Writing
30 lessons in 30 years
year 29 was just as hard as 28 + 27 (scroll back to see), but this was the year I chose my health and wellbeing over the “shoulds.” and what a difference it makes.
I don’t take a single day or blessing for granted. this is the beautiful, hard, messy, glorious life + work I’ve been called to. and it’s delightful.
soli deo gloria
Moving for grad school: 18 ways to get settled in your new town
So you’ve just been accepted graduate school. Congratulations! I’m thrilled for you! It’s so exciting to be pursuing your dreams.
But now your mind is racing with all the things you have to do to get ready. Find an apartment. Enroll in classes. Move. It’s a lot!
I’m here today to give you 15 tips that might ease your transition to a new place as you start grad school.
30 x 30 – 30 things to do before I turn 30
I’m not the biggest fan of bucket lists or resolutions, but I do like having goals to work towards. Instead of fearing 30 and the “loss” of my youth, I want to celebrate all the memories and achievements, the experiences I’ve enjoyed, and the things to look forward to in the next decade.
On showing up
God has called you to this place—to this season—for a reason. You are convinced that this is where you’re meant to be. You were walking in alignment with God before you got here, so this is your spot. He hasn’t called you to move on, so here you stay. This is where you’re called to plant roots right now.
“So why is it so hard?” you keep asking. “God, have you abandoned me? Why would you bring me here and then allow so much opposition that I want to give up?”
Friend—you’re not alone. God has NOT abandoned you.
When you feel terrible for no particular reason
Friends, do you ever have those days where you just feel all around terrible for no particular reason? Physical malaise, exhaustion, a short temper...it’s not who you are at the core, but you can’t seem to shake it. You’re not sick, but you just feel crappy.
So what do you do?
What’s Your Calling?
In The Art of Work, author Jeff Goins writes that the vast majority of people don’t know what their calling is. Those people who dream of being a professional ballerina from age 5 or being a doctor like their father are few and far between. Most of us need to do some heavy searching and discerning; we don’t generally “just know” our calling.
From Neuroscience to Higher Education: A Personal Narrative
When it came time to select a college, I ultimately decided on Messiah College—not because of the courses, but because of the opportunities to take my learning outside of the classroom and truly be nurtured into a well-rounded adult, grounded in my faith, fully ready to function in society four years later. I felt accepted by Messiah’s community every time I set foot on campus. From my admissions counselor to the student tour guide to the dining services employees: everyone made me feel welcome. I recognized that this environment would enable me to process my thoughts and grow as an individual and an academic.
4 Things I Learned When “Downgrading” My Career
I am an associate at Hobby Lobby.
We spent $120K to cover four years of education in Neuroscience and Mathematics, and I left a prestigious job in research to become a custom framer at a craft store.
If you’re sitting here, scratching your head and wondering what would compel me to do such a thing, you’re not alone.
“fake it ‘til you become it”: BRAVE
What do you think of when someone mentions brave people?
Firefighters?
A knight in shining armor?
Yourself??
Lately I’ve been realizing that we don’t have to wear a uniform to be brave. There are plenty of daily tasks that we each face that require bravery. Recently, I have begun to see just how much fear is in my life.
I’ll admit it: I am scared of everything.
Defining GRACE: A Journey Towards Neurotheology
Grace. It’s my middle name. It’s something I frequently lack as I walk down the street. It’s the elegant quality that I crave as a dancer. It’s that sweet melody woven throughout Christian theology. The Oxford English Dictionary (n.d.) defines grace as “the free and unmerited favor of God.” I have grown up hearing that mercy is God not giving us what we deserve, and grace is God giving us what we don’t deserve. Coming to college, I quickly learned that grace is much more involved than that. Grace is not just God saving humanity from a life of sin, but also a way of living as Christians (Jacobsen & Sawatsky, 2007). I am certainly not a perfect, gracious Christian, but I can maintain hope for the future because God’s grace is sufficient for me.