“In order to write about life, first you must live it.”
-Ernest Hemingway
So much life happens “in the waiting.” Don’t wish away today, for tomorrow.
It has taken a lot of years to write down my story. My only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner. As we take a look back together, I encourage you to pick up a pen and begin writing yourself. It’s amazing to look back and see the Lord at work.
I am so thankful that my hope and my joy are placed in an unchanging God. Even through the hardest and darkest of days, there is always rest and safety to be found in the shadow of His wings.
The Stories of Yesterday
#2.3: This Can’t Be Happening
Excerpt:
“…Chaos continued to erupt all around us as we entered the outdoor courtyard.
Fearful Parisians were banging on doors begging to be let in. Trying each door they passed with the hopes that one would be unlocked.
Chris and I continued running up the flights of stairs until we came to a utility closet. We tried the door, hoping it was unlocked. Hoping we could find a place of refuge to hide.
The door opened to a frightened mother with tears in her eyes, hiding her children behind her, using her body as a shield in this small, crammed closet…”
#1.1: Living On Autopilot
Excerpt:
“…But, I should back up. My time of surrender and being brought to my knees with so much force that I didn’t know if I would ever be able to get back up again, didn’t begin in 2020 at all. It started in the early 2000s with an abusive relationship, followed by a marriage built on lies and deceit by a guy with a secret addiction, followed by becoming a divorcee at a youthful 24 years of age, and then by the devastating news of my mom’s cancer diagnosis…”
#1.2: The Facade
Excerpt:
“…I was grieving the loss of the life I had envisioned for myself. I was struggling with the stigma of being divorced at such a young age. I feared being alone even for a minute to the point where I would stay the night at my best friend’s house or travel down to see my family for day trips just so that I didn’t have to be alone with my thoughts, my feelings, my emotions…”
#1.3: Challenge Accepted
Excerpt:
“…Our relationship quickly became fun and flirtatious. At a time when no one could keep my attention past one date, I was surprised how quickly I became enthralled with this guy.
He had this way about him - he made me feel special, he seemed genuinely interested in me as a person, he was not judgmental of my past, he was easy to talk to, he was fun, he had an unfamiliar taste in music that I never would admit intrigued me, he was well-traveled, he was full of life, he didn’t take himself too seriously….”
#1.4: Five Life Changing Words
Excerpt:
“…But that day in particular, it was apparently storing something else very important that I was not supposed to know about quite yet.
You see, unbeknownst to me, Chris was trying to figure out the details of an elaborate proposal. In the meantime, my engagement ring was nestled in that shoebox, under Chris’ birth certificate…”
#1.5: War Room
Excerpt:
“…. I prayed these prayers of protection and safety over our relationship daily. I didn’t know it at the time, but the timing was no coincidence.
There was no way to know that just a couple of months later, we would find ourselves in the middle of one of the deadliest terrorist attacks to hit Paris…”