Anne’s Blog
Learning to Reflect and Refocus
How many of you like to reflect on past experiences? It's so helpful to spend some time thinking quietly and considering the past. Oftentimes, reflection leads us to refocus. As we reflect, we see the benefit of enjoying each moment more clearly and determine not to...
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Learning to Accept Life As It Is
Today I'm sharing the last of my five lessons learned in the last five years. (Catch up by reading part 1, part 2, and part 3, part 4.) I started this series by talking about a big change that led us down a path of surrender, grief, and managing expectations. But in...
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Living With Expectancy Instead of Expectations
Today, I'm continuing my series about the five biggest lessons I learned in the last five years. (Catch up by reading part 1, part 2, and part 3.) I've been thinking about today's topic for a while. Expectations. I love the line by Gloria Gaither that says, “Live with...
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Letting Grief Move You Towards Discovery
I'm continuing my series today on the five lessons I learned in the last five years. (You can read part 1 and part 2 to catch up.) Today I want to share how grieving takes us into a place of discovery. I am not unfamiliar with grief. Anytime there is a loss there is...
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Learning to Embrace Surrender
Today I'm continuing to share about the five biggest lessons I learned in the last five years. As a quick recap, my husband and I made the hard but necessary decision five years ago to move to Texas, leaving the family, friends, and businesses we loved so much. Last...
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Change Is Constant
We're a few weeks into 2019 and as we reflect on the past year, many of us clearly see some of the changes we’ve experienced. Some changes surprised us and others we planned for. I clearly remember the year 1999 and all the hype about going into the 21st century. I...
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Getting Even or Giving Grace
On Thanksgiving morning, I received a text from someone I didn't know. It was a “go fund me” request and I didn't know if it was legitimate or not. I asked who they were but within a few seconds, there was another text. I realized then that this was a group text. This...
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With and Without Faith
When I read the line, "Without faith NOTHING IS POSSIBLE and with it NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE,” it challenges me. Faith, in simple terms, is believing in what you cannot see. We live it out every day. When you have what you want or ask for, you no longer need faith. I...
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The Wonder and Ponder of Christmas
The sights and sounds of Christmas are all around us! Shopping centers brimming and shoppers loaded with gifts. Kids waiting in long lines to have their pictures with Santa. Christmas music plays in the background. This is the Christmas scene in the 21st century. This...
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My Very Own Christmas Miracle
I've been hearing lots of Christmas Carol this season as I'm shopping and it always makes me want to hum along. There’s something about Christmas that floods me with memories and thrills my heart. Christmas takes me back to my childhood. My memories are not about...
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Being All You Can Be
Recently I spoke at a women’s conference called Women After Gods Own Heart in Oklahoma City. There was plenty of inspiration during the conference from the amazing singers and speakers. However, none impacted me more than a little nine-year-old girl, Mariah. She was...
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The Good Kind of Surprise
How many of you enjoy surprises? I'm not talking about the kind of surprise that alters our lives by way of natural calamities, news of a life-threatening condition, or a devastating event. Unfortunately, those unwelcoming surprises can traumatize us for years and...
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Being Thankful at Thanksgiving
Here in the states, we're getting ready to celebrate Thanksgiving! It has become a special time that we set aside to remember all the blessings we're grateful for. I recently had the joy of spending a few days in Gap Pennsylvania where we lived for 27 years. There was...
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If You Want Change You Have To Make Changes
Most of us experience life with some regret. I certainly did my share of regretting. Regret in its simplest form is wishing we would’ve done things differently because we don’t like the way life has turned out. Our childhood dreams have ended and we live with the...
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Why Relationships With People Are Greater Than Things
I saw a billboard recently that provoked my thinking about relationships. It read, “Lonely billboard....looking for a long-term relationship." It made me think about how little value we put into relationships. (A relationship with a billboard?) Well, I must admit it...
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