Doubt  – To be uncertain about; consider questionable or unlikely; hesitate to believe; To distrust. Things are going along great until he creeps into my head. His name is Doubt and I really hate him.  Ya, I hate him, but for some reason I listen to him… He can turn my best moments upside down in an instant. …

Angst – An acute but nonspecific sense of anxiety. It’s a ordinary day, yet my stomach’s tied in knots.  Though no one around me seems to notice, inside me spins a dizziness, brought on by this mysterious dread.  I feel like I’m suffocating.  Excusing myself, I leave to gain my internal composure. I slip into another room, the backyard, or…

Suspicion –   Inclined to suspect, especially inclined to suspect evil; distrustful. It starts innocent enough. A fleeting thought at first. No big deal.  But then, it circles back.  Around again. Then, again. It becomes familiar.  We relax into it, almost welcoming it.  Soon, before we realize it, suspicionroots its tentacles so strongly in us that…

Betrayed – One who has had their hopes or expectations disappointed; one who has experienced disloyalty to; one who has had a confidence revealed or disclosed in violation of trust. It happens in our friendships… Why would she do that?  I trusted her, I thought we were close friends.  I didn’t see this coming.   I…

Worn – Diminished in value or usefulness through wear, use, handling, etc.; wearied; exhausted. Many times in my life, I’ve felt worn out.  Running on fumes has seemed the norm. Like most, I’ve tried to do my best at juggling marriage, parenting, career, family and friendships. But if I’m honest, most days left me feeling disappointed with myself.  It seemed no…

Sad – Being affected by unhappiness or grief; feelings of sorrow or mourning. Instantly, the story gripped me.  A couple shared their tragic story about their sweet son. He was just a small boy, when a crippling disorder slowly took his precious little life.  Tears spilled as I watched the video his parents lovingly created to capture his sweet…

Repeat – To do, make, or perform again. When my kids were younger, I wasn’t the most patient parent when it came to helping them with their homework. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely was there for them when they felt overwhelmed with an assignment or needed a little extra help understanding the teacher’s instructions.…

  Lost – No longer possessed or retained; having gone astray or missed the way; bewildered as to place, direction, etc. Years ago, when our girls were young, we went on a camping trip with a group of friends. One of the evenings, after dinner, everyone began to gather around campfire.  I had been inside our rental cabin, drying…

  Scar –  A mark left by a healed wound, sore or burn; a lasting after effect of trouble, especially a lasting psychological injury resulting from suffering or trauma. I have a scar. It starts at my spine and travels lengthwise across the entire right half my back, ending with a weird fork-like point at my waist.  Not…

  Practice – The actual application or use of an idea, belief, or method as opposed to theories about such application or use.  Repeated exercise in or performance of an activity or skill so as to acquire or maintain proficiency in it. I love listening to a piano being played well. I can’t say the same about…

Retreat – The act of withdrawing, as into safety or privacy; retirement; seclusion. We all know what a fast paced society we live in. Because it can get so crazy at times, the word retreat can sound like music to our ears. When I’m feeling pressed in from all sides, sometimes I just need to check-out, to…

  New – Of recent origin, production, or purchase.   Having but lately been brought into being. Recently, my cell phone froze up, black screened and permanently died. Inconvenient, yes, but I wasn’t too upset about it.  For quite a while, I’d been eyeing the new and improved model with the bigger screen and wayyy better camera.  And now, finally, I could justify…