by Anna | Apr 18, 2015 | at (in)courage
In this technology-driven-and-saturated world, not only do others have things we want, the things they have are displayed for all the see. Book deals aren’t secrets. Beautiful families are posted on walls. Opportunities and great ideas are shared right in public. It...
by Anna | Mar 13, 2015 | at (in)courage
It takes someone to lift the veil of perfection, going first with their story that says their life is otherwise. You who do this are the brave women, the beautiful everyday warriors, the ones who makes space, and it may make all the difference to the woman you pass in...
by Anna | Feb 5, 2015 | at (in)courage, lifeblog
One of these homes backing up to our neighborhood is a Christmas holdout, strings of colored lights lining their deck railing. I love these lights. In the middle of the cold dark nights, they glow. Pacing and swaying with a sleepless baby, they glow. Struck...
by Anna | Dec 29, 2014 | at (in)courage
Each day begins white as snow. Each day gives us a do-over. Each and every day starts with fresh mercy and new grace. Guilt doesn’t have to enter the picture. There’s no big party to welcome a new day, no sparkly orb or bands playing, no confetti tossed. New days dawn...
by Anna | Nov 14, 2014 | at (in)courage
A couple weeks ago at a conference, one of the keynote speakers was addressing true hospitality when she said something that literally took my breath away. “True hospitality,” she said, “is when your guests leave your home feeling better about...
by Anna | Sep 27, 2014 | at (in)courage
“…the Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone.” John 1:4 (NLT) My two year old loves his Jesus Storybook Bible, with its sweet illustrations and Scripture woven as story. He began requesting ‘the John one’ a couple weeks...
by Anna | Aug 14, 2014 | at (in)courage
I have lost two babies. Jesus held them before I did and I will miss them for all of my days. At some point during both of these periods of loss, I was told – with the sincerest of hearts and the sweetest of comforting intentions – that God wouldn’t give me more than...
by Anna | Jul 15, 2014 | at (in)courage
Feeling dried up scares me. How am I supposed to teach my children, write blog posts, lead a devotion in my MOPS group, if I am running on fumes myself? A re-fueling of my heart seems impossible because there’s no time to go sit in a quiet sanctuary, on a dock at a...
by Anna | Jul 4, 2014 | at (in)courage
I don’t know your story. Maybe it’s one of pain, twists and unexpected turns. Maybe it’s all roses and sparkles. Most likely it’s a combination of the two – joy and pain all mingled together. Your stories could include things that are too painful for you to speak of,...
by Anna | Apr 28, 2014 | at (in)courage
You did it. You, brave one, chose community over fear. You opened your homes to women whose faces you’ve only seen in tiny square boxes online. You drove to the home of a new friend, leaving your family behind on a lovely Saturday afternoon. You mingled with ladies...