Every year, since 2006, I have chosen ONE WORD to focus on for the year.
My word for 2020 was REBUILD: to repair, especially to dismantle and reassemble with new parts.
“Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19
2020 was indeed a year of rebuilding.
My faith was strengthened in a way that I cannot fully explain.
It’s one thing to say God is all I need but it was another thing to face the many challenges of the year and know that He alone would carry me, sustain me, provide for me and never abandon me.
In March, I began a journey with Give Her Wings Abuse Advocacy Academy. I am 5/6 of the way through my training/certification process and I am learning new things with each lesson.
In August, I began taking business courses with the amazing Martha Krejci. Her guidance and wisdom has given me courage to step up and step out into the things that God had created and prepared me for.
In September, I launched Held & Healed: Christian Women Rebuilding After Abuse and we now have almost 100 members. I am blessed to be able to share the valuable information and resources that I discover on my training.
My pain is not in vain if helps others gain their healing.
In 2020, I saw many prayers answers.
In 2020, my faith was rebuilt.
My identity was rebuilt.
My body was rebuilt.
My relationships were rebuilt.
My business was rebuilt.
My ministry was rebuilt.
I laughed more and cried less.
I joy and peace like never before.
I had more time with my precious boys.
I met some amazing people and new friendships formed.
I said good-bye to relationships, commitments and activities that were not God’s best for me.
I know that 2020 was a hard year for many, but for me, it was a victorious year.
So, 2021 will be a year to proclaim.
PROCLAIM: to extol or praise publicly.
“I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.” Psalm 71:16
Books will be written.
Stories will be shared.
Songs will be recorded.
All for His glory and to encourage those who are still walking through the fire.
He has been faithful, constant, steady, sure.
I will proclaim His goodness every chance I get.
He alone is the reason I have made it through the fires and floods.
My word for 2020 was REBUILD: to repair, especially to dismantle and reassemble with new parts.
“Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19
2020 was indeed a year of rebuilding.
My faith was strengthened in a way that I cannot fully explain.
It’s one thing to say God is all I need but it was another thing to face the many challenges of the year and know that He alone would carry me, sustain me, provide for me and never abandon me.
In March, I began a journey with Give Her Wings Abuse Advocacy Academy. I am 5/6 of the way through my training/certification process and I am learning new things with each lesson.
In August, I began taking business courses with the amazing Martha Krejci. Her guidance and wisdom has given me courage to step up and step out into the things that God had created and prepared me for.
In September, I launched Held & Healed: Christian Women Rebuilding After Abuse and we now have almost 100 members. I am blessed to be able to share the valuable information and resources that I discover on my training.
My pain is not in vain if helps others gain their healing.
In 2020, I saw many prayers answers.
In 2020, my faith was rebuilt.
My identity was rebuilt.
My body was rebuilt.
My relationships were rebuilt.
My business was rebuilt.
My ministry was rebuilt.
I laughed more and cried less.
I joy and peace like never before.
I had more time with my precious boys.
I met some amazing people and new friendships formed.
I said good-bye to relationships, commitments and activities that were not God’s best for me.
I know that 2020 was a hard year for many, but for me, it was a victorious year.
So, 2021 will be a year to proclaim.
PROCLAIM: to extol or praise publicly.
“I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.” Psalm 71:16
Books will be written.
Stories will be shared.
Songs will be recorded.
All for His glory and to encourage those who are still walking through the fire.
He has been faithful, constant, steady, sure.
I will proclaim His goodness every chance I get.
He alone is the reason I have made it through the fires and floods.
My child, you can always come home.
No matter the time that has lapsed since I saw you last.
No matter the words spoken in brokenness and pain.
No matter the differences that stand between us.
When you are weary, come home and rest.
When you are hungry, come home and eat.
When you are sad, come home to joy.
When you are stressed, come home to peace.
You are loved beyond comprehension.
No matter what.
No matter the time that has lapsed since I saw you last.
No matter the words spoken in brokenness and pain.
No matter the differences that stand between us.
When you are weary, come home and rest.
When you are hungry, come home and eat.
When you are sad, come home to joy.
When you are stressed, come home to peace.
You are loved beyond comprehension.
No matter what.
Almost daily, I get messages from people about the radical diet changes I made three and a half years ago.
42 months with no dairy, no gluten, no white sugar, no white flour, no fast food, no soda, no CRAP!
42 months of whole foods, and keeping my sugars below 30 grams/day.
18 months of that, I was full blown Autoimmune Protocol Diet.
I have experienced all the emotions of letting go of foods that I thought I could not live without.
Anger.
Grief.
Frustration.
Frustration.
Fear.
Overwhelm.
Exhaustion.
But, my health was more important to me.
My quality of life began to improve immediately.
My joint pain lessened, then disappeared.
My stomach issues resolved.
Thirty pounds of unwanted and unnecessary weight fell off and stayed off.
So, I’m ready to help others find the same healing I have found!
Ladies, you are invited!
Join me at the REBUILD: NUTRITION course!
We will cover these topics:
Intermittent fasting
Hydration
Label reading
Whole foods recipes for the holidays
It’s time to stop shaming and blaming domestic abuse victims.
These are things that have been spoken over women that I know and love...
“It takes two.”
“There are two sides to every story.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“You should pray more.”
“You should submit more.”
“If you gave him sex more, he wouldn’t have to find it elsewhere.”
“If you took better care of yourself, he wouldn’t cheat on you.”
“We love you both, so we won’t take sides.”
“You’re so bitter.”
“You’re unforgiving.”
“What did you do to make him hurt you?”
No. No. No.
Abusers choose to abuse.
Cheaters choose to cheat.
Period.
They have private and public personalities.
They can be kind when it suits them.
STOP BLAMING THE VICTIM AND START HOLDING THE ABUSER TO ACCOUNT.
KNOW BETTER. DO BETTER.
If you are a Christian woman who is rebuilding your life after an abusive marriage, join us here.
These are things that have been spoken over women that I know and love...
“It takes two.”
“There are two sides to every story.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“You should pray more.”
“You should submit more.”
“If you gave him sex more, he wouldn’t have to find it elsewhere.”
“If you took better care of yourself, he wouldn’t cheat on you.”
“We love you both, so we won’t take sides.”
“You’re so bitter.”
“You’re unforgiving.”
“What did you do to make him hurt you?”
No. No. No.
Abusers choose to abuse.
Cheaters choose to cheat.
Period.
They have private and public personalities.
They can be kind when it suits them.
STOP BLAMING THE VICTIM AND START HOLDING THE ABUSER TO ACCOUNT.
KNOW BETTER. DO BETTER.
If you are a Christian woman who is rebuilding your life after an abusive marriage, join us here.
WHY I STAND FOR MAMAS AND BABIES...
I was conceived the year that Roe v Wade legalized abortion in the USA.
My mother was 17, unwed, and newly orphaned.
Her doctor strongly advised her to abort me.
She ran from that office and did not return to a doctor’s care until she was ready to deliver me.
She gave me life.
And, I am grateful.
(In the 50’s, her conception was also unplanned and when she was a newborn, she was adopted by an amazing and loving couple.)
Years later, my mom became one of the first telephone counselors for our local pregnancy center.
I grew up with a clear understanding of the sanctity of life.
Decades later, I became a client advocate for that same center.
I met with hundreds of women and heard heartbreaking stories.
Those women told me things they had never told another soul.
I have deep compassion for any woman who finds herself in a place where a pregnancy is unplanned.
Many fear for their lives.
Many do not have a support system.
Many do not have resources.
I do not stand in condemnation of anyone who has had an abortion, but I do stand for truth and justice.
Anyone I know who has made this choice has regret, shame, and is affected in every area of her life.
To anyone who has had an abortion and who needs help to heal, please reach out to me.
I will hold what you share in confidence and I will point you to resources.
To those of us who are passionate about life, let’s do better!
It’s not enough to stand AGAINST abortion.
We must stand FOR these mamas...we must do our part to show up, love on and support them for the long haul.
Host a baby shower.
Rally with others to supply her with diapers until the baby is potty trained.
Give her a gift card for groceries.
Babysit so she can have a day to herself.
Invite her and her child into your life, home and family.
I’m here because my mom chose life, which gave me the opportunity to become a mama to three beautiful baby boys.
I cannot imagine this world without those lives...
I was conceived the year that Roe v Wade legalized abortion in the USA.
My mother was 17, unwed, and newly orphaned.
Her doctor strongly advised her to abort me.
She ran from that office and did not return to a doctor’s care until she was ready to deliver me.
She gave me life.
And, I am grateful.
(In the 50’s, her conception was also unplanned and when she was a newborn, she was adopted by an amazing and loving couple.)
Years later, my mom became one of the first telephone counselors for our local pregnancy center.
I grew up with a clear understanding of the sanctity of life.
Decades later, I became a client advocate for that same center.
I met with hundreds of women and heard heartbreaking stories.
Those women told me things they had never told another soul.
I have deep compassion for any woman who finds herself in a place where a pregnancy is unplanned.
Many fear for their lives.
Many do not have a support system.
Many do not have resources.
I do not stand in condemnation of anyone who has had an abortion, but I do stand for truth and justice.
Anyone I know who has made this choice has regret, shame, and is affected in every area of her life.
To anyone who has had an abortion and who needs help to heal, please reach out to me.
I will hold what you share in confidence and I will point you to resources.
To those of us who are passionate about life, let’s do better!
It’s not enough to stand AGAINST abortion.
We must stand FOR these mamas...we must do our part to show up, love on and support them for the long haul.
Host a baby shower.
Rally with others to supply her with diapers until the baby is potty trained.
Give her a gift card for groceries.
Babysit so she can have a day to herself.
Invite her and her child into your life, home and family.
I’m here because my mom chose life, which gave me the opportunity to become a mama to three beautiful baby boys.
I cannot imagine this world without those lives...
