I think I can... I think I can...

OK... so as I begin navigating into the world of blogging, I have tons of questions. Like "how can I get my header to not be tattooed across my husband's face?" Once I figure this one out, I'll be a happy camper because...well... my blogging prowess will be in full force... and well... I like things to at least LOOK like I know what I'm doing!

This is it for today. Oh, except to say... I know I can, I know I can.

Toot. Toot.

These are broken, mine are broken

I have a nice collection of this-n-thats in my house that have seen their better days. Rabbits that have been broken and reglued...a beautiful bowl that was given to us as a wedding gift that was knocked off a table and reglued...even some of my favorite things I've bought at "vintage"...er...thrift stores are sporting a crack or peely paint look to them.

Steve makes fun of me every time I go digging for his gorilla glue. He doesn't understand why in the world I would so tenderly glue things back together and prop them lovingly back in whatever spot they fell from in the first place. I remind him that it's no different than his incessant desire to hoard every single type of rubber hunting boot known to man. I mean, he patches his boots when they get a little hole in them, so why is it SO hard to believe that I would want to hold onto something so special for myself?

Then the other day, as I was gluing for the umpteenth time one of my favorite rabbits, my heart was opened to the realization that we are the prized possession of our Father. Our brokenness makes Him search us out even harder. He grasps out to us when we are persecuted, when our hearts ache, when we've loved and lost, when we've lied and pretended that we didn't, when we we say something we wish we hadn't... our brokenness is, for Him, the way he teaches us and teasures us the most.

When we fall into Him, He takes the holes of our hearts and patches them back together. He gently glues our heartaches and makes them into something a little different than before, so that hopefully, our faith will be intact. I try not to worry much anymore when something in my life feels like it's been shattered because I believe...in fact, I know... because I've had the privilege of being broken and being at the hands of the Father.

When it all comes together

I sure do love a good plan. Even more so is when the plan seems to, you know, be like jello. It may take a little while and there can be a whole lot of wiggling around during the process. But when it all comes together - it's finally ready and delicious! And FUN!

That's how I feel today. After a long period of time with lots of questions, concerns, and uncertainties, my life is beginning to "gel". And it was confirmed yesterday during a conversation with my dear friend, Murn. (We go all the way back to our freshman year in college. Actually, she's one of those few folks in life that you've known all your life - even though you didn't. Following me?)

The one thing I know I offer to the world is the gift of encouragement and I never realized how much I'd have that opportunity to impact people's lives until Murn shared a very personal story with me. When she began talking, it was one of those moments I knew would yield an affirmation, but I had NO idea how much of an affirmation that my life's journey is meant to encourage more than just me!

Just so you know I'm not tooting my own horn, I want to assure you that I recognize here that anything I'm able to share with others, anything I am or hope to be, is a gift from God. Learning to receive the joy of the gift has been much like trying to "rope jello" but I've given up trying to make things happen.

When the timing is right, things just come together. When God's timing is right, they come together perfectly. As a life and business coach, I am the one cheering on my clients while they wiggle around through life until things just "gel" for them too. As an author, my life's jello is finally set as well. I invite you to grab a spoon and dig in!

A really cool magazine and website

I've had the pleasure of meeting some very special people in my lifetime -none of whom I'd never known had I chosen to be a closed off soul. Being fertile means opening one's heart and one's life to sharing more than we might ordinarily feel comfortable sharing. It means sharing a new perspective, a new bloom.

Let me introduce you to metrochristianliving.com. Let me introduce you to Marilyn Tinnin, the publisher of the magazine and designer of a beautiful life. Let me introduce you to someone who shares herself so freely and encourages others to do so.

Isn't that what the garden of life is for anyway? Bloom on, my friends. For when you do, you will encourage others to enjoy your offerings.

At Last... my book has come along...

You've heard, "Walking after Midnight", "Walking in Memphis," and even walking in the rain. Let me introduce you to a dream and another "walk" that's been nearly 25 years in the making...


"To Walk on Fertile Ground" is my first book that tells my story of learning to live with infertility and battling cancer. The seed to write this book was planted in my early teenage years, and nurtured and fertilized through life's pruning and tilling.

A turn of events in my early thirties plowed my seemingly predictable life into a barren soul that left me devastated. What happens? Well, you'll just have to read and find out. In fact, you can click here to get your copy.


It's an easy-read book, but don't let that fool you. What you will find is a life's offering of hope and encouragement for anyone who dares to live life to the fullest!


If you've had your life's garden destroyed by heartache, set backs in your job, lost a loved one, felt alone or ever wondered what on earth your life's purpose even is, To Walk on Fertile Ground will inspire you to live abundantly and will give you encouragement to make it through the next moment, the next day, the next season in your life.


At last...my book has come along and I invite you to walk along with me.

Just for today... live life to the fullest!