Feelings Archives - Page 2 of 3

Socials Sabbatical

It was time. I could sense myself getting overwhelmed in life. To the point that I’d turned to mindless scrolling to curb the overwhelming feelings I was having.

Sometimes when I have too much on my plate I can’t pick a starting point. Or, I start everything on my list and end up in bigger chaos. This past November, we had a lot going on with interviewing for future jobs post-seminary (my husband is a 4th year student). We were in a busy time of year with homeschooling and Jason’s class load being heavy, in addition to our outside meetings.

I just started to feel the pressure of the pile-on. So, I

Detangling my Self-worth from the Flaws I Loathe in the Mirror

Even now, eleven years later, I can still remember the first time a boy pointed out a pimple on my face. We were standing in the lunch line and he mentioned it. That’s it. He just pointed it out and turned back around after I made a face at him, eyes burning with tears. To him it was a simple observation, but to me it was the soul-crushing realization that other people could see my flaws that I tried to keep far away from the daylight. That moment started a years-long battle against my skin, and even my own identity.

At first, it seemed I might just get a few pimples like some of my friends. Pimples that you’d notice, but that would go away within a few days. I reasoned

From Grief to Remembrance: The Decades-Long Journey to Finding Peace After Pregnancy Loss

Caitlyn Michelle…It’s been 22 years since we met the baby girl we never got to know. We never saw her smile or heard her laugh. We never got to experience the little personality emerging in toddlerhood and through the elementary years. We never got to hear about future hopes and dreams or see her life’s goals come to fruition.

She came into this world too soon, her little body not yet ready to sustain life outside the safety of my womb. Caitlyn was our first—prayed for and rejoiced over—and the loss hit hard.

I wept and cried out to the Lord. There were so

The Season In Between

I don’t know about you, but the Christmas season is exciting AND frustrating. It’s exciting to spend time with people I don’t see very often. I take paid time off from work, which allows me more time in my day to do things I like to do like take my dog to the dog park when the sun is out, going to a workout class in the middle of the day, and staying up late to finish that movie I’ve been really wanting to see.

And it’s frustrating. The lack of structure in my day makes it hard to find motivation for things I should do like go grocery shopping, clean my apartment, and maintain personal hygiene. In addition to this, since many of my friends travel for the holidays, I often have less opportunities for quality social time.

Recovering from the Burnout of Chasing it All

There I was after having received most of the things I had once dreamed about, or so I thought.

After losing my way in my early twenties, I later graduated at the top of my college class, and was working for a firm with an incredible reputation. I had a phenomenal mentor and I loved my team at work. I was motivated and career driven. I wanted to prove what I could do and who I was. No more girl from a small town in the bootheel of Missouri, I meant business.

I excelled at the firm and quickly drank the kool-aid...that is, believing this work-life balance dream was achievable. I just needed to work more first

If I Could Turn Back Time

We can’t change the past, but so many of us spend our present rewinding through those moments that didn’t go right.

We regret a decision or missed opportunity.

Sometimes it is just a regret for a decision we made. We made the decision at the time, and now we wish we would have done something different.

Years ago I got a phone call from a museum in Michigan. They had seen my vintage automobile photos online and wanted me to show them in one of their smaller galleries next to their upcoming Formula One traveling exhibition. The catch…

Anxiety; In Every Situation

Anxiety is the same for every person. At its core, anxiety is the feeling of uneasiness, a worry of the unknown. However, anxiety can manifest differently in each person, as we are all created differently, and it makes sense that we would all deal differently as well.

I can’t speak for you, but I’ve noticed that I myself tend to deal with anxiety in a worldly way.

We can google just about any situation and have an answer pop up within seconds. While this may give us a momentary relief or answer, how are we to know this is an answer that is indeed intended for us?

Nothing I Learned About Purity Prepared Me For Dating At 29 Years Old

I am one of those unicorn Christians who is still unmarried at 29 – I didn’t meet someone in high school, Christian college, or at camp. I listened to BarlowGirl’s vow to prolong dating, read Harris’ I Kissed Dating Goodbye, and signed my purity pledge at a “True Love Waits” event.

I kept waiting for that magical moment when some young whippersnapper approached me and asked for my hand where I could I reply “No more dating, I’m just waiting” while waving my purity ring in his face, triumphantly.

Unfortunately, I never was faced with this situation, and my understanding of purity and sex

Just A Little Thunder…

My middle daughter does not like thunderstorms. She begins to shiver at the first rumble, and no matter how many times we try to tell her that nothing is going to happen, she’s not convinced. Sure, they’re loud, they’re menacing, and they can sound pretty scary, but ultimately, as long as you’re inside, they can’t really do anything to you. They might make the lights go out, but they can’t actually hurt you directly.

While I might chuckle at my daughter’s reaction to thunderstorms, I realize that there are times I’m not that different. Cue the devil: ~You know, you’re not really appreciated around here… look how your husband takes you for granted… you deserve

The Burden Of Shame

Have you ever been in a situation where you did something—or something was done to you—that made you feel ashamed? A time that you were so hurt, embarrassed, or humiliated that you could hardly stand to look in the mirror? A time that you even thought, “If they knew _____ about me, they would never look at me the same way again”? Have you ever thought terribly negative things about yourself? “I’m a failure. I’ve made too many mistakes in my life. Maybe I’m just a mistake. I’m not worthy of being loved.”

Dear sister, don’t live in shame! That’s a burden you weren’t meant to bear!