I went in hoping for a quick lunch and left feeling inspired and hopeful.

Reminiscing about the time my 15-year-old niece asked me to pick her up some Airheads and Bug Juice. I didn’t have clue.

The apostle Paul didn’t say anything about finding contentment in vehicles … or even shelter. Food and clothing ought to lead to contentment.

Sometimes the smallest victories are the ones that shape us the most.

I’ll brave hailstorms for deep connections.

I was probably too young to be going on a mission to save my dad, but when someone you love is in trouble, you answer the bell, no matter the level of your preparation.

We all have a story to tell ... if anybody will stop and listen.

Reading opened me up to new worlds, new thoughts and new experiences. And it made me realize my struggles were common.

If we don’t choose the wilderness, it usually chooses us.

How a night by the river and the crackle of a fire served as good medicine.

A day I will never forget.

How a weathered baseball near a headstone made my mind race to fill in the gaps.

There’s something to be said for a relaxing, storyless weekend. Our bodies need that sometimes. But I think our minds and hearts need adventures too.

One woman’s legacy of hope.

God wants to use you right where you are, even, and especially when you feel like you don’t have anything left to give.

Even if we don’t understand or appreciate someone’s preferred method of communication, the connection is what matters. And why wouldn’t we want more of that?

“Sauntering is no more vagrant than the meandering river.”

I wish I had some deep insight after losing so many close friends in such a short amount of time. Instead, I often feel numb. Maybe it’s my way of bracing for more loss.