It was a hot September day in 2010 and the counters in the Dairy Queen were sticky. The smell of waffle cones and sugary sweets wafted through the air as I nervously shifted in the red plastic covered booth. My husband, Chris, and I sat across from our twelve-year-old foster son as the three of... Continue Reading →
The touch of ceramic, cool on my lips Hot liquid pours in, savory sweet bliss Each sip fills my heart, joy brims to overflow Memories flow, warm through my mind Fresh cut grass, green and rolls of hay bales in the field Chasing chicken through the pen, feathers fly through the air Playing in... Continue Reading →
Nathan was just 5 years old when his biological mother began trafficking him, allowing boyfriends and other men to sexually abuse him in exchange for drug money, rent money, groceries, cable tv and a new iPhone. And images of his body were also used in child pornography. He finally entered foster care at age 9,... Continue Reading →
Developmental psychologist, Erik Erikson, is quoted as saying, “Life doesn't make any sense without interdependence. We need each other, and the sooner we learn that, the better for us all.” It’s often the small things; a touch, a listening ear, a smile, a small act of caring, that have the ability to turn a life... Continue Reading →
Listen up folks, we cannot stay silent forever. Far too long, many of us have buried our heads in the sand and wished all the bad away. We're good people. We’re caring people. We believe in equality. We believe in freedom. We believe in free speech for all. We believe in right and wrong. And... Continue Reading →
One Sunday afternoon as my church family ministered to the homeless of Colorado Springs I was looking over the faces of the crowd and noticed her. She sat off to the side, alone. Her expression heavy and hardened. She avoided eye contact with everyone, never lifting her gaze. She refused to approach the folks handing out... Continue Reading →
Tears flow down They fall like the rain There's no end to my sorrow and pain Too many nights I'm crying for You There's just nothing left for me to do I'm reaching out I just need a touch from You Hope breaks through the cracks in the wall I've built around my bleeding heart Starting to see... Continue Reading →
Dear Teacher, My husband and I have spent 5 years building up our daughters self-worth-- telling her she's amazing, happy, a good leader, friend, person, and lots more. We've worked diligently at making sure her tiny ego is developed with armor comprised of unconditional love, realistic expectations, positive affirmations, and focused confidence in her and her abilities. We recognized early... Continue Reading →
Everyone who has entered into the bond of marriage knows -- marriage is difficult! Life has a way of kicking the crap out of you when you least expect it, and learning how to navigate these hard times with a significant other can be tricky, especially if you don’t put the time and effort into... Continue Reading →
Cliché notwithstanding, social media in all its forms is the ultimate double-edged sword. One edge blessing and one edge cursing. Whether we like it or not, it is here to stay, and it’s growing, so the trick is to embrace the blessing. When it comes to youth ministry, embracing the blessing is not always an easy... Continue Reading →
SELENA BOYTS 