Creating boundaries in adulthood has been hard for me because I've never been good at it, and it's still a work in progress. For me and many other women, connection is usually tied to care: showing up, giving, understanding, and being available.

So, stepping into a new chapter of emotional maturity, one that requires boundaries, can feel like doing something wrong for choosing peace over people-pleasing.

Yet I've learned that boundaries aren't walls to keep others out - they're doors that teach us how to let the right things in. Still, that doesn't make it easy, particularly when it's with people we deeply love.

When you start learning to express "this is what I can and can't handle" or "this doesn't align with where I am right now,"it can shake relationships that were built on older versions of you, the "you" who said yes out of guilt, or fear of letting someone down, or fear of being misunderstood.

Unfortunately, when those relationships shift, it can sting. But that doesn't mea...

Let’s be honest, separating facts from feelings isn’t always easy. I know because it hasn’t always been easy for me. For years, I let my emotional responses shape my perspective of people and situations. But over time, with intention and inner work, I’ve learned that acknowledging my feelings without letting them dictate my reality has created space for more grace and far fewer grudges.

Why Is It So Hard to Separate Facts from Feelings?

Last week, during the FOCUS Retreat, the overarching theme was detachment. This topic was, of course, unplanned, but God always has a way of weaving together a message that seems to be weighing on the women attending.

My current challenge with detachment is letting go of burdens that aren't mine to carry. Maybe you can relate.

Think of a new purse. Beautiful on the outside, yet over time, the purse becomes heavy and messy because we've added more than what we need inside. All the while, presenting to others as if we have it altogether. 

We only need the essentials: things like keys, a wallet, identification, a small notebook, and even tissues.

However, most times our purses become overloaded with "just in case" items or "what if "scenarios, symbolic of emotional baggage, overthinking, or people-pleasing tendencies. Non-essential things like;

• Extra makeup 
• Other people's items
• Receipts, papers
• Old mementos

As you take inventory of what's weighing down your purse — and you...

Finding purpose, connection, and God’s preparation in the season you’re in.

Recently, over coffee with a few trusted friends, we each confessed something that’s hard to admit: we were feeling displaced. Not in the physical sense, but in our hearts, like we were standing in between seasons, unsure of where we fit or where we were headed next.

As we shared, we realized that right where we are is not wasted space. This season, no matter how uncertain or uncomfortable, is the exact place God has us for a reason. It’s the training ground, the preparation, the refining moment for what’s ahead. Sometimes we long so much for the “next” that we overlook the value of the “now.”

In that conversation, we also recognized the gift of trusted women who create safe spaces for honesty. We reminded ourselves that assumptions are dangerous—they convince us we know what others are thinking or feeling when, in truth, we often don’t. But when we choose authenticity over assumption, and love over judgment...

I've never liked the expression ride or die. It always sounded a little dramatic to me, like a line from a movie rather than a real expression of a relationship. And as someone who makes a conscious effort to live steady and grounded, that phrase didn't resonate.

But after a recent coffee with friends, the phrase came up, and for the first time, I actually paused to think about it.

By definition, ride or die describes a highly loyal and supportive relationship, whether it's a friendship or a romantic partnership. It implies unwavering commitment—to stick with someone through thick and thin, in the mess and the mundane. If that's the case, I suppose my first ride-or-die relationships started early on… with my siblings.

Even now, my brother and sister are still up there on my list. My husband, without question, is at the very top. And there are a few close friends I know who would show up for me, no matter what. These are the people who've seen me at my best and stood by me at my wors...

Sunday, we celebrated our 29th wedding anniversary—a milestone that still feels surreal to say out loud.

Twenty-nine years of love, heartache, and everything in between.

Five children.

A small zoo of pets.

A long list of hairstyles (some I still stand by… others, not so much 😄).

And a lifetime's worth of change.

Marriage has been hard, life-giving, sad, and sweet—sometimes all in the same season. We've walked through grief, loss, anxiety, fear, and moments that shook us to our core. But we've also experienced joy, celebrated victories, created unforgettable memories, and built a family and love that's deeper than I ever could have imagined.

Looking back, I've thought a lot about what I'd tell that younger version of me, the bride full of hope and dreams but not yet seasoned by time and experience. If I could go back and whisper into her ear, these are the truths I would share:

Pray Together

Not just before meals or in crisis, but regularly. Out loud. Even when it's awkward. Pr...

In the last six months, I've often felt prone to leave social media due to the politically driven, hurtful words spewed on both sides of the spectrum. What was once a place to share fun moments has become a haven for tearing others down, and I'm not sure those doing it even recognize the lingering effects that their crushing words leave behind.

I've learned that our words are not just sounds, but seeds.

Every sentence we speak has the power to plant hope or sow doubt, to build courage or chip away at someone’s confidence.

Have you ever had someone speak life over you - like really speak it?

When my sons played baseball, a common phrase that my daughter Blair would shout every time they were up to the plate was, “You’ve got this!”

Hearing words like that or even  “I see something special in you” can echo for years.
And the same holds true for a careless word, a sarcastic remark, or a harsh judgment.

The truth is this: Words either build or break. And, everything in life isn't about...

I Am From a mother who came from a tiny town in central New York, where neighbors weren't seen for their differences but rather as people who genuinely care about one another. I am from the smell of baked goods and a homemade meal around the dinner table served at 5:30 pm each night. I am from holidays filled with great intention and purpose, seen in the small details around a perfect place setting and a sparkling overhead chandelier with each crystal shining as bright as the love in the room. I am from the time and effort applied to every gathering, ensuring everyone feels comfortable and loved. 

I Am From a mother who made shopping on Saturdays more of an experience than a to-do list, where learning how to dress offered me great confidence and a love for fashion. I am from witnessing her style, in each step she took, outfitted with heels and a smart blazer. I am from forgetting my allowance each time we went, craving the Japanese tempura at the mall, but ultimately landing at Carmel...

The older I get, the more I realize that time with the people I love is the most precious gift. I felt beyond blessed this past weekend to have my children together for Easter. Now that they are getting older, they're busy chasing their dreams, finding their way, and building their lives. And while I couldn't be prouder… I also cherish every moment I get with them because those moments are fewer and farther between. 

It's not like the old days when they were always underfoot. Now, it's coffee dates and late-night talks on the couch when they're home. Yet, these little pockets of time mean everything because time with them has become more of a gift than a given.

I missed many moments when my children were little because of my anxiety, so I cherish these times being fully present with things like: laughter around the dinner table, spontaneous hugs, and the memories that don't cost a dime.

Those are the things that last.

Those are the things that fill my soul.

And the people I ...

This past Christmas, my children bought me a beautiful tote bag. I have loved it for almost 2 years, and when I finally got it, I was reluctant to put anything inside.  

It doesn't take long to muddy up the inside while still presenting polished on the outside. I lived in that space for many years with anxiety and fear. Pretending that to be something that I wasn't while carrying around what felt like the world's burdens.

Have you ever felt that way? Like a stunning handbag? The kind that looks put together, classy, and complete.

But if you opened it up... it would expose a much different story.

Old things weigh it down, carrying everything, but what you really need; peace.

The truth is, a lot of us walk around like that.

We present well. We smile. We post. We say, "I'm fine." But inside? We're carrying the heavy stuff no one sees:

• Fear that paralyzes our progress
• Overwhelm from trying to do it all
• Grief that hasn't had space to breathe
• Rejection that still stings
• Hurt we'...