Dependence: When We Must Depend on Others by Jeanne Takenaka

I read this thought the other day, and it stopped me hard. Jennifer Rothschild has been blind since age fifteen. She’s had a lot of years to walk in the darkness.

Chaos: Overcoming Chaos (guest post by Andrew Budek-Schmeisser)

Today, I have the privilege of hosting Andrew Budek-Schmeisser. We’ve crossed paths in the blogosphere many times. His blog comments often challenge me to think outside the box. He has a unique perspective on life. I have a lot of respect for him. When he shared his comments on last week’s blog, I was intrigued and asked him to guest post today. Please welcome Andrew!

Masters of Chaos by Andrew Budek-Schmeisser

Chaos is a part of being human. So is overcoming it.

The first step in riding through a chaotic time is to recognize what chaos does. Turning it into an acronym may help…

C – confusion
H – helplessness
A – anxiety
O – overwhelmed
S – sadness

Chaos is, first and foremost, confusing. It takes your normal routine and turns it on its head. Think back to grade school – remember the fire drills they occasionally pulled? While they were a fun way to get out of class, that first moment,when the bell went was an introduction to chaos.

That’s why they have drills – so that you’ll know what to do when the bell rings.

Chaos: 3 Things I Learned When Chaos Struck

What does Chaos look like in your life?

I lived a bit of chaos last week. Hubby was sick with the influenza over the weekend. I cared for the boys while he slept to heal. On our way home from church, the three of us chatted while we sat at a stop light.

Thank You: Two Meaningful Words

I read a story over the weekend and watched the accompanying video. And it got me thinking. About gratitude.

About thankfulness.

November is a natural time to focus on Thanksgiving. But how much “thanking” do I do during the rest of the year?

As Hubby and I attempt to instill in our boys the beauty of gratitude, I find myself wondering how much I practice this discipline in daily living.

Comfort Zones: Do We Trust God In Our Comfort Zones?

I don’t know about you, but I like comfort. I’ve always felt safe in the comfort of my routine, of knowing what to expect each day. There’s safety in the comfort zone because I don’t have to risk anything of myself. But . . . when I focus on—seek out—comfort, I cut off opportunities to know and be known by others.

When I flew to Destin, Florida recently, I did something different.