Components of a Great Compliment: How to Give Encouragement That Sticks

We all know how good it feels to be complimented—but not all compliments are created equal. Some feel shallow (“Nice shirt!”), ...

In high school, my dad taught me to play the guitar. He has many strengths, but singing on key isn’t one of them. We started with a hymn he was familiar with, but I wasn’t. I struggled through making ...

 The Miniature Horse Haircut Gone Wrong

Do you want to know who cut this miniature horse’s hair? Me!!! It’s hard to tell, but I have never been to beauty school. Also—NEVER trust me to cut your bangs...

A Lesson from Flying: Small Changes, Big Outcomes

My husband is a private pilot, and he taught me that if you get off course by just one or two degrees, over enough time you can end up tens or even h...

Okay stay with me, I’m going to tell you about my son’s field trip to NASA, the time I switched places with my twin sister, and the discovery of germs, all to essentially recommend a book. It all conn...

I Love You Just The Same

"You wanna know the good news? I love you just the same!" I say these words pretty frequently now, but I first said it after sitting through a huge meltdown with one of my ki...

Let's be honest. Big emotions can make us uncomfortable. Someone starts crying in a small group, and the crowd gets a little antsy. A toddler has a meltdown, and parents and others people near can fee...

Okay I didn’t swim long with thousands of jellyfish because let’s be honest, I’m kind of a wuss when it comes to squirmy things. I was vacationing with my family and we took a pontoon boat out to Crab...

America is in a mental health crisis. According to the CDC, one of the leading causes of death for U.S. teens is suicide!! As a professional counselor to kids, teens, and adults, I’ve seen a trend ...

My husband Matt and I went to a Zach Williams concert and actually met Zach. Fear is a Liar is his song. When I met him, I called him Zach and said, "Wow it really feels like we’re friends." To which ...