A Year Without the Scale
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What Am I Doing Here
Someone asked me recently what exactly I’m doing with Held, Not Measured.And honestly, I wasn’t quite sure how to answer.Is it about body image? Faith? Our little old house? Family stories?Apparently, I’ve decided to talk about all of it. 😂But the more I thought about it, the more I realized maybe those things aren’t as…
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Choosing Home
What Home Came to Mean to MeFor the past two weeks, I’ve been telling you stories that began with a little house in Headrick, Oklahoma.First came The Water Wagon—the story of a little boy named Merle who came to my grandparents’ house for water.Then last week I told you about The Little House in Headrick,…
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The Little House in Headrick
Last week I shared the story of The Water Wagon—about a little boy who came to my grandparents’ house in Headrick with a wagon to get water. This is the second of three connected stories from that same little house.That little house was built by my great-grandfather and my granddad.My grandparents lived there until 1971,…
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The Water Wagon
My dad grew up in the little Oklahoma town of Headrick.When he was a boy, another boy, about a year older than him, would pull a wagon to my grandparents’ house.My grandparents had an outdoor water faucet, and one day the boy asked my dad if he could have some water. My dad went inside…
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Date Night
Lately I’ve been thinking about the next season of life.As my husband and I move closer to retirement, I’ve noticed something changing in me. I’m finding more joy in simple things.This past Saturday was a good reminder.We started with a “couples massage.” Not at a spa…just two massage chairs at the mall. We’ve had the…
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No Social Media on S Days
A few years ago, I walked away from social media.Not because I thought it was evil. It just wasn’t adding much to my life, and I found that I didn’t miss it.Then I started Held, Not Measured.I knew that if I wanted to share what I was writing, I would have to step back into…
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Six months later
On January 1st, I threw away my scale.I didn’t really know what would happen after that. I just knew I was tired of letting a number decide whether I felt good about myself that day.Now it’s almost July, and six months have passed.If you’re hoping I’ve figured it all out, I haven’t.I’m still learning.A few…
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For The Daughter Who Never Felt Good Enough
Father’s Day always feels different than Mother’s Day for me.My dad and I loved each other, but our relationship wasn’t simple.For much of my life, I never quite felt like I was good enough for him. Looking back now, I think those feelings belonged more to me than they did to him, but when you’re…
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My Favorite Flower Bed
Last winter, I scattered wildflower seeds along the side of our house.I imagined bright blooms dancing in the Oklahoma sunshine. I pictured a cheerful strip of color lining the walkway. Then I waited.Spring arrived, and my husband decided that area needed a little help. Not realizing I had already planted wildflower seeds months earlier, he…
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The Original Side Hustle
My brother is seven years older than me, which meant growing up he was equal parts big brother, babysitter, and neighborhood businessman.One of my earliest memories is him taking me for rides on the handlebars of his bike when I was around five years old. At the time, I thought it was the greatest thing…