I once heard a pastor joke that there are five answers God can give to our prayers: yes, no, wait, I have a better plan, and you’ve got to be kidding me. His point was that God does always answer our prayers, but not always in the way or timing that we expect—and it’s not… Continue reading Why Isn’t God Answering My Prayers?
I’ve never had much of an issue believing that God exists. I grew up in the church, so I’d experienced his presence from a young age, and even when he felt far away from me, I’d seen too many prayers be answered and too many lives be changed because of him to doubt that he’s… Continue reading How God Ruined my Life
Why do I turn the channel any time there’s a ventriloquist on America’s Got Talent? Why can’t I go on tunneled boat rides? Why do I duck down behind furniture so the meter reader knocking at my door can’t see me and I won’t have to let him in? BECAUSE CHILDREN’S MOVIES HAVE SCARRED ME… Continue reading 7 Kids Movies that were Actually Scarring
Guys. Summer’s almost here. Okay, so that little snowflake begs to differ. In spite of that—or maybe because of it—I’ve been getting into that summer spirit. I’m ready for sun and sand and lounging at the pool, which means it’s time for some good YA contemporary fiction. Here are a few of my summery favorites!… Continue reading Summer Reads
A few months ago, one of my coworkers looked me up and down and said, “You have a different look every day, don’t you?” He wasn’t trying to be mean, but I don’t think he necessarily meant it as a good thing, either. Some days I come in wearing frilly skirts and lipgloss; other days,… Continue reading WHAT THIS BLOG IS
Disclaimer: For those of you who adore Christmas—FOUR CANDYCANES FOR YOU, GLEN COCO, YOU GO GLEN COCO. This one’s more for the Gretchen Wieners of the world. Lately, I’ve developed this fantasy that Hallmark will throw in a horror plot twist. Like the goofy, kid-and-dog-loving guy ends up being a serial killer. Or even… Continue reading The Charlie Browniest Christmas
I tried yoga for the first time a few months ago. I’m used to the Insantiy/P90X/jogging punish-your-body workout routines, so it was really weird hearing things like, “Listen to your body. Listen to those little aches and pains.” “Take a moment for yourself. Enjoy this stretch.” Whaa? I broke down sobbing—yes, actually sobbing—somewhere between a… Continue reading Learning to Rest
You’re traveling down the road of your story, and suddenly your engine sputters and you’re stranded on the shoulder. You could get out of the car and let yourself get distracted [with social media, with TV, with just plain sitting around]. Or you could get out and push that car to the nearest gas station to… Continue reading 3 Types of Writer’s Block [and how to overcome them]
As some of you know, I’ve been having mysterious stomach pain for almost a year. I’ve had several doctor appointments, an ultrasound, a CT scan, and a colonoscopy, but nothing turned up, so two weeks ago, I finally bit the bullet and went in for a laparoscopy, having been told that there would be one… Continue reading Surprise Appendectomy
September is my least favorite month. I don’t know if it’s some weird sort of PTSD that makes me feel like I have to go back to high school, or if it’s the fact that all of nature is dying, or that I’m bitter that I’m a white girl who can’t drink Pumpkin Spice Lattes… Continue reading September Favorites
When you’re depressed, you feel weak. You look around you and everyone else seems to be holding it together so much better than you are. Let me just encourage you today: you are strong. It takes a tremendous amount of strength and courage to carry around that darkness and not give up, or to get… Continue reading A Quick Note to the Depressed
Kelly Berlin 