Tryphena. Tryphosa. Persis. The names sound like something you’d find on the back of a bottle of amino acid supplements. But, actually, they’re the names of women who served the ancient Christian church…
Read MoreAs I shared last week, Fairbanks got a lot of snow in April. After having our warmest March on record (which resulted in the snow being almost completely gone by the end of March), it was a bit of a letdown to have such adverse weather in April. But, by the time I wrote my last post, which was less than a week after our last big snowfall, almost all the snow had (re)melted…
Read MoreIn Alaska, snow in April isn’t that uncommon. But it’s never welcome. By the end of our long, cold, dark winter, we’re practically ravenous for dirt and sunshine.
So when I woke up to six inches of snow last Tuesday, I wasn’t exactly celebrating…
Read MoreI somehow have this subconscious perception of God as stoic, serious, and stern. Thankfully, God has done a lot over the years to change this perception, but sometimes I still find that when I’m in emotional pain or am struggling with a problem, I feel guilty. Deep down, I think I should be stronger and I fear God is displeased with me…
Read MoreI just turned 34 on Sunday, which is cool, but also weird. How am I almost (I’m not claiming mid-thirties until I’m 35! So almost!) in my mid 30s? I guess getting older probably never stops feeling weird.
Anyway, a couple months ago I shared about how God once told me that He loves the day I was born. It touches my heart so deeply to know that not only did my family rejoice when I was born, but God Himself was celebrating…
Read MoreI’ve been on a long quest to feel good and function at my best, not just so I can enjoy everyday life, but so I can have the strength and energy I need to accomplish all God has called me to do.
In my health journey, I’ve learned about environmental toxins and the harmful effects they can have on our bodies. Sadly, many of these toxins can be found in personal care products…
Read MoreLast spring, I visited a friend in California. I live in Alaska, so it took a couple plane rides and a few hours of driving to get to her. Before I arrived, I asked for her address and directions to her house. With my course clearly mapped out, I was able to find her house without a problem.
But what if, when I asked how to get her house, my friend had simply said, “It’s in California”?
Read MoreOur cold winter has finally come to an end, and, with temperatures here in Fairbanks inching into the 50s, I’ve been opening the windows and drinking coffee out on the deck (🎉 yay!).
Last night, I took a short stroll down the driveway after dinner, just to get some fresh air. It was so refreshing! As I made my way back inside, I marveled at how something as simple as fresh air can make you feel so good…
Read MoreA couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I used to write mean things about myself in my journal. This week, I decided to get really real and share a few actual quotes.
So (deep breath), here’s a peek at what my 15-year-old self was saying:
“Why am I like this…?”
Read MoreAs a child, Amy Carmichael was bitterly disappointed by her brown eyes. She so longed for blue eyes that she prayed repeatedly that God would change her eyes from brown to blue. To her dismay, He didn’t.
But, years later, Amy developed a newfound appreciation for how God created her when she became a missionary to India. There, Amy worked to rescue young girls who were enslaved as temple prostitutes…
Read MoreI used to write mean things about myself in my journal. Mostly, it had to do with dislike for my appearance. I look like Carina, and, deep down, I believed that wasn’t okay. I thought I should look like the models splashed across magazine covers and the movies stars on TV. It wasn’t hard to see all the ways I didn’t measure up, and, somehow, I thought that body bashing would magically transform me into what I wished I could be…
Read MoreNot long ago, I was driving down the road on a bright winter day when movement on the shoulder ahead caught my eye. At first I thought it might be a fox. I slowed down to take a look and quickly realized that the animal was too big to be a fox. Was it a dog…? As it trotted across the road, my heart jumped. I saw, to my shock, that it was a lynx!
I’m sure my eyes were bulging like a startled pug’s. I’ve never seen a wild lynx, and I had long been asking God to let me see one of these stealthy forest cats…
Read MoreI grew up knowing about God’s love. My pastors preached about it at church, my teachers taught about it at school, and I read about it in my Bible. But I haven’t always felt it.
In my late teens and early twenties, I struggled with the disconnect between my knowledge of God’s love and my experience of it. I started talking to God about how I felt (or rather didn’t feel) and I began praying to feel His love more…
Read MoreHappy February, ladies! I don’t know about you, but I love the month of love! At a time when we’re still being battered by winter’s icy paw, Valentine’s brings so many cozy, good feelings. I love the warm pinks and reds, the luxurious chocolates, the cheerful flowers…
I love that the days are growing longer, and after months of weak winter sun, I can actually feel a bit of heat shining through my windows…
Read MoreEvery once in a while I get asked what steps I’ve taken to grow as a writer. After the most recent query, I realized that the things I’ve done to nurture my skills as a writer are applicable to many types of artistic endeavors: drawing, singing, playing the piano, woodworking, pottery, photography, calligraphy, sewing…You name it, these steps can probably help you hone your skills…
Read MoreDespite being the dead of winter, January is one of my favorite months. The year lies before me as wide open as the creamy pages of my new calendar. My imagination is free to run wild. The air is full of newness, excitement, and possibilities.
I think one reason new beginnings are so exciting is that they almost always carry an element of creation…
Read MoreI hope your New Year is off to a great start!
I feel like I’ve been in a post-Christmas whirlwind, but I think I’m finding my way back to a more normal rhythm. :)
This week, instead of my normal blog post, I’m sharing an article I wrote that was published in my local newspaper…
Read MoreI hope you had a wonderful Christmas and are enjoying a wonderful New Year’s Eve (or New Year’s Day, depending on your time zone!)!
As I reflect on this past year, I see so many ways God has helped me, encouraged me, and showed His love to me and those around me…
Read MoreDuring my first year as a counselor, a former professor invited me to her classroom to speak to her counseling students. She wanted me to share about what it was like to actually be working in the field. Near the end of our talk, one student gushed, “It must be so wonderful to finally be doing what you really love!”
I was at a loss for words….
Read MoreI sat in the coffee shop debating my next step. I had already decided to go to graduate school. Now I just needed to decide what to study. Against the backdrop of café chatter and between sips of my Americano, I mulled over two options: a master’s in English or a master’s in counseling…
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Hi! I'm Carina, and I'm here to help you connect with God and discover and share your unique gifts.
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