Revealing Grace

When you go through a divorce, so much is public. Heck, hundreds of people watched you make vows to another person and less than two years later you have to announce that it has crashed and burned. No matter how kind and understanding people are, you are wrought with the shame of the situation. It is embarrassing to be sure, no matter what the reasons behind the divorce were. So when I started dating Jeff, I found myself keeping much of our relationship close to my chest. We all know I love him and he is incredible, but I have found myself resisting the desire to write about our love in detail. I have had such public pain and hardship. Now I seem to want to protect my joy and happiness within the walls of my own home and heart. But I will tell you this: Jeff is perhaps the best human I've ever met.  He is perfect in his imperfections. He is pure of heart and kind in spirit. He is a hard worker, a precious gift giver, a servant who has the patience of a saint. He love

This weekend, I turn THIRTY. And boy am I ready to leave my 20s! My twenties were the stuff of a good novel, full of plot twists and unexpected downfalls. They included a solo trip to India and hikes through vineyards in Germany. I visited 7 countries, received two degrees, lived in 4 states, and developed some of my best friendships. I fell in love, got my heart broken, and fell in love again. I worked as a missionary, as a content marketer in finance, and at a pizza restaurant. I poured my heart into my work, I raised a teenager for a little while, and I moved homes a lot. My twenties, though not entirely bad, were entirely different than I had imagined they would be. I went through seasons of hardship that were painful and traumatic. I endured a horrible end to my marriage, a divorce, and a cancer diagnosis. I went through multiple surgeries and chemotherapy. It is probably an understatement to say that the last five years have been incredibly difficult. Does all o