Celebrating a broken Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day.

Every woman’s favorite holiday, right?

Well, if you’re like a lot of women, Mother’s Day can be downright difficult. So I recorded some (hopefully) encouraging thoughts for you.

If you remember nothing else from this post, remember that ultimately Mother’s Day is about new beginnings.

Birth and rebirth.

If not of physical children, then of dreams . . . of hopes . . . of your heart stories.

Whatever is laboring in your heart this weekend, celebrate that.

Share it with courage.

Believe in the beauty of you.

Afflicted city, storm-battered, unpitied:
I’m about to rebuild you with stones of turquoise,
Lay your foundations with sapphires,
construct your towers with rubies,
Your gates with jewels,
and all your walls with precious stones.
All your children will have God for their teacher—
what a mentor for your children!
You’ll be built solid, grounded in righteousness,
far from any trouble—nothing to fear!
far from terror—it won’t even come close!
If anyone attacks you,
don’t for a moment suppose that I sent them,
And if any should attack,
nothing will come of it . . .
. . . no weapon that can hurt you has ever been forged.
Any accuser who takes you to court
will be dismissed as a liar.
This is what God’s servants can expect.
I’ll see to it that everything works out for the best.
Isaiah 54:13 TMV

To survivors: a vlog for Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month

Hello! Welcome to my blog today, and my first attempt at “vlogging” — or blogging in a video format. Today’s vlog focuses on raising awareness of and finding hope after sexual assault and/or abuse. April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, and so I hope this video gives someone who needs it the encouragement they might need.

If you need to talk to someone about you or someone you know who’s been through sexual assault, please click on the RAINN button below the video for help and information. Or, share this with a friend who needs it.

Recovery is possible.

You are beautiful.

Indeed, you are a rare gemstone, full of beauty in every angle.

Receiving a gift is like getting a rare gemstone; any way you look at it, you see beauty refracted. Proverbs 17:8 The Message

So, without further ado, here’s my video blog. I’m sure it’s too long. My hair keeps blowing in my face. And it confirms the fact that I’m pretty much a Great. Big. Nerd.

Free-ing music Friday

If you’ve followed this blog awhile, you know occasionally I like to post songs that I find healing, uplifting and hopeful. Here are a couple they’ve played at my church lately that have knocked my broken socks right off. Hope you enjoy them, too.

The first song is Running Back to You, by Heather Headley. The second is Beautiful Things by Gungor.

Praise God, we can run back to Him and He makes beautiful things out of our dust!