I will never forget showing a friend of mine this guy named "Ben" on Facebook back in 2007. I had been looking at his pictures and messaging him every month or so, learning his personality through the internet. He lived 800 miles away from me and we were both in college, but I thought he [...]
Someone told me the other day that I was a prisoner of hope. It caught me off guard, because I had never heard those words used together. How could someone be trapped in hope, and let alone....me? Depression gives an overwhelming feeling that life is hopeless. I took medication for it, and am in relationship [...]
I love the idea of easing into my day-I’d wake up naturally from the sound of gentle rain tapping on a slightly opened window. I’d slip on a silky robe, walk downstairs and pour a cup of fresh coffee. I’d walk outside to sit on the front porch, not worried about the way I look… [...]
Halfway through my shower, I gave up. I sat naked on the tile floor and stared blankly as water berated down my back. I tilted my head back, closed my eyes, and allowed myself to imagine that the pressure of the water was a hug I so desperately needed. As I began to let go [...]
Every Sunday morning for over 25 years, I'd open up a hymn book and sing. Great Is Thy Faithfulness, Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art-all the classics. I sang these songs so much, I could probably chant em backwards, and often revert to them when rocking a sick baby to sleep or humming mindlessly through [...]
This whole thing seemed like a big joke at first. Some virus from China that kills less people than the average flu? Whatever, what's for dinner? We joked about it at small group and scoffed at the media for always perpetuating fear and causing panic about the next 'big thing'. In the middle of all [...]
Growing up, one of my favorite hymns of all time was "My Jesus I love Thee". I didn't know why at the time, but when I sang it, I would lose control of my composure, my face would disfigure, and I would cry. "You're too much Rosie. Calm it down," I would say to myself. [...]
10 years ago, a 22 year old me lived with purpose, community, and a super cute fiancé. See pic below. Life was really good. I was one of those annoying (but sweet!) people you would meet at college who had answers to most of life's biggest questions, and in my world, everything was black and [...]
I will never forget the day I peed on the stick that told me you were on the way. Dad was in the shower, I just got home from the gym, and your brother was taking his morning nap. The only reason I peed on the stick that day was because a friend suggested I [...]
I remember being in the ultrasound room, waiting for the words "It's a girl!" Your dad was secretly videoing with his phone, ready to send out the news to family. I dreamed of bows and tea parties, an afternoon full of coloring and dancing and talking about unicorns. My stomach filled with butterflies... (and tiny [...]
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="1027" width="1221" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="480" width="720" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="490" width="720" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="1077" width="720" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="1080" width="720" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
