We all have a story...

Several years ago I looked at my life and found myself in total dismay. Left to my own devices I had made a terrible mess. Sure there were extenuating circumstances, a large cast of supporting actors, and excuses I could easily make. In the end (which was actually a beautiful beginning) I came to understand that my choices alone had led to the misery. The details were woven into every relationship and aspect of my life. The process of beginning again, clearing away this wreckage, and being restored to sanity was going to take the rest of my life. In the middle of this mess and through the eyes and hearts of many around me, I saw that God was waiting.

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The process of recovery was not a one and done affair. It did not get better over night and I must say, though I sometimes fancy myself a princess, there wasn't a happily ever after magically awaiting me. In the fall of 2015, I got serious about change (at least I thought I did). Like a beautiful self-help buffet, I plucked what I wanted from the offerings and went on my way. Nearly five years later, what I supposed was working for me wasn't. 2020-2021 fractured my self-made resolve. I slid backward. Self-will in combination with  hope for something better wasn't enough. My heart condition had to change. Again, God was waiting.

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Here's the amazing thing about it all, if you give your life over to God and try your best to live in His will, one day at a time, He will turn your mess into a masterpiece. Those five years of buffet living framed  a foundation that God provided once I found a deeper surrender in 2021. After that, it was like I boarded a bullet train that has been barreling forward ever since. 

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​Around the fire ring I'm going to share some stories from my past along with present day shenanigans, while also exploring the hope I have in a God-focused future. I deeply desire to hear from you too, to learn from you, and cultivate a sense of community among us.

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So from this boy-mom, dragon loving, book hoarding writer, I extend a warm welcome and encourage you to pick out your favorite chair, bring along a tasty beverage, and engage in the reverie of smoky musings to come.

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​Always yours— jo

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