After calling off my wedding and leaving my old school, I'm starting fresh at a new campus. Here's what I learned from a bright-eyed new teacher about approaching life with renewed enthusiasm.
starting over
When Life Unravels, Keep Writing: What My Front Porch Taught Me About Starting Over
After my engagement ended and my teaching world shifted, I almost stopped writing. Here's why showing up to the blank page—even when you're broken—is the most important thing you can do.
Four Days After My Cancelled Wedding: Learning to Live Fully Anyway
Four days ago, I didn't get married or start my honeymoon in Europe. Instead, I hosted a Harry Potter photo booth, made curry chicken, and celebrated my nieces' birthday. Here's how I chose to live intentionally after heartbreak.
The Mountain That Taught Me How to Start Over Again
Post 1: "Skills for Starting Over" Better title: "The Mountain That Taught Me How to Start Over Again" Excerpt: "After my engagement ended and my life unraveled, I went to the mountains seeking adventure. Instead, I found scars—and the skills to begin again. Sometimes getting knocked down shows you what you're made of.
After the Fairy Tale Ends: Finding Truth When the Fog Clears
When I broke my engagement and called off my move to Germany, I had to face who I was without the fairy tale. Here's what I discovered when the fog cleared and I was finally standing alone—but standing.
Eight White Envelopes and One Ex-Husband’s Wedding Photo: Choosing What We See
Between mailing resumes to Virginia's top schools and finding my ex-husband's wedding photos at 2 AM, I learned that perception is everything. Do you see failure or faith? Because I'm choosing to see God in the white envelopes.
Playing LIFE with My Boyfriend Taught Me What’s Missing: There’s No Divorce in Board Games
I sued Charming three times and still felt jealous of his blue-peg children. In Hasbro's LIFE, marriage is guaranteed—a mandatory stop for all players. But neither of us had instructions for when real marriages bite the dust. Maybe that's why we keep playing: we still have a chance to get it right.
From Wedding Day Joy to Divorce: How Love Changes and Grace Remains
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.
The Oak Tree Fell in February, but I’m the One Who Got Replanted
For months, the hollow oak lay in my backyard—an eyesore, then a barrier, then a mirror. Like that tree, I'd stood tall in Nashville while rotting inside. But somewhere between Syracuse's disposal and Hampton's soil, a seed found new ground.
Planting Seeds of Hope: What My Garden Taught Me About Dating After Divorce
A friend helped me redesign my failing garden, and suddenly I understood what it really takes to cultivate new love after everything has died.
Writer's Growth 