The Blog
of grace & gumption
When my son, Gideon, was young, he took me “fishing” in his bedroom. The floor became a lake and his bed turned into a boat. The toys on the floor were no longer toys, but crocodiles, and two long, brown wrapping paper tubes became our trusty fishing poles. I followed...
Is Independence really everything it's cracked up to be? Possibly not. Imagine you are a musician playing in an orchestra. If everyone sat down and independently started playing her own instrument, it would sound awful. Everything would sound chaotic and unrehearsed,...
There's a new pity party in town, and it's called a "Me Party." Haven't heard of it? Basically, it's a pity party wrapped in cute clothes, great food, fun times, and, occasionally, backup dancers. And the best part of all, it's all about Y-O-U! Honestly, you can't get...
After six weeks of looking at what makes a great BFF (Biblical friend forever), I'd love to hear from you! Tell me about your BFF(s). What makes her so special? What is your favorite memory with her? How long have you known each other? What's the most thoughtful thing...
Ladies, meet Maddison. She is a beautiful girl with a beautiful story that I would love for you to hear. I had the privilege of interviewing her and her mom, Cindy, for our monthly church magazine, Sagemont Life, and they said I could share their story here on the Glo...
Over the last several weeks, we've been exploring friendship. Specifically, what makes a true BFF (biblical friend forever),and how you can live out those qualities yourself as well as recognize those qualities in those around you. We've discussed that BFFs: walk your...
On Monday, Laurie shared a little bit about our wonderful day at church on Sunday! After six years of a multi-million-dollar building program, we finally opened our brand-new, debt-free worship facility - to the praise and glory of God! But can I let you in on a...
It's funny how God's timing works sometimes. We're continuing our series on BFFs (biblical friends forever), and this week, we're exploring how true BFFs share your load. What does that mean, exactly? It means, they pray for you. Carry each other’s burdens, and in...
Every time I explore another example of friendship in the Bible, I think the same thing - this one is my favorite! David and Jonathon, JD's girls, Aaron and Hur... they all inspire me just as our next example does: The Mat Carriers. Just as in the case with JD's...
I know I don't get to see most of you in person, so you probably have no idea that I've been putting on a few pounds lately. But I have. The lbs are piling on, and I couldn't be more happy about it... Meet the newest member of the Ryan Family, kiddo #4, due 10.10.12....
Sometimes, it's easy - this thing called life. You're making it on your own. Things are going smoothly. And you don't need anyone or anything to help you. Then, about a minute later, you feel the weight of life and realize it's a lot harder than it looks. A little...
Every night, my husband and I put our kids to bed and witness the sweet image of our children praying softly and sweetly to Jesus... OR In reality, what we actually witness every night looks a little more like this: A whole lot of chaos mixed with a little bit of...