Free to Be

The best kind of friend is the one you could sit on a porch with, never saying a word, and walk away feeling like that was the best conversation you've had. Author Unknown Today after having coffee with a dear friend, I was inspired to write this post. Friendship is something that I cherish deeply and is something that I need. I have been blessed with the most amazing friendships. I have wonderful friendships that come from every phase of my life...high school, college and adulthood through business and ministry. The friendships I appreciate the most are the ones where maybe we haven't spoken or seen each other in weeks, months, maybe even years, but once we meet up for a phone call, Skype chat or coffee it is like we haven't skipped a beat. These are the friends that I can tell pretty much anything to...the ones that know me the very best...the ones that laugh when I laugh and cry when I cry. These kind of friendships often take time to bloom and then sometimes th

I remember when I started getting the baby itch after Mel and I had only been married 2 years.  We got a puppy thinking that would suffice, but I still wanted a baby...a sweet little baby!  I have to admit, I had a very idealistic image of what it was going to be like for us.  Doesn't every new mother?  I remember being critical of other parents before I had my own children...I said many things like "my kids will never eat in my car" or "how can they let their house stay so messy" or "my kids will never act like that".  I was clueless! Never say never, right? :) July 24, 2002 is when our first little girl entered our world.  When they placed her in my arms, I remember thinking how absolutely perfect she was and then at some point soon after, it hit me...wow, I'm now responsible for a life that is not my own!  Not only was I responsible for her life in general...feeding, clothing, bathing, etc, but I was responsible for teaching her

It is 2011...the beginning of a new decade!  Typically during the first week of the New Year, I would have joined with the millions of other people to make out my list of New Year's resolutions.  I'm a goal setter, a dreamer, a visionary...I like to make a plan.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, right?  No, not really.  Setting goals, dreaming, making plans...those are all really good things...things we should do. However, as 2011 rolled around I felt like I was supposed to do something different.  I felt like I was supposed to put my goals, my dreams and my agendas on the back burner and surrender.  Surrender to what God wants for me.  Surrender to His dreams & plans for me...to let Him pen my 2011.  As He reveals His plans, then I will write them down. The hard part about surrender (for me anyways) is that I can't see the future, nor am I in control of it. I'm an admitted control freak about some things. :)  I'm a mom & mom's struggle wit

(v.) il.lu.mi.nate to lighten, to brighten, shine, glow It's been a week since we wrapped up our very first women's conference at EFA, Illuminate Girlfriends Conference . I am still in awe of what God did. It will be a weekend forever imprinted in my mind and my heart.  It was the beginning...the beginning of a journey of freedom for some who had been in bondage for a very long time, the beginning of God's daughters in Enid, OK taking their rightful place in His kingdom, the beginning of restoration for many to their families & spouses, the beginning of something that our finite minds really cannot grasp.   It was an awakening. An awakening to be the change, to be the difference in this dark world.  It was an awakening to be all that God has called us to be!  The lovely & fierce, Lisa Bevere , was with us. Truly a divine appointment...no mistake about it.  Lisa is the real deal...she is authentic...she is passionate.  Lisa spoke to the daughters, the mothers and

This morning I was feeling a bit anxious about some things, so I turned on my praise & worship playlist on iTunes and just spent some quiet time in God's presence. One of my favorite songs, The Stand by Hillsong United, came on. I've listened to this song at least a thousand times, but today as I listened to the words, tears just began to stream down my face...in absolute wonder & awe of what God has done for me. Over the years, friends & family have watched me & asked why I am so devoted to ministry and to Christ. This song pretty much sums up the response for me. Christ gave it all. He gave his life. He took my shame, my sins, my imperfections, my brokenness, my bondage and gave me freedom...He gave me life. He took everything that was ugly and made it beautiful. He gave me a fresh start. When other people cast judgment on me and pointed fingers at me, He looked at me with love and called me beautiful, beloved, He called me daughter. Romans 5:6