Inspire
Joplin Strong – Surviving the May 22, 2011 Tornado
Every year around this time in Joplin there is this tension building up to May 22nd. That day. That day put our sleepy town on the map. Every time we are out of town (regardless of how far away) and I'm asked where we are from, and I answer, the person immediately...
read moreThe Strength and Courage of A Mother Who Has Faced Her Greatest Fear
You know how there are those people you just click with. You don't see them all the time, but they just make your day a little brighter when you do. Jenny Cianci is one of those for me. She knows my deepest secrets because she is my hair stylist. In fact, even if...
read moreI Killed My First Snake
I killed my first snake today. I will not divulge his size, but I killed a snake today. For all you tough women out there who would smirk at this feat, I get that. But, I killed a snake today. It felt so good. I felt so empowered. Chris is the one who found it. ...
read moreHandle With Care: We are Precious Cargo
My twins turned 15 last week so we have 2 new permit-drivers in the family. I won't embarrass them here - they're doing as well as can be expected with five days' experience on city streets. (And as a passenger, I've cut the gasping and dashboard-gripping to a...
read more6 Prayers To Pray Over Your Family
What I pray affects my life. It's for real. God has amazed me over the last six months with His blessings and grace. James says you do not receive because you do not ask. I decided to start asking, and God began answering. I asked about really ridiculous details...
read moreToday at Church
Today we walked into church. Let me rephrase: Today, after being yanked out of bed at 6:29 by a super excited 9-year old and some sleepy and slightly grumpy older boys to do a mad egg-finding dash and eat as much of the chocolate rabbit as possible before shoving...
read moreThe Agony of the Crucifixion
I grew up in a pastor's home. I was taught what to believe. When I was 27, I went through this whole thing of whether it was all true or not. All the people in other religions thought theirs was the truth. What if there was no God? What if Jesus wasn't for real? ...
read moreShe Believed She Could: Help Girls ‘Dream with All Their Hearts’
There are sooo many wonderful groups making life better for people in our area. But there’s one that you may not have heard about yet – and it's making a big difference in the lives of girls in Neosho. Over the past year I've gotten to know one of our local news...
read moreWe Want A Goal God Can Support
I just had to share this with you on this Monday morning. It is from "Audacious" by Beth Moore. She says, "We want a goal God can support because what He supports, He brings to pass. He'll supply the supernatural strength, the open doors, the opportunities, the...
read moreDirectionally Challenged
Give me a landmark. Don’t try that north, south, east west with me. I’m simply directionally challenged. I drive myself to Downstream one time a year to help with the Lafayette House event. Every year, Chris and I go through the conversation about how to get...
read more