When my husband died five years ago, I remember sitting in the counselor’s office and telling her that I was praying, asking God to turn my weeping to laughing and my mourning to dancing. She said, “Natalie, those are two extremes. Maybe you should hope for something in the middle.” After living with Michael’s bipolar disorder, I understood what it meant to live in the…
As most of you know, I am working on my PhD in Counseling. I spent two weeks last month on campus in class, all day every day. During this intense week, I not only learned a lot about counseling others, but I also did a tremendous amount of introspection. One of the things that resonated with me was the challenge to live in the “here…
OK, so I’ve felt like I needed to blog on suffering for some time now, but I keep putting it off. Even now, I don’t really want to write about it but I feel it in my bones that I’m supposed to … so here goes! Life hurts! There are times in life when the pain is so intense that even breathing seems a chore….
Seventeen years ago today, evil descended over a nation with a horrifying intensity. Neighbors betrayed neighbors. Friends brutally murdered friends. Children hid in terror as feared for their lives. As I listened to the stories of those who survived the genocide, I found myself heartbroken, time and time again. We visited the National Genocide Museum in Kigali. The sights and images I saw will forever…
Its just another ordinary day as you go about your tasks getting ready for the day. Imagine your surprise when you hear quite a commotion outside. You look out the window to see soldiers making their way towards your home. Quickly and quietly, you grab your younger sister and run out of the house into the field along with your parents and two other siblings….
Many of you have asked about my recent trip to Rwanda, and I must admit that it’s hard to put into words the lessons learned on this trip. I met some unbelievable people who have walked through horrific pain to find grace and healing on the other side. There is no way to express what is in my heart in one post, so I will…