5 lessons from my garden this year

October 27, 2019 | Danielle | Family | 2

Gardening is one of those things I really want to be good at, but I struggle. I feel like I should be good at it, gardening is in my genes after all. Most stories I’ve heard about my paternal great grandmother involve how hard she worked to grow food, bake pies and raise chickens on […]

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Hollywood surprise: Mae’s 9th birthday (pictures!)

October 13, 2019 | Danielle | Parenting | 0

We had a wild idea when we sat down to write our goals for the year in January, which in and of itself felt like a victory. Me, I love goals. Mike, not so much, although he’s begun to embrace them. But, we recognized that over the years, they’ve helped guide our finances and calendar. […]

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Why I chose Plenvu prep again

October 11, 2019 | Danielle | Colon Cancer | 0

This is a sponsored post. Salix Pharmaceuticals compensated me for this post. All opinions are my own. Certain product information has been included to meet regulations. Here is why I chose PLENVU again after my first experience with the bowel prep and a few other tips I picked up during my 14th colonoscopy. Choosing Plenvu […]

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What to say to someone with cancer

September 7, 2019 | Danielle | Cancer Survivorship | 0

Although I consider myself an optimist, I can quickly recall two comments that negatively impacted me as a cancer survivor. The first came from a medical professional who implied that the threat of losing my hair from chemo was “cool.” The other came from my peers – teenagers at the time – who told me […]

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August 2019 Health Update

August 31, 2019 | Danielle | Cancer Survivorship | 0

A few years ago, I started writing August updates to check in with you about my health. Two years ago, it was long overdue and last year, I shared my yearly schedule of follow-up appointments. Many of you know I’ve had a roller coaster year. My colonoscopy last fall found three polyps and an inflammed […]

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A Place to Be Me (FCA Camp in Pella)

August 26, 2019 | Danielle | Writing | 0

As the editor of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes magazine, I had the opportunity to visit Pella, Iowa and watch a multi-sport FCA Camp in action this past summer. Here’s a personal story from a fun experience! Background on FCA Camp There are 6 different types of FCA Camps: sports, leadership, coaches, power, team and […]

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I’m Great! – A devotional about happiness

August 25, 2019 | Danielle | Devotionals | 1

“I’m good.” It only took me one second to say, but as soon as the words rolled off my tongue, conviction hit my heart. I quickly shifted around in the Panera booth to get more comfortable, gripped my coffee cup and corrected myself. “No, you know what? I’m great.” My friends looked back across the […]

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Racism at the bank – A devotional

August 19, 2019 | Danielle | Devotionals | 1

I’ll never forget the day I watched a racist bank customer refuse to let a woman of color help him. I was standing at the teller counter when an older, white gentleman walked in. He had a file folder tucked under his arm and indicated he needed an account specialist – someone who worked at […]

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Proud of being afraid – A Devotional on Fear

August 11, 2019 | Danielle | Devotionals | 2

I’ve been afraid of birds most of my life. A colorful parakeet didn’t stay on its perch in the pet store when I was little, and it resulted in a traumatic event. Throughout my life, my fear of birds has become a “fun” fact people learn about me. But a few years ago, God revealed […]

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The Boss of Loss – A Devotional on Grief

July 28, 2019 | Danielle | Devotionals | 0

Several years ago, my friend Ashley nicknamed me “The Boss of Loss.” I was sitting across from a couple of friends, soothing myself with Panera’s hot coffee and scones. On this particular day, I was mourning my infertility. I was feeling down and in a low place.  As I struggled to put words to my […]

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