Caring for someone else—whether it’s a parent, partner, child, or friend—can feel like stepping into a new identity overnight. New caregivers are people who have recently taken on regular responsibility for another person’s health, safety, or daily needs, often with little preparation. The role is meaningful, but it can also be draining in quiet, cumulative ways. That’s why self-care isn’t optional here; it’s foundational. A quick grounding moment before we go further Caring well starts with staying well. Small, repeatable actions can protect your energy, steady your emotions, and help you feel like yourself again—not just “the caregiver.” Why self-care feels hard (and why it matters anyway) Problem: New caregivers often put their own needs last. Time shrinks. Guilt grows. Rest feels indulgent. Solution: Redefine self-care as maintenance , not luxury. It’s how you keep showing up without burning out. Result: More patience, clearer thinking, and a steadier emotional basel...

 Sometimes, it's the simplest things that can mean the most. For caregivers, it may be when someone acknowledges the struggle in our journey. Maybe it's a simple phone call from an old friend, it doesn't even have to be very long! One memory comes to mind as I sit writing this.  It was Mother's Day, and I had just been up to see my mom, who had dementia. On the way home, I decided that Chris and I would stop by a lake for some time in nature. I felt so swallowed up by life in that moment. I'd spent time with my mom, which was, as you know, so difficult when they are not really who they used to be. Then it was just Chris and me.  I was lonely. I was hurting. It's difficult to be caught between two generations. One disappearning before my very eyes and the other needing full-time care. But as I was pushing Chris' chair up the hill to the lake overview, a kind stranger was leaving. We nodded as we passed each other on the trail. Then, he stopped. He turned arou...

  Okay, so I'm a math and science nerd. I taught middle school math and did the coursework for a minor in math, just for fun. It's been a lifelong love relationship. I say that to warn you that I am super curious about science and math topics. I am a casual student of quantum theories, too. (Very casual. lol)  String theory is the supposition that the universe is made up of a series of minuscule vibrating strings. They connect throughout the universe. But I have a different string theory. It came about this week as i was standing in the kitchen. I thought, I can get on my (paid) work projects after I finish this. But then, I realized I had another loose end that needed to be tied off before I could get to “real” work.  No sooner did I have that thought than it led to  just one more thing  that had to be done. I realized mentally, I'd just planned the entire afternoon, with no time left for actual paid work. This is a daily exercise, I'm finding. Lol. ...

 Didn't you hate it as a child when you asked a parent, why? and got the standard answer, because I said so ? Or even worse - just  because. It's even worse to have to admit that, as parents, we did it to our children. LOL. It can certainly give "because" a bad reputation and bring out the eye-roll. :-) But sometimes, it's the only answer that makes sense in the moment. As I was reading through Psalm 63 this morning, I found because two times. However, in this case, it's there for a reason. It's more like a therefore , which, when we read therefore  in scriptures, we want to look back to see what it is there for. It's always in reference to something that's just been said. But because  is a little different in that it seems to be offering a reason or a why.  At least in Psalm 63 it seems that way.  In verse 3 David says, because Your livingkindness is better than life , I will praise You. In verse 7, David says, because  You have been my help, I wi...

 This weekend, we watched "Soul on Fire." It's the story of a 9-year-old boy who played with gasoline and matches and was burned over most of his body. It's an inspiring story of resilience. In one scene, his mom was praying in the chapel. Boy, did that bring back memories. I recall the many trips I made down to the chapel during the four-plus months we were at the Shreveport hospital.  I tried to sing and play the piano that was there. I prayed. I sat quietly. I took communion. It was such a difficult time. As I watched their story unfold, it brought back lots of memories for me. A time or two, I had to pause the movie and gather myself.  Today, though I was thinking about their story, my story, and all of your stories. Don't we all have inspiring stories? Most likely, each of us doesn't think our stories are all that inspiring, especially since we are stuck in the middle of living them.   But we all inspire each other. We inspire one another to keep the fait...

Have you ever felt like God can't hear you? Do you ever think that He has looked away or isn't paying attention? It was this thinking that David shared in Psalm 13 that made me feel like I wasn't the only one that ever felt that way.  I had read Psalm 13 many times and even sang versions of it as a church worship leader. But when I hit the dark night of the soul , it began to ring louder in my soul. David was in despair as he cried out How long will You look the other way? If nothing else, I realized that God didn't strike David dead for asking it and that He let it be included in the Bible. David expresses some of the things we think, but are indirectly told we can't ask.  David wasn't afraid to speak his mind. To ask hard questions like, How long will You forget me? Forever? How long will You look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand? Those are some very s...