life. faithful.

Blessed. It means made holy in one context. Another definition is happy. It brings up thoughts of safety, security, peace, and prosperity. After all, it's easy to be happy when life is wonderful. What about when things are all going wrong, when t feels like the whole world has turned against you? Are you blessed then, when everything is crumbling against you?  As Jesus was traveling throughout Galilee, those were the people being brought to Him: people racked with pain, the sick, the demon-possessed, the paralyzed, those suffering from seizures. They weren't people living the easy life. Looking out over all the people gathered below Him, Jesus listed those He called blessed: ~the poor in spirit ~those who mourn ~the meek ~those who hunger & thirst for righteousness ~the merciful ~the pure in heart ~the peacemakers ~those who are persecuted because of righteousness ~the people who are insulted, persecuted, and have evil things said against them because of...

Memorial Day. I've thought about what to write for today for quite a while now. I wanted to come up with the perfect words--something profound, something I haven't said before. I wanted to explain just what today means to me as a "Gold Star sister" on a weekend full of barbeques, parties, and swimming. The things is, I don't have any words. This is the 10th Memorial Day since my brother was killed while fighting in Najaf, Iraq, and it seems like the words should come easily. But they don't. Instead, I have an unintelligible mix of thoughts and emotions floating around in my head and forming an occasional lump in my throat. It's a strange thing for me, the girl who has always been able to use words just how I wanted.   Sometimes, though, words just don't seem like enough. If you want to read my thoughts put into words, you can read them here: when my world started flipping remembering 9 years... and still messy This year, though, I w...

Have you ever looked around at your life and wondered, "How in the world did I get here?" I know I have--please tell me I'm not alone! I'm a planner and always have been, one of those girls who probably had a 5-year plan in kindergarten. I've made to-do lists and written out my goals (long term and short term, many times) and I've always known that things were supposed to work out just so . For some reason, though, life has had a funny way of messing up my plans in the last 10 years. When I look around today, there's really not much that looks like the picture I had planned. I never in my life dreamed of getting my Bachelor's degree in physics. I didn't see myself still in school the year I turn 30. I didn't see us living in a rented house 10 years into our marriage. I didn't see myself working on a Master's in diagnostic medical physics. I didn't see old furniture (as in, already old when we bought it in 2005). I didn...

1. You can do anything you put your mind to. 2. Your worth is found only in God. 3. Math & Science aren't just for boys. 4. Never be afraid of the spotlight--or the background. 5. Inner beauty matters more than outer beauty, but in my eyes you will always be beautiful. 6. High heels and cowboy boots both have their places. 7. Guard your heart and your words. 8. Don't hide behind make-up. 9. Eat salads and cheeseburgers and cheesecake, all with equal abandon . 10. Don't let anyone tell you you're " just " a girl. 11. When someone underestimates you, prove them wrong. 12. Dream big! 13. Learn the value of hard work. 14. Earn the reputation you want. 15. Take risks. 16. Don't let anyone dictate your future. 17. Know the value of family. 18. Stand up for what you believe in. 19. Modesty is admirable. 20. I will love you forever.