Disclaimer:
"If you see yourself in my stories, that's alright — the shoe might fit. But don’t go getting so full of yourself thinking it’s all about you. Sometimes the Lord just uses familiar faces to tell a bigger truth."

Romans 12:3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgement.

Hey Friend,

Some days I sit back and think about all the wild, wonderful characters God has placed on my journey of life — a bit like a sitcom, just with way more coffee and questionable dance moves. You’d be surprised by how many times I’ve thought, “You really can’t make this cast up!” From the gym guru with questionable beliefs but a great gym pal, to my cubical buddy, who brings calm and comic relief exactly when I need it at work. Then there’s the “praying man,” whose words hit me right in the wisdom, and the Conspiracist who keeps the conspiracy theories wild and my imagination wilder.

Let’s not forget my apartment manager Jennifer the resident therapist (without the copay), and the parade of genuine, loving souls like Donna (hostess with the mostest), Cherice (queen of timely running rescues) and my muse to continue to push myself even when I don’t want to, and neighbors Dan & Jadie, who deliver hugs that should come with a warning label for excessive comfort. And of course, Erica and Jamie—the date night duo who can turn a two-hour dinner into an overnight summit.

And just when I think my crew couldn’t get any richer, enters Jessica—this woman can light up an entire room with her confidence, If I could borrow just ten minutes of her public speaking power, I’d probably rule the world…Then there’s Leann, our super grandma, who seems to have discovered how to add extra hours in the day so she can love twice as hard and laugh twice as much. Then there’s Cynthia the friend God dropped right out of the sky for me. The friend that gets all of my inappropriate humor.

Even when God tosses me into a new job and unfamiliar places, He seems to have my back, sprinkling my path with folks I never would have chosen but now can’t imagine traveling without.

The lesson? Sometimes God, also sends you people who stretch you, challenge you, or even rub you the wrong way, are the very sandpaper God uses to smooth out your rough edges. Now, I try my best not to return that sandpaper as “yuck”—even if I have to pray extra hard for patience!

In the cast of my own home, I see my son Tatum, always ready to draw a line in the sand: he is a pillar of strength and boundaries, Zachary, the eternal optimist: everything always works out for him, Psalms, brave even when scared, Sadie, overflowing with quiet power, and Alex, whose persistence reminds me never to quit. My husband Shannon is the calm every storm dreams of—not perfect, just patient beyond belief (and trust me, that’s basically sainthood around here).

What do I want to give back? A dash of everyone’s best—bucketloads of love, joy, resilience, and a big helping of laughter. If you find yourself catching a whiff of my optimism or a sprinkle of fearless trying, know I probably borrowed it from someone who crossed my path (with extra seasoning from my own stumbles).

I’m reminded of James 1:17—"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights." People, quirky as they are, are those gifts. Sometimes delivered with a fancy bow; sometimes dropped on your porch, muddy feet and all.

Lesson learned: The company you keep — good, bad, funny, odd, prayerful, and real —becomes the recipe for who you are. God never wastes a character, or a season, in the story.

Thank you for being part of my motley, blessed cast. For seeing my rough edges and encouraging the shine.

Your friend and fellow “work-in-progress,”

From Your Friend, Me