I used to be more confident—unshakeable in my identity in Christ. But then life happened, and the power of people’s perceptions felt stronger than God’s. When God said I was loved, I poured all my energy into being someone I felt my community could love. Even though...
Nov 25, 2018 | Community Life
First published in Thryve Magazine 2017 I never understood the difficulties of having children or the women who struggled through them until my husband and I had our first miscarriage. Then our second. I thought miscarriage was an adult issue that I was way too young...
Nov 18, 2018 | Community Life
This holiday season, purchase with a purpose by giving gifts that give back. Not only do the following companies make incredible products that will charm your family and friends, they also support a variety of different causes. May your gifts inspire cheer and charity...
Nov 12, 2018 | Community Life
Kelsey Chapman and I met two years ago and became fast friends. As our friendship grew, we learned a lot about one another and how to make the friendship last and one of our greatest tools was the Enneagram. The popular Enneagram assessment helps you identify with one...
Nov 8, 2018 | Community Life
Every year, Thanksgiving becomes more difficult for people to travel home to see family. Flight prices increase, jobs give fewer vacation days, and many in our community find themselves choosing to stay in the city during the holiday (even though this year we do get...
Sep 26, 2018 | Community Life
When Tim and I were married, I immediately wanted to lead a small group. It’s in my DNA and I couldn’t wait to use our spiritual gifts as a team and serve our church body in this way. Tim had led a small group two years before we were married and was feeling burnt out...