Did you know that 12 million women in the United States are struggling with anxiety? In our population of males and females, 18.1% struggle with it, but only 36.9% get treatment. Of those diagnosed, half of them will also battle depression. This is a huge deal because both of these mental health conditions affect the…
Do you know the story of the woman at the well? In that story, Jesus unmasked her hidden sin and five husbands and live-in boyfriend. I know we shake our head when we hear that account and secretly judge her indiscretions. While it’s true she made some bad decisions, we’re ultimately not that different from…
As moms, we have so much to think about, don’t we? From the daily decisions of what to make for dinner and which shows our kids can watch to deciding whether to take the kids to the clinic or let them sleepover at a friend’s house – our minds are in constant motion. Sometimes, we…
Everyone goes through times in their lives when they hit rock bottom and all hope seems lost. For some people, this might mean dealing with the storms of life or simply managing day to day stress. Yet for others, rock bottom may include battling a mental health disorder or an addiction. However, even when things…
Being a Christian for 40 years should mean I know what I’m doing. You would think God is a huge part of my life and my every day, but can I admit I’m lacking? In my mind, I have enough energy to do all my roles: wife, mom, daughter, and friend. This energy also allows…
Struggle and disappointment go hand-in-hand with our life here on Earth. The Bible warns us over and over again that we can expect to go through hard times. However, when those hard time strike, we may feel forgotten by God. If our Father loves us so much, how could he possibly let us go through…
Once a student told me, “Mrs. Bowen, thanks for being patient with us.” WHAT?!?! I asked her if she would write it down to share with my husband because I know he would never use my name and patience in the same sentence. And well, honestly, I couldn’t really argue with that. I don’t excel…
Last spring my Grandfather celebrated his 90th birthday and a few months later, took his last breath. His passing left hole in my heart, yet inspired a renewed passion for taking care of the elderly. And it reminded me what truly matters in our fleeting time on earth. In this modern age, self interest, greed…
Have you ever had one of those days when everything just seems to go wrong? Who am I kidding? We have all had days like that. You start out with a strong-willed three year old who insists on wearing pajama pants and a superhero costume to Mother’s Morning Out and end up with a…
I did something really stupid the other day. My husband was gone, and I was home with four extra boys, a new, untrained puppy, whose bladder is the size of a sesame seed, and a potty-training three-year-old, Ethan. I was frustrated and overwhelmed, and I irritable because the first words out of my mouth when…
There are times in my faith when God felt distant and far away. Whether I battled a secret sin I hid in shame or was simply struggling with life, feeling distant from God rattles me to the core. Yet I’ve found that reconnecting with the Lord doesn’t have to be as hard or dramatic as…