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2 Name Changes that will Transform Your Life
What’s worthwhile often isn’t easy. In an earlier interview, my friend and marriage mentor Tami Myer reminded me of this truth about relationships when she said, “Marriage is not easy, but the best things in life never are.” While marriage is certainly one of the best things in my life, I didn’t realize that changing my name would be one…
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Your Heritage Can Start Today
This summer has been special for my brother and me, because for the first time, we were able to introduce our spouses to our family camp in New Hampshire. This place of our childhood holds so many memories and history we wanted to share with them. It’s also the same place that inspired the setting for Secrets Beyond Lake Winona’s Shore. Going…
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Win a Year of Free Books
A year of free books? Unlike Aladdin’s story, there’s no genie required for this wish. Although we don’t have magic carpets to take us to exotic places, we do have books, and I’m excited to share about my publisher’s unique giveaway which might just open a whole new world to you. That has been my experience with books. You see,…
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Everyone’s Going to Prom but Me
Have you ever complained or even silently whispered, “Everyone’s going to prom but me”? “Uh, Kristen,” you say. “Prom season is over.” To that, I reply, “You’re right. I’m not really talking about prom.” Last week, I had the chance to catch up with one of my close friends for the first time in a while. She asked how marriage…
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You Don’t Have to Be Great to Start
New Years is typically the time of year people set health and fitness resolutions, but according to Forbes, the follow-through is pretty slim (under 25%). We’re approaching the half-way mark of 2019, and if you’ve already failed at a goal, I want to challenge you to start fresh. Maybe my personal story will help you feel less intimidated by the…
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Dear Student Me: A Thirty-Something’s View on College
The last two months have been a blur with the wedding, honeymoon, speaking event, and travel. In addition, I also started a summer college class for my teaching re-certification, because that’s just how the timing worked out. But when is life not busy? However, I’m making the best of the course about technology in education, which is actually quite interesting.…
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Wedding Day Joy: Stories Behind the Photos
Our wedding photographer recently shared our photographs, and I currently feel like a little kid who is about to overdose on Christmas cookies. It’s the feeling of, “Please, please, someone share this goodness with me because if I eat any more by myself, I’m going to burst!” So this week, I’m sharing this happiest of snapshots into my personal life.…
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Flat Tire in a Foreign Country? Drive on Faith.
Our honeymoon in St. Lucia was epic on many levels. In some ways, that also included risks that many newlyweds probably wouldn’t attempt on their first vacation together out of the country. But James and I are the adventurous type, and perhaps this tendency only encourages a more healthy prayer life. For starters, he decided to rent a car. That…
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3 Attitudes to Embrace Change
Maybe you’ve heard the expression, “The only constant in change.” Sometimes, life feels that way, doesn’t it? Even when the change is positive, it can still cause our stomachs to somersault. In less than a month, I went from single to married and enrolled as a student for a summer class while juggling a full-time job. Exciting? For sure! Nerve-wracking?…
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Ruth: Overcoming Others’ Expectations
Yesterday, I had the privilege of talking with the ladies of Connersville Baptist Temple during their women’s ministry event. We unpacked the topic of expectations, dealing with our own and the ones that other people place on us. Whew, letting go of unhealthy expectations and learning to embrace God’s is so refreshing and liberating! One of the Bible characters we…
