​At 2:30 a.m. my alarm went off. After only 3 hours of sleep, it was a struggle to open my eyes and roll out of bed, but I kept telling myself, “It will all be worth it at the end of the day.”
 
My friend and I had been planning a trip to the Grand Canyon, and a 6 a.m. direct flight meant we would have the whole day to explore the area. We would just need lots of caffeine to help us stay awake.
 
Even though it was a 4 hour flight, because of the change in time zones, we landed in Phoenix at 7:05 a.m. With Starbucks in hand, we picked out a rental car and began the 4-hour drive to the Grand Canyon. 

​ 
Have you ever had a thought that continued to linger, even when you tried to push it away?
 
Have you ever sensed that God wanted you to do something, but you were hesitant to follow through with it?
 
Several months ago, this happened to me. I kept sensing that I needed to create more margin in my life…more space…more time to rest and to recharge. 

​ 
It’s been 10 years since I’ve heard her voice. A voice that consistently spoke words of love and encouragement into my life. A voice that I didn’t realize how much I would miss until I couldn’t hear it anymore. 10 years later, I’m still learning how to navigate this world without my mom’s voice. 

​Valentine’s Day. A holiday that celebrates love. You know what I love? The day AFTER Valentine’s Day when all of the chocolate is on sale.
 
If you’re in a relationship, you probably look forward to Valentine’s Day. For those of us who are single, it’s often referred to as “Singleness Awareness Day.” I don’t need a special day to remind me that I’m single (that already happens most days), but during the month of February, singleness is often magnified. 

In 2015, I stopped making New Year's resolutions and decided to accept the One Word challenge. Instead of making a long list of goals each year, now I pick one word to focus on. It has made such a positive impact in my life, so every December I start thinking and praying about what my one word will be for the next year.