A few days ago, I wrote a post called "Do It Scared." I encouraged you to "Do it scared. Do it trembling. Do it wondering if you'll fail and if others will think you're crazy." Today, that's me. I have written an e-book, and today I'm releasing it into the big, scary world. I'm scared. I'm trembling. I'm wondering if I'll fail and if others will think I'm crazy. But I'm doing it anyway! The book is called Buried: What to Do When You're Overwhelmed, and I've written it for those of you who struggle to manage all that's on your plate. I did a poll on Facebook a few weeks ago, and the number one struggle people identified themselves as having is managing responsibilities. I heard from so many women who said there's too much to do and too little time. Too many tasks and not enough self. Too many expectations and not enough reality. They said something has to give. I immediately knew this topic, chosen by hundreds of women, was something I had to address. I sat down with my computer and my prayers, and the result of those hours is this book I'm offering. It walks you through five simple and practical...

  For most of my life, I've been a fraidy cat. I've always been the one scared. Afraid of roller coasters, afraid of planes, afraid of what others think of me. I have lived in the shadows of my own life, allowing the fears to become my focus. I forfeited dreams and relationships and what could have been because I was scared of what might be. But in the past 6 months, I have stared some fears in the face. I have listened to the scared voice in my head and told it, "Not this time." I have stepped out when I once would have run away. And I am a different person because of it. Whatever it is that scares you - do it anyway. Do it scared. Do it trembling. Do it wondering if you'll fail and if others will think you're crazy. Do it anyway. Whether you want to start a business or ask a friend over for coffee, fear will tell you not to do it. Fear will tell you all that could go wrong. Fear will convince you not to take the risk. I'm begging you to do it anyway. When you do it scared, you come alive. When you hide in fear, you die inside. When...

  It's finally here! My very own website! After weeks of hard work behind the scenes, my amazingly selfless friend has created this beautiful website as a home for my writing, and I am blown away by what he did. Isn't it great to have technological friends? If it were up to me, I'd be handwriting letters to each of you and mailing them through the postal service. :) This website will still house my blog, and you can also find old posts from my original blog. It will also be the hub for all of my writing activity. You'll find the latest information on what I'm working on and exclusive material you won't find anywhere else! (If you look to the right at the top of this page, you'll find a spot where you can subscribe via email and get a free gift, too!) I'm so excited to have this new virtual home, and I'm praying it will be a source of encouragement to you as you enjoy your journey!...

I wanted so badly to do it right. Whatever the Christian life looked like, I wanted to represent it well.

A people-pleaser by nature with perfectionist tendencies, I knew that if I could just find the hidden list of do’s and don’ts, I’d be set. I’d memorize it, practice it, and ace the Christian test.

I would make Jesus, and those around me watching, proud...

When did women not taking care of themselves become a badge of honor? When did it become admirable for a woman to bemoan having no time to herself, no time to enjoy her husband, no time to do anything she wants?I don't like a world where self-destruction is revered.Confession time: I sacrifice time with my family to work out. I let my kids watch TV so I can read a book without pictures. I leave my children with my husband and go to dinner with my girlfriends. I leave my children with their grandparents so I can go to dinner with my husband. I lock them outside to play with all the toys we spent all the money on so I can eat a brownie in peace and quiet!!! (Mine are 9 and 10, so they are perfectly fine - don't question my parenting. I didn't do it when they were 2 and 3. Much.)In other words, I make a habit of taking care of myself. Call me selfish, but it's what I need to stay sane. You ultra-moms out there who are convinced 5 minutes to yourself is a luxury you can't afford? You WILL burn out. Trust me...

I'm so afraid that the church - the broad, nationwide collection of believers who amass to worship and grow - has contributed to a society where wrong is ignored and people are marginalized and hate is fanned into flame. Not in sermons preached from the pulpit, necessarily, and not in words from hate-mongering pastors, but in the quietly obvious lack of love and acceptance and true ministering to souls whose default is sin. We are all messed up people, sinners in need of redemption, and we all have an equally deep need for the mercy of the Savior who passionately loves us and completely forgives us. But in looking at the church, it's often hard to see that we messed up people are equal and that the church loves us all as equally as the One we worship does. The church, I'm afraid, doesn't reflect Christ. The church, I'm afraid, reflects the racism and classicism and sexism of its society.I have spent years worshiping in churches where every member looked just like me. White, middle class, steady job and active 401k. I have worshiped in churches where people whisper if a black man walks in and are offended more by a...