Inspirational Blog

Life was simple during my sabbatical, especially the time I spent alone at our retreat in the mountains. I ate when I was hungry and rested when I was tired. Without the distraction of TV or Internet, the pace automatically slowed. I enjoyed uncomplicated choices interspersed across the hours. Which path would I walk? What

When my friends became obsessed with body cleanses, I thought it was just a fad.  That is, of course, until I did my first cleanse. It wasn’t easy.  I drank additional fiber in the mornings, took additional pro-biotics, and significantly changed my eating habits for 10 days – no processed foods, fried foods, sweets or

“There is no doubt that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it,” Philippians 1:6 (The Message). Twenty-two years today, after a full year of intense work in therapy, I fully committed to recovery by walking away from an affair partner. I can picture the scene as clearly as if

Much to the chagrin of our pediatrician and homeowner’s insurance company, Steve and I decided to get a trampoline to add outdoor entertainment for our three kids. Since our home is a gathering ground for the neighborhood and we wanted to ease our consciences, we got a top-of-the line model in regard to safety. It

Many of you are kind enough to tell me how much these Encouragement Emails mean to you and how moved you are by my “vulnerability.” I love hearing from you and I’m glad my musings are helpful. This week I’m following the example of Rachel Held Evans, one of my favorite authors and bloggers, to

During my camp week at Myrtle Beach I got to spend a good bit of time with my four-year-old grandson at the pool – and not just any normal pool. It was a near Olympic size pool that was only 12 inches deep and accented by huge animal shaped water slides that were perfect Jim

This week I’ve traveled from Nashville to Myrtle Beach to be with my son-in-law, daughter and family at the youth summer camp he co-directs. Though I was driving the 600 miles alone, the last couple of hours I asked myself several times, “Are we there yet?” I left Nashville much later than I intended for

Sometimes life delivers an unexpected sting. The zap!! comes out of nowhere and the next thing you know, you’re yelping in pain. It might be an all-caps STING like a death or divorce or cancer or a loved one’s addiction. Other times, though, it’s a simple sting. Not life shattering, just annoyingly painful. An otherwise

Americans have finally embraced football and are definitely tuned in to the 2014 World Cup. The Ferree household has been enthralled with soccer since then 3½ year old Matt first stepped onto a field at the YMCA. We’ve been through the youth leagues, travel teams, school soccer, visits to the orthopedic clinic, and near-trips to

Do you remember what it was like to be caught in something so entangling you couldn’t get free? No matter what you did, the binding was so tight there was no way out. Eventually, most of us give up. We see the futility of our struggle and we simply stop fighting. We go belly up

I dreamed about my father last night, perhaps prompted by the musings that have stirred in my head for several days about this Father’s Day blog. In my dream “Doc” wasn’t the vibrant, brilliant, generous man of my childhood and early adulthood. The man who birthed our complicated relationship of adoration and abandonment that I