Because confidence comes from within - it's important that we are nourishing ourselves with the things that will help us feel well.

You WILL look back and see the good.  Sure, there are tears, there is grief, there is pain - it's not easy.  We will wrestle and struggle our way through - looking for the hope.

Here is the deal - I know I'm not alone in looking at others, seeing what all they are doing or not doing and wondering - what went wrong.

As we begin to accept ourselves and find belonging from within - we are then able to show the true and real version of ourselves to others.

link to a podcast + the official mark of summer - my boys are out of school

And - what I believe to be helpful - whether you love new years or whether you are dreading the year to come - is to give the year prior some proper closure.

More than anything - I want each of you to know that you are not alone and there are women across the world in similar situations to yours. Trying to figure out how to celebrate Christmas with grace and ease.

For women walking through betrayal - this is especially hard because betrayal is pretty much just like a mid-life crisis and what we thought we liked or were passionate about - all of a sudden goes out the window.

While I believe getting to a place of acceptance can take years and buckets of tears and grappling with questions that don't necessarily have any answers - I believe that surrender - yes, surrendering whatever load it is that you are carrying TODAY - can be a short term respite for your weary soul.

It was last Sunday at church that I thought these 5 words - "I'm a better person when..." I found myself actually looking for people I knew to say "hi" to in the hallways after church versus my usual - keeping my head down, collecting my kids and flying out the door.

I've thought of all the times when I choose hiding over showing up. When I lurk into the shadows instead of bravely walking into the light and saying - here I am - pain, hurt, ugliness and all.

If I was going to get comfortable in this season of wading through some tough parenting and some tough fighting with Jason - I needed a word (or several) for it.

Oh God - how much we all want that for our stories - for it NOT to be for harm but instead be for good. And for not just one life to be saved because of our pain but for many lives to be saved. Yes - that's what we want!

We just kept right on running right beside it as we groaned, punched the air with our fists, and started laughing.

Because when my marriage started to blow - I was convinced I was ruined. My heart would never repair. My soul was damaged for good. Heaven come quick.

Someone wise proceeded to tell me - just because I'm questioning God and in a season of distrust with Him doesn't disqualify me from helping others! So to even think I needed to fake my relationship with God - no way.

So I'm closing with this - I'm begging you to show up by being you. If you are down, say it. If you feel hopeless - express it. If you feel angry - get it out. Let

I am begging you, ladies, to not give up. Please, take the next step on your journey no. matter. what. This fight is worth fighting. And it's strangling far too many women and far too many marriages. We must, together, fight.

I used to think I could forgive in order to circumvent the grief process but I know differently today - grieving is a big part OF the forgiveness journey.