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Round the Mountain, Tallapoosa, GA (2026)

06/24/2026

Adjusting
Time changes can be rough. Living on the Georgia-Alabama line, I'm used to losing an hour just by crossing the state line.

This week, I have experience losing four hours. That kind of change hits different. Your body says it’s lunchtime, the clock says it’s dinner, and you just want to take a nap. Everything seems a little off.

My faith walk has felt that way at times. God has brought me into new seasons of growth and transition, but my heart needed time to catch up with where He was leading me. I knew He was moving, but I didn't always understand His timing. I wanted clarity while He was teaching patience. I wanted answers while He was building trust.

Growth often happens in the waiting. Transitions require adjustment. And faith is learning to trust God even when His timeline feels different from mine.

Just as my body eventually adapts to a new time zone, God faithfully prepares me for every season He calls me into. What feels off today may simply be evidence that He is leading me somewhere new. The waiting is not wasted. The transition is not punishment. The adjustment is part of the journey.

God is never late. He is never early. He is always on time.

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

06/23/2026

Maintenance for your heart
To celebrate Dylan's graduation, he chose an Alaskan cruise. What an incredible adventure!

Before setting sail, we spent a few days in Seattle and visited the Space Needle. I was amazed to learn that it was built in just six months. Even more fascinating was discovering that the top rotates, giving visitors a full 360-degree view of the city.

As we watched it (and felt it) spin, Dylan, with his machinist mind, pointed out that originally one tiny motor was responsible for keeping the entire top moving. One motor.

As long as that motor is functioned properly and received the maintenance it needed, everything continued to operate as intended. But if that motor failed, the movement stopped.

It made me think about our relationship with Jesus.

He wants to guide us, strengthen us, and keep us moving forward. But just as that motor required maintenance, our hearts require attention too. We can't expect our faith to keep turning if we neglect

We maintain our relationship with Christ through prayer, worship, and time spent in His Word. Those moments may seem small, but they are what keep us connected to the One who sustains us.

When life gets busy, don't neglect the maintenance. Make time for Jesus. The closer we stay to Him, the more we can continue to move as He intended.

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." — Proverbs 4:23

06/22/2026

GRATITUDE
It's been a while. Life has been busy. Chaotic. Exhausting. So, I took a break from writing.

In that break, I read a lot. Studied a lot. I spent a lot of time seeking God's guidance, wisdom, and direction.

A lot can happen in a year.

There was a new job title and greater responsibility. There was the heartbreaking loss of my daddy and learning how to navigate all the "firsts" that followed—Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, his birthday, Father's Day. There was helping nurse my sister back to health. My son graduated from high school and tech school. I stood in a courtroom and faced the woman responsible for my father's death. My daughter got engaged.

And that's just the big stuff.

Looking back, I can see God's hand through every moment. Not because every moment was easy, but because He never left me in the hard moments. Psalm 34:18 reminds us that God is close to the brokenhearted. I have experienced that truth firsthand. In the moments when grief felt overwhelming, when tears came unexpectedly, and when I wondered how I would make it through another difficult day, God was there.

What I have learned through it all is how to navigate my emotions without letting them navigate me. I have learned to hold tightly to hope and faith. To pray more. To spend more time with the people I love. To forgive, even when forgiveness feels impossible. To cling to God's mercy, grace, and unfailing love.

I have also come to better understand the words found in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances." Notice that Paul doesn't say to give thanks for ALL circumstances. He says to give thanks IN ALL circumstances. Even in grief, there is gratitude. Even in loss, there is love. Even in heartbreak, there is hope.

Today, as I look back over the past year, I am trying not to focus on what I have lost.

A year since I heard my daddy's voice.

A year since I received one of his hugs.

A year since a simple good morning text lit up my phone.

A year since I heard him drive by with his music blaring.

Instead, I am choosing gratitude.

I am grateful for the years I had with him. For the love we shared. For the memories we made. For the lessons he taught me. For the example he set. And most of all, for the peace that comes from knowing he is with Jesus.

The grief is still there, and some days it feels heavier than others. But I am learning that grief and gratitude can walk hand in hand. I can miss my daddy deeply while thanking God for the blessing of having him in my life. I can mourn what was lost while celebrating the promise of eternity.

The past year has reminded me that life is fragile, but God's promises are not.

When life changes, God remains.

When our hearts break, God remains.

When we face challenges we never expected, God remains.

And because He remains, we can rejoice, pray, and give thanks—even in the middle of life's hardest seasons.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

05/12/2026

Fearfully and wonderfully made…

I’ve been reflecting on what it truly means to be fearfully and wonderfully made.

“Wonderfully made”—that part feels easy to embrace. Who doesn’t love the idea of being wonderful? But fearfully? That word made me pause. I’ve heard it so many times without really considering its depth. So I decided to look a little closer.

In Hebrew, “fearfully” doesn’t mean being afraid. It speaks to a sense of awe, reverence, and deep respect. It’s about being created in a way that inspires wonder.

I think back to the first time I saw an ultrasound for each of my children. That moment, seeing life forming, so intricate and intentional, was overwhelming in the best way. Pure amazement. Only God could create something so detailed, so purposeful, so beautiful. That is His craftsmanship on display.

And the truth is, He did the same with each of us.

God creates us with care and precision. He knows us from the very beginning while we are still being formed. Every detail, every gift, every part of who we are is intentional. You are not random. You are designed with purpose.

God has a plan for your life; a beautiful, meaningful plan that only you can fulfill, because of the unique gifts He placed inside of you.

So as you step into today, walk with confidence. Carry yourself with the quiet assurance that you were created on purpose, with purpose.

You are fearfully and wonderfully made by the Father, and that is truly something to stand in awe of.

“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭139‬:‭14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

05/07/2026

Busy season
Life has been chaotic lately. We’re nearing the end of the school year with testing, end-of-year conferences, honors nights, graduations, and meetings. And at home, my baby is a senior preparing to graduate. It’s a lot. And my emotions are all over the place.

This is what “busy season” looks like—at work, at home, even at church.

And in all of it, it’s so easy to get caught up in the doing, to get distracted, and to slowly shift our focus away from what (and who) matters most—Jesus.

But Psalm 46:1 reminds us:
“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.”

Not a distant help. Not an occasional help. Ever-present. Always ready.

So even in the chaos, in the packed schedules, in the emotional highs and lows of this season, He is right there.

Life happens. Busy seasons come and go. But God remains constant—our refuge, our strength, our help.

Don’t lose Him in the busyness. He’s not far away. He’s present in it. Always.

“And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

05/01/2026

All in My Feelings

Do you ever sit around and just get all in your feelings? Maybe your feelings are hurt, or maybe you just feel sorry for yourself. Whatever the cause, you find yourself stuck, replaying all the wrong things—the negative things, the things that could be different or should be different. Some people stay in that place far too long. I know I have. I’ve let my emotions control me and turn me into someone I don’t even like to be around.

But our emotions were never meant to overtake our lives or hold us captive. Those negative feelings that pull us down should not be given authority over us. When we feel afraid, betrayed, angry, depressed, unloved, or like running away, we can turn to Scripture for truth. There is power in His Word. When it feels like there’s nowhere else to turn, we can always find comfort and peace in Jesus.

The world will meet us with all kinds of temptations. The enemy’s role is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). He will try to convince us of lie after lie, and if we believe them, we fall right into his plan—to make us feel miserable and unworthy of God’s love. The best way to fight those lies is by seeking God. Every day is a fresh start—a new opportunity to draw closer to Him.

God never promised life would be easy, but He did promise He would always be with us. And knowing that gives me a reason to be “all in my feelings”—not overwhelmed by them, but anchored in His presence.

“And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:20b (NLT)

04/28/2026

Answers
When I was in the classroom, I seldom gave written exams. Most of my assessments were project-based. Those projects allowed students to demonstrate understanding in meaningful, creative ways—far beyond what a traditional test could measure.

But there were times when a written test worked better as an assessment. On those days, I would often tell my students, “Remember—Jesus is always the answer.”

One day, a student decided to test that idea. He wrote “Jesus” as the answer to every single question on the exam.

Now, was it the correct answer academically? No.
But in a deeper sense. Yes.

That moment has stayed with me for a while now.

Life has a way of giving us tests we didn’t study for: questions about our future, our struggles, our purpose. And sometimes, we simply don’t have the answers.

What if, in those moments, we responded the same way?

Jesus.

“You may not have an answer, but God does.” — Tony Evans

We should depend on the Lord. He has all the answers. When life feels uncertain and the questions seem overwhelming, we can trust the One who is never confused and never without direction.

So when life tests you, remember:
You may not have the answer. But God does.

“Answer me when I call to you, O God who declares me innocent. Free me from my troubles. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

04/23/2026

Leaving a Legacy
Yesterday, I attended the funeral of my great aunt. During the service, her daughter requested that Proverbs 31 be read—a tribute that spoke volumes about the life she lived. As those words were read, it became clear: this wasn’t just scripture to her family. It was her story. Her legacy.

It made me pause and reflect on my own life. What will my children say about me one day?

Proverbs 31 paints a picture of a woman who is virtuous, capable, and trustworthy. A woman whose husband has full confidence in her, knowing she brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life (vv. 10–12). That is the kind of wife I strive to be—steady, supportive, and faithful.

She is also a woman who cares deeply for her household—working with willing hands, providing for her family, and ensuring their needs are met (vv. 13–15). I want to be remembered as someone who showed love not just in words, but in daily acts of care and provision.

She is hardworking, wise, and sacrificial—investing, planning, and laboring with energy and purpose (vv. 16–18). Even in the areas where I’m still growing—like managing money wisely—I want my efforts to reflect a heart that is committed to doing what’s best for my family.

Her life extends beyond her home. She is generous and compassionate, opening her hands to those in need and creating a place of warmth and welcome (vv. 19–21). I want my home and my life to reflect that same spirit—open arms, open heart.

I’ve already been blessed with a husband who is respected and known (v. 23), and I don’t take that lightly. I want my life to honor and support the position God has placed him in.

Proverbs 31 also describes a woman clothed with strength and dignity, who speaks with wisdom and carries herself with kindness (vv. 25–27). That’s the kind of presence I want to have—not just outwardly, but from the inside out. I want my children to always know they are loved, and my husband to always know he is supported (vv. 28–29).

But the heart of it all. The part that stirs me the most is found in the final verses:

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.”
—Proverbs 31:30–31 (NLT)

This is the foundation.

More than anything else, I want my life to be a testimony—not of perfection, but of devotion. I want to be known as a woman who reveres the Lord, who walks in awe of Him, and whose life reflects His grace and mercy.

Because in the end, it won’t be charm or outward beauty that defines my legacy. It will be my faith.

And my prayer is that, one day, my life, like my great aunt’s, will speak for itself.

“Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭145‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

04/22/2026

He Knows
Life is unpredictable. One moment, everything is going smoothly—you’re moving forward, making plans—and then suddenly, life happens. Plans change. Perspectives shift. Even our goals and values can be reshaped.

When we find ourselves at a crossroads, it’s easy to get stuck in the “what ifs” and “if only I could do it over” thoughts. But the truth is, we don’t get do-overs. We do, however, receive second chances. We are given forgiveness, grace, and mercy—but not the ability to rewrite the past.

While we can’t change what’s behind us, we can choose how we live right now. We can live with faith, hope, and love. We can trust the One who created us to walk with us through every failure, every regret, and every uncertainty.

There is comfort in this: God knows us. He knows what we need. He understands our thoughts, our struggles, our victories, and our fears. He sees every high, every low, and everything in between. And He already holds our future.

So the next time you feel lost or overwhelmed, pause. Look up. And find peace in this simple truth: He knows.

“O Lord, You have searched me and known me.” – Psalm 139:1 (NKJV)

04/21/2026

Be Dynamic
We often talk about having dynamic teams at work—teams that are active, growing, adapting, and always moving forward. I’ve even been on a few of those dynamic teams.

But what if our faith is meant to be dynamic too?

The word dynamic means constantly changing, active, and growing. And if we’re honest, that’s exactly what our faith looks like. Some days it feels strong and steady… other days it feels uncertain and fragile.

In Mark 9, a father comes to Jesus desperate for help and says:
“I believe; help my unbelief.”

What a powerful, honest prayer.

He believed—but he was also struggling. And Jesus didn’t reject him for that. He met him with compassion.

That’s the beauty of dynamic faith:
You can trust God and still have questions. You can believe and still wrestle. You can follow Him even when you don’t understand

Faith isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about choosing to stay.

Your faith may ebb and flow but God never changes.

So today, if your faith feels weak or uncertain, don’t pull away. Lean in.

“For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭5‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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