Seven years after my Valentine's Day engagement, I'm helping friends navigate their own marriage struggles. Here's an honest look at how 'I do' became 'goodbye'—and how God's grace followed even my hardest choices.
Relationships
The Night I Buried Dead Roses to Grow Something New
Eight months after planting my broken relationship in the garden as fertilizer, Charming sent fresh roses to fill my empty vase. Here's what bloomed in between.
When God Books Your Cruise: A Lesson in Divine Timing
Our cruise was booked solid until a computer glitch got us on board at the last minute. Sometimes what looks like a missed opportunity is just God showing you that with Him, no ship has sailed.
The December Roses That Bloomed After the Ball
At a military gala, I watched Charming uplift every person he met. When I came home sick but happy, my winter roses were blooming in Christmas lights. Sometimes the best growth happens out of season.
Building New Traditions: When Fear and Hope Battle for Christmas
Charming helped me decorate my Christmas tree, creating our first shared tradition. But as magical as it felt, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. Sometimes hope itself is the scariest emotion.
The Thanksgiving I Remembered Who I Really Am
Meeting Charming's family, I realized I'd spent years playing a role in my marriage. Here's what it felt like to finally be myself again—and why his grandmother said I should stick around.
The Half-Marathon That Taught Me About Racing Into Love Again
All relationships end like sunsets do—but if we never risk racing into them, we'll miss something amazing. Here's what training for my first half-marathon taught me about trying again after betrayal.
When Charming Met My Family: Finding Joy After Years of Empty Chairs
For years there was an empty chair at family dinners where my partner should have been. Then Charming came home with me for Mom's 65th birthday, and everything felt complete.
The Friend Who Taught Me the Difference Between Surviving and Living
My friend believes the best of her life is behind her—just like I used to. Here's what happened when I challenged her to dream again, and why I bought a piano the next day.
Using Rhetoric to Fall in Love: A Teacher’s Guide to Choosing Charming
My students are studying persuasive essays, and I realized I'm basically writing one about whether to fall in love with Charming. Using ethos, pathos, and logos, here's my argument for opening my heart again.
Writer's Growth 