*Today's blog post is a guest post written by my lifelong friend and former neighbor Leslie Ferguson Thomas. I'm always thankful for Leslie's contributions to my blog, but I'm more thankful for her ongoing friendship, her perspective on life, and her willingness to share it. Leslie's husband is currently battling cancer; please keep them in... Continue Reading →
Today's post is written by one of my students, Jesse Shoemaker. Jesse wrote this essay in response to the prompt: Write about your mother or someone who has acted as a mother figure in your life. Describe this person and share at least three lessons you’ve learned from her. My mother is a great influence in my life.... Continue Reading →
*Day 18 of the Dear Gratitude project is really special; my former boss and friend, Jenny Cannon, shares her reflections on her decision to forgo having an amniocentesis procedure prior to delivering her daughter, Claire, who was diagnosed with Down syndrome at birth.* It has been six months. Six months since I anxiously timed contractions... Continue Reading →
My boyfriend in college once told me that I reminded him of the female character in a Celtic song who was forever "chasing cannonballs." He was right. I have been notorious for stubbornly making my own decisions. I often refer to this tendency as my "God versus Bethany" struggle. For years, mostly due to some... Continue Reading →
Gratitude rarely actually changes things. Not in my life, anyway. Things stay the same. Circumstances come and go, as all circumstances do. My family members who irk me continue to irk me. The one who never says "I love you" may never say "I love you." My sisters will probably never agree with my lifestyle... Continue Reading →
*Thank you to my friend Samantha Hogan for sharing her story and her husband's story of how a selfless act by someone else gave him a second chance at life and love. Check out the video that documents this miracle.* I am thankful for so many things in my life. My God has given me... Continue Reading →
Recently I wrote a blog post for my personal blog, My 2012 gift list, and listed the most significant gifts I received in 2012. I didn't list tangible objects or even relationships on the list--I limited my gift list to the intangible yet priceless blessings I received in the form of lessons, inspirations, and virtues.... Continue Reading →
*Special thanks to guest writer Henry Petty for this wonderful post.* I recently ran a 5k jingle bell run. I was pacing myself really well, running then walking, walking then running, walking then walking, and running less and less. I had passed a couple of people I knew were “health nuts," and I overheard... Continue Reading →
Some of you may remember reading my blog post about my personal experience with pregnancy. I caught a lot of flack for that post from people who seemed to misunderstand me. These are typically the same people who encourage every woman, regardless of her personal experience with pregnancy, to just be happy, never mention the... Continue Reading →
I used to only feel nauseous when I had a stomach virus, the flu, carsickness, or maybe an intense migraine. When I got pregnant, I began feeling nauseous almost all day every day. I occasionally have brief moments of time when I can breathe and move without feeling uncomfortable, nauseous, and irritated, but those are... Continue Reading →
Gratitude Cup 