Sometimes people wonder who they are and what their purpose is. I’ve finally figured it out about myself. Hi, I’m Michelle, your encourager and cheerleader. I only have one goal and mission in life: to live the purpose of God and encourage you to do the same. Together, let’s reignite the Holy Spirit fire in you. Together, let’s poke the smoldering smoke of your soul into a roaring fire.
Welcome, friend.
Like you, I have a lot of passions, but my biggest passion is to encourage hearts in faith, purpose, and perseverance. I’ve journeyed with Jesus for a long time getting to know Him better, and have gotten to know myself better in the process.
There’s no way to truly sum up what my life has entailed except to say, like you, I have experienced both joys and sorrows. Through life’s journey, I’ve learned just how much I’ve needed Jesus and, with my whole heart, I firmly believe that you do too. It doesn’t matter what has happened in your life up to this very moment, what matters is what you do next.
Through sharing my true stories and lessons learned, I pray you’ll be encouraged and inspired.
Here, you’ll discover insight, understanding, knowledge, and wisdom from someone who has walked many sorrowful paths and didn’t just survive, but grew stronger, firmer, and more steadfast in her faith in Jesus.
Here, you’ll feel inspired, motivated, excited, revived, and courageous. My goal is to help you discover Jesus too — more of who He is — and in that process, discover who YOU are and what your purpose is FOR Him.
And always, may the joy of the Lord be our strength and fill our souls.
Family
I love my family. (They give me more joy, more pain, and more stuff to write about!)
My hubby, Bob, and I have journeyed married life together for 34 years.
Bob is the love my life, my one and only husband. He’s an intelligent, educated, and strategic thinker. He has a relentless flow of ideas. And “He’s a brave man and a warrior,” like King David (See 1 Samuel 16:18). I know this not just because I’ve lived with him for over three decades, but because on March 2, 2004, as I prayed seeking God about Bob, the Lord revealed who Bob is to Him. I marked the date in my Bible, like I do so many other significant passages.
Like King David, my husband Bob is handsome and muscular. (It was his biceps I first noticed when I was just 18 years old. Yes, he still has them.) He loves music. He’s a collector of eclectic music. He literally has hundreds of vinyl records and CDs, and who knows how many thousands of digital songs. We mostly don’t share the same musical preferences, as in, you won’t catch me turning on Elvis Costello or AC/DC. But we can cut loose on the dance floor to “What I like About You” by the Romantics.
Bob has a passion for talking politics. I don’t. Bob loves watching murder mysteries. I don’t. Bob is an early bird. I’m a night owl. Bob is a homebody. I like going out. Nevertheless, we both believe Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. And Bob loves me and he loves our children. He’s a good man.
While I’ve learned a lot about marriage, I’m still learning. But there is one constant I can confirm: opposites are more than just attracted to each other. They are magnets with gravitational pull stronger than you realize and this opposite thing doesn’t change the longer you’re married.
Consider this both your warning and encouragement.
I have three adorable children, Zack, Dani, and Rachel. They’re all grown up now, but they’re still adorable. They make me proud to be their mom. Plus, anything they do or say can, and most likely will, be written about.
Zack, my oldest, paves the way pursuing the path chosen for him in a diligent and consistent manner. Always humble with his achievements, yet never lowering his standards, whether in his studies, personal goals, or relationships. Zack demonstrates what it takes to succeed. He is our fitness guru and challenger. He is our quiet and harmonic leader. He is our game score keeper (might explain why he wins more than others in our family). He is our “Zack Attack.” Mom brag moment: Zack only has four months left of his doctoral program and then we’ll have a chiropractor in the family.
Dani, my middle child and oldest daughter, challenges and inspires me with her commitment to working out and the joy she experiences doing burpees and squats. She, like her big brother, has a passion for fitness. In fact, she’s becoming a certified personal trainer. She sees unlimited potential in others, and dislikes when people are excluded. She looks for ways to challenge others in their thoughts, actions, and beliefs. Her love of hiking, reading, and Grey’s Anatomy are also top priorities. She will forever be her Dad’s “Dew Drop” and my “sweet pea.”
Rachel, my youngest, expresses her whole heart Every. Single. Day. What you see is what you get: a big gooey, lovey-dovey heart. She’s romantic, and not just in love, but in what she pursues to embrace. She’s highly personal and true to self. She’s an influencer with her own YouTube channel. There you will see her self-revealing, emotionally honest self and life. Rachel is highly creative, serious and funny, vulnerable and strong. Nevertheless, she will always be my little lamb.
My family is growing. Zack married beautiful Courtney in July 2015.
Courtney radiates strength. For someone who is tiny in stature, she exudes a strength you don’t want to mess with. Yet, she’s caring, generous, and humorous. And we all admire her ability to keep her father-in-law in place. She gets away with saying things to him that no one else ever dare. Courtney, I admire your mysterious gift.
Mother-in-law brag moment: Courtney is an outstanding nurse at a local surgery center. She works crazy hours taking care of patients. AND, she supports my son, her hubby, as he becomes a doctor! She is the definition of hard worker.
Zack and Courtney made me a grandma, which is one the coolest experiences of my life! I can’t imagine life without our sweet little James, my Joy Bomb!
My Rachel is married to Ben, and we had the honor of welcoming him officially into our family in May 2019.
Ben is tall. Ben stands tall, not just in physical height, but in character. If ever a mom could choose a husband for her daughter, Ben is the kind of man you’d choose. He loves Jesus with his whole heart. He’s kind, generous, and authentic. Ben is also ambitious, competitive, and energetic. He is a certified financial planner who loves what he does. He’s found his work calling. If you need a financial planner, he’s your guy. I can say this because he’s mine. If I can trust him to take care of my daughter for life, I can trust him to take care of my money. So far, he’s acing both. Mother-in-law brag moment: Ben is an excellent chef. I mean, that boy can grill a mean steak (Yes, Ben, that is a hint.)
My Education and Professional Credentials
I started college right out of high school, but was unable to finish my degree because I was given a new assignment to mother and train up three young lives. Fast forward to my forties, and you’ll discover I completed both my bachelor’s degree in communication studies from Northwestern College (now University of Northwestern, St. Paul) and my master’s degree in communication from Bethel University. I also earned becoming a Gallup-certified Strengths Coach in 2018.
Disclaimer:
This is my personal blog. The opinions and information I express here do not necessarily represent those of any organization with which I am affiliated.
