Category Archives: Hope

Shawna’s Elevation talk now available! (Mental illness, suicide, and finding God in the darkness)

It’s Mental Health Week! What better way to kick it off than by sharing my Elevation talk with you. Special thanks to the Elevation crew who made this talk available so quickly! Here’s a snapshot of what you’ll hear in … Continue reading

Posted in Community, Depression, Faith, God, Health is Wealth, Hope, Love, Mental Health, Mental Health Week, Mental Illness, Perspective, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Purpose, Redemption, Suicide, Support | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

How do you feel when you see injustice in the world?

What one word describes how you feel when you see injustice in the world?  Perhaps hopeful? Sad? Defeated? Determined? Whatever the adjective, share it here.  I want to hear your thoughts. The inspiration below is taken from Isaiah in the … Continue reading

Posted in Faith, God, Hope, Idle No More, Inspiration, Love, Movement/Cause, Perspective | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

I had the most incredible night…

It all started yesterday.  The sun was setting, and the phone rang.  “Would you be free tomorrow night to share your story with a group of teenaged girls?” Would I?  Could I?  I had to find a way to make … Continue reading

Posted in Community, Coping, Death, Grief, Hope, Perspective, Redemption, Single parent, Stigmas, Support, Widow | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

HAPPY THOUGHT #36: Hearing my 2-year-old encourage her friend

My soon-to-be 3-year-old daughter had her first at-home sleep-over tonight.  The afternoon was a lot of fun.  Full of painting toes, dancing in the hallway, eating air popped popcorn, and playing dress up.  All was well, until bedtime. The girls, … Continue reading

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LEARNING HOW TO DIE – Jon Foreman

After my husband’s memorial service, a friend left me a note to listen to Jon Foreman‘s, The House of God, forever.  I was later given his Winter album, a listening experience rich in meaningful tracks about death and dying.  There … Continue reading

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A COMPLETE LIFE – Martin Luther King Jr.

  “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr. Today, the third Monday in January, is Martin Luther King … Continue reading

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BREATHE

Breathe in.  Breathe out.  Breathe in.  Breathe out. God, where are you?  I miss feeling you.  Knowing you are there.  But I fear those feelings were just my own imagination creating a false illusion of being connected to you.  If … Continue reading

Posted in Coping, Death, Faith, God, Grief, Hope, Perspective, Relaxation, Rest, Support, Widow | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

BREAKING THROUGH THE WATERS

I had the privilege of speaking at my Church, Elevation, today.  For anyone who is interested in the text, or were not able to attend, I thought I’d re-post it here. My Pastor friend was speaking on Isaiah 61 from … Continue reading

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POPPY – a tribute to my dad’s dad

When I was 19 my Poppy died.  Poppy is what our family called my Dad’s Dad.  He was not the first person I had lost to death, or even the first loss I had experienced in general, for loss comes … Continue reading

Posted in Death, Family, Grandparents, Hope, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

DAY 1: CREATION – THE DARKNESS AND THE LIGHT

When I look back over my life I recognize I have utilized many resources for different seasons.  Friends, counselors, family, pastors, psychologists, naturopaths, nutritionists, authors…all, in my experience, have held a key to wellness.  The best word to describe the … Continue reading

Posted in Faith, God, Grief, Hope, Perspective, Uncategorized, Widow | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment