Author Archives: lightthelie

My totally-unplanned, painfully-natural, scary-intense-traumatic, couldn’t-have-thought-it-would-go-any-more-different-than-I-planned, homebirth

Posted on August 5, 2015 by lightthelie

Here it is. My totally-unplanned, painfully-natural, scary-intense-traumatic, couldn’t-have-thought-it-would-go-any-more-different-than-I-planned, homebirth As you know from my previous pregnancy post, I have a REALLY hard first 20 weeks of pregnancy. With my first pregnancy, I had a fairly less traumatic labor. My water broke … Continue reading →

Posted in Encouragement, Family, Pregnancy | Tagged bathroom, birth, Faith, Health, home, labor, natural, News, Parenting, Pregnancy, trauma | 12 Comments

We Don’t Need Tough Love, We Need Tough Love.

Posted on February 3, 2015 by lightthelie

I’ve heard the phrase so many times, “It’s just a little tough love.” Typically after a parent, teacher, mentor, coach, or friend says something that sounds quite opposite from love. Do you enjoy receiving this kind of ‘tough love’? I … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Encouragement, Family | Tagged Beautiful, Children, Choice, encouragement, Love, Marriage, Mom, Parenting, Teenager, Tough, Work | 7 Comments

Competitive Sports: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Posted on January 27, 2015 by lightthelie

Within the last generation or two, a surge of competitive sports has began taking over families everywhere. Mom vans, and carpools. Half time snacks and loads of laundry. Dinner through the drive thru and homework in the car. Early mornings … Continue reading →

Posted in Encouragement, Family, School | Tagged Advice, athletics, balance, College, competitive, encouragement, Family, High School, Parenting, Sports, Teenager | 2 Comments

A Clothing Conversation I Wish We Would Have Had Earlier

Posted on January 26, 2015 by lightthelie

After marrying my husband, I began to notice men more. Why? Because my husband would be calling them out in the store as we’d walk by. Men I didn’t even really notice until after the words, “Hey man, what are you looking at?” would fly out of my husband’s mouth. I certainly love sharing my body with my husband, but men at the grocery store? No thank you.

He hate’s to see men, as he says, “undressing me with their eyes”–and I don’t blame him! I don’t like it either! Continue reading →

Posted in Freedom, School, Vulnerable | Tagged Beauty, Clothes, College, Dating, Fashion, Modesty, Moms, Pants, Parenting, Teenager, Women, Yoga | 18 Comments

Writing Changes Things

Posted on January 22, 2015 by lightthelie

Why do I write? The question has echoed in my head more than once, maybe you’ve heard the same? This question is healthy–sort of a reality check. Without a vision of where we’re heading it can be hard to see the … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Encouragement, Vulnerable | Tagged Accomplishment, Achievement, Advice, Affirm, blog, Career, encouragement, value, Work, Worth, writing | 12 Comments

Skip the Homework

Posted on January 21, 2015 by lightthelie

You’ll be fine. Really, it’s not that important. You’re smart enough. I remember vividly in High School telling myself I could get by without doing the homework. As long as I kept my grades up, I did as little as … Continue reading →

Posted in Encouragement, School | Tagged Advice, Career, College, encouragement, Faith, homework, Marriage, school, Success, Teenager, Work | 11 Comments

Who is the Next Version of You?

Posted on January 20, 2015 by lightthelie

Take a look where you’ve been. Who you were. What is different about the person you are right now? Are you more patient? Do you spend your money differently? Do you think about your future more? Do you keep up … Continue reading →

Posted in Encouragement | Tagged Advice, Christian, encouragement, Faith, Family, Goals, improvement, Marriage, Parenting, school, Self | 10 Comments

Who Are You?

Posted on January 19, 2015 by lightthelie

I mean really, who are you? Give me the deep. Give me the real. Give me the vulnerable. Give me the pain. Give me the joy. Who are you? A couple months ago, a friend of mine brought this question … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Encouragement | Tagged Advice, Alone, Community, deep, Friendship, Intentional, known, Life, Love, Stranger, Work | 10 Comments

I’ve Missed You, please read and forgive me!

Posted on January 15, 2015 by lightthelie

First off, I’m so glad you are still here. I would like to apologize for vanishing. It wasn’t that I needed a break, or that I didn’t want to connect with you, or that I wasn’t interested anymore. I’ve simply … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Family, Pregnancy | Tagged Baby, Good News, Health, Hyperemesis Gravidarum, Mom, Morning Sickness, Pregnancy | 48 Comments

Stereotypes and School Rivalries

Posted on October 21, 2014 by lightthelie

We all know the cliques and the stereotypes that are attached to them. The band geeks, the Math nerds, the dumb jocks, the teacher’s pet, the English snobs, you’re well aware of them I’m sure. So this is not a post … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Fight, Peace | Tagged Bully, Compassion, Family, Grace, Identity, Love, Rival, Rivalry, school, Self, Sports, Team | 24 Comments