Where Passion & Purpose Collide
{If you missed part 1? Check it out right here} If every human being has a driving need for security, significance and strength – including the little ones hanging onto our ankles – then we as parents have to be intentional about seeking out opportunities to instill and cultivate these qualities in their young lives. Here’s a list of 10… Read More
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” Winston Churchill Make no mistake…life takes bravery. Following your dreams takes bravery. Being married, and staying married, takes boat loads of bravery. Sometimes just getting up in the morning takes bravery. And parenting? It takes bravery too. William Wallace war paint style bravery. Truck… Read More
I realize this renders me a freak of nature, but I really like Mondays. Less freakish is my adoration of the new year. You see, I love new beginnings. I live for fresh starts. Do-overs rock my socks off. And my muffin-top, if done correctly. My hubby thinks I am a dork {albeit a “cute” one} and is not a… Read More
A Tongue-in-Cheek Message to {Churchy} Church Folk 1. Talk the Talk : Speak in King James lingo with awkward familiarity, boasting a heavy dose of “Christianese”. Be sure to mention “being washed in the blood of the Lamb”, while dropping words like “sanctified”, “righteousness” and “cleansing” like cheerios in the hands on toddlers. Throw in a few “amen”s and “bless… Read More
I’m tickled pink to be sharing my messy story of redemption with another group of women this weekend. I love, love, LOVE sharing my heart…my brokenness…His goodness with others who ache to know their Creator hasn’t abandoned them, that He is intricately involved in the details of their lives – even if behind the scenes, that He is big enough… Read More
…whom my heart adores! 9 years ago today, I stood before you in white – adorned with miniscule pearls, an annoyingly poufy veil, and a tan so dark it appeared my head couldn’t possibly belong to the same body – excited beyond belief to become Mrs. McMillan. And the sound of those two words together…”Joy”, followed by a sing-songy “McMillan”…still… Read More
I’ve always been inspired by crisp, creative, colorful design…with a message! It’s like a triple layered cake…with cream cheese frosting. And chocolate shavings. I’ve been mulling over the idea of ‘family rules’ for some time now and have been drooling over all the pallet-painted gorgeousness on Pinterest lately, in search of ‘the one’. So when a precious friend sent me… Read More
I got an email a couple of weeks ago from the owner of a little bed & breakfast nestled in the foothills of the mountains in upstate South Carolina. It’s aptly called “The Queen’s Cottage”, and Queen Anne’s Lace is their “thing”. She had stumbled upon the ‘love story’ and photos I had posted last May and was hoping to… Read More
I’ve got gardening on the brain. As I weed through my house {pun absolutely intended}, in my attempt to rid it of all chaos and clutter {and superfluous crap}, I find I’m mulling over and sorting through some heart clutter as well. I got to escape for a few hours this week and get alone with my brain, my journal… Read More
We enjoyed a ridiculously mild winter up here in the Midwest, and despite having the chill return to the air over the past couple of days, we are soaking up a stunningly early Spring. Signs of new life are exploding on every branch, the breeze is infused with the sweet scent of blossoms, and the lush green grass is once… Read More
This is your mother. I wanted to clarify in case you mistook me for a crazy, grocery-cart-pushin’ gypsy– which, admittedly, is wildly tempting right now – but it’s not. It’s just me. The little shreds of me that are still clinging desperately to what sanity is left, that is. I considered myself a roaring success when the thought of listing… Read More
Picture this… The kids are finally down and my sweet man walks through the door. It’s been a long day for him, but he’s finally home in his haven, so his guard drops, and he’s recharged…and there stands his woman. Halle-lujah! I, on the other hand, have been home in this ‘haven’ with the kids all day. I smell like… Read More
