Part of preparing for my morning time with God involves getting my dog, Riley, settled. Ordinarily, this looks like giving her permission to join me on the couch and then opening my arms and saying, “Snuggle up”, an invitation to draw as close as she wants and curl up next to me while I cover…
Paws & Prosper
This space is for fellow dog lovers who know that life with a four-legged friend is full of both challenge and joy. Here, I share practical tips on training, advocacy, and building a life-giving bond with your dog—redefining what it means to be a mindful and compassionate dog owner. I also open up about my journey with my anxious, reactive dog, Riley, and how her growth has mirrored my own—drawing me deeper into trust, patience, and greater freedom in Christ.
God Knows, Sees, and Understands
I took Riley out for a short potty walk this morning. Oh, how she wanted to go further, faster. And, I wanted to let her. She wanted to jump into the bushes onto the critters moving the branches and walk through the deep, muddy grass. And, I wanted to let her. Instead, I directed her…
What if You Aren’t Re-Learning the Same Lesson Over and Over Again Until You “Get It”?
Have you ever heard someone say, “God keeps putting me in the same situation, I guess I haven’t learned my lesson yet.”? Maybe you’ve even said it yourself. I know I have, but it always sat a little off in my heart, and not only did I not know why, I never really asked Him…
Devotional Time Reframe
During my time with God this morning, He gave me some direction. I listened and wrote down what I heard and then moved directly from writing it down to reading my devotional. Because I have limited energy and sensory capacity, I came to my devotional time with a to-do list in mind. Pray Communion Read…
We Need Each Other, Thoughts About Self-Soothing, Isolation, and Holding Space
I have a lot to say about this photo. Thought #1 Riley was scared because of the loud upstairs neighbor. She stood in the middle of the living room and I could see her considering her options. Fear short circuits the brain, it often doesn’t matter that we have a lot of options in a…
Not Coerced but Welcome – Intentional Nearness
Ordinarily, Riley starts her morning on the floor with her peanut butter Kong. Then she moves to the far end of the couch. Every couple minutes, she stands up with her back to me and takes a few steps closer, gradually backing in to be as close to me as she can while continuing to…
God’s Order of Operations
This past weekend I participated in an event through my church called a Freedom Encounter. It was the culmination of a small group study I did called Freedom which was amazing. I am a different person than I was when I walked through those doors on Friday night. I’m calmer and more peaceful, and my…
A Return to Simple Devotion
When I first returned to Jesus my relationship with Him was deep and rich, spontaneous and beautiful, simple and utterly delightful. When I started spending time with other Christians, it became a complicated duty, full of rules and expectations, increasingly devoid of the love and tender devotion that enraptured me at my salvation. God did…