Christ, Coffee, and Cornfields

  We've all heard the saying, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me." And most of us have learned by now that, most often, that's not the case. I think females are especially prone to this type of hurt because we are such deep feelers. This is a beautiful aspect of feminine nature, but it can make us particularly vulnerable not only to pain but to sin, as well.   Growing up, the friends I trusted the most were male. I gravitated toward them because there seemed to be significantly less drama in that arena compared to groups of girls my age. But we all need true friends of our same gender, so I also hung around girls. However, I really want to draw attention to the fact that it is extremely important to have same sex friends that we can share our hearts with, because women can never really understand the life of a man, and vice versa. Jordan knows me better than anyone, but he doesn't understand what challenges and joys arise from wom

  If I have learned about trust from anyone, it's from my dad. He is a full time farmer, full time mechanic, and full time husband and father. Overarching all of these is the rock solid faith he has in the Lord, no matter how hopeless things may seem. I remember years of looking out on scorched fields, and others like this one where they're mostly underwater, wondering how anyone could think it would all turn out okay. But my dad's trust in God has never wavered. Even with farming prices in the toilet for the past 10 years, I've never once seen him express worry of any sort.   He knows that God has it all under control, even when we don't. Especially when we don't.   The life of a farmer is tough. You can do everything right preparing for an animal to give birth, but the mama might still die. The planting season may go great, and you might quietly think that this is the year for a bumper crop, but in August a hail storm comes along and wipes out all of your

  A few weeks ago, I posed a question to my readers asking what I should write about. I got some really good answers! This is my first "request" post. If I could write a letter to my 16 year old self, what would I say? What have the past 5 years taught me; how has my life been different than I expected? Although my maturity level has always been higher than my respective age, I still went through many of the same experiences of a typical high schooler. Puberty doesn't discriminate, after all, nor does drama.   Dear 16 year old me,   I know how alone you are feeling right now, how it feels like there is no guy who will ever want to marry you. How you think your acne will never clear up or that you will never be able to tame the frizz and curls on your head. A school this size leaves slim pickings for true, lifelong friends who want to share their hearts with you, and trust them with yours. All the hours of making awesome music in the band and choir rooms will come to a