Let the Sun Go Down On 2015

I snapped this picture of the sunset last night and it occurred to me as I drove into one of the last sunsets of 2015…What if we just let the sun go down on all our mistakes this year? Our losses? The times we wanted so badly for the answer to be yes but it was no? The times we tried our hardest and still failed? The tears we cried, the friends we lost, the first » Read More

Dash of Sass: ENOUGH

“Why wasn’t I enough for him?”
I can’t tell you how many times that was the cry of my heart…all within the bounds of one relationship…because I chose for years to stand there waiting for someone to look at me and actually SEE me. To love me. To treat me like I was ENOUGH. When really, he was the one who was lacking. Lacking in depth. Lacking in character. Lacking in honesty. Lacking in integrity. I » Read More

Merry Christmas, Single Ladies…

My dear friends…it’s that time of year again when being single can…well, sort of suck. When the happy family outing pictures from your married and taken friends on your Facebook feed seems to be on steroids. When you just can’t seem to muster the desire or will to rock around the Christmas tree as a party of one. But never fear. If you’re feeling especially solo this Christmas, I’m here to bring you good tidings of » Read More

Dash of Sass: Whatever You’re Facing Today, Tomorrow Is On Its Way

I have a dear friend going through a big heartbreak right now…and this morning she texted me “How is it possible for this to still hurt me so horribly?” And I texted her back: “It hurts because you’re human, and because you were vulnerable with someone who didn’t value your heart and THAT’S NOT ON YOU…” And you know what? It also hurts because she’s stuck in the Today of it all. The newness of » Read More

Dash of Sass: Palms Up. Palms Open.

A reader reminded me of this quote from my book “I’ve Never Been to Vegas But My Luggage Has” over the weekend and I wanted to share it with you guys along with a revelation I received a couple of days ago. During my prayer time the other day, God reminded me that the posture for releasing something and the posture for receiving something else is identical: Palms up. Palms open. Not clenched tightly together » Read More

Dash of Sass: If He Loves You, You’ll Know

I get so many ladies asking me the same question over and over: “How do I know if he loves me? He says he loves me but his actions are confusing.” And therein lies the answer to the question without me having to say a word.
“His words say one thing, but his actions say another.” He confuses you. He misleads you. He’s halfway out and halfway in. Ladies. We are smarter than this. If » Read More

Endings…& Beginnings

I’m leaving the ranch.

For those of you who follow my Instagram feed, you know that for the past year I’ve lived at a peaceful little ranch (the road to the ranch is pictured in the photo here) out in the country that is almost too beautiful to be real. And you might be surprised to learn that I’m leaving, given how much affection I have for this place, this magical place, that saw so many ups » Read More

Dash of Sass: Stop Justifying Bad Behavior

How often do we justify things and people and behaviors in our lives that diminish us? I am passionate about this topic because I did it for 8 years: Justified over and over and over again the behavior of someone who claimed to love me but wasn’t acting loving toward me. I’d venture a guess that the #1 thing we justify is people’s actions so as to keep them in our life even though their » Read More

The Mason Jar

I wrote this over a month ago. It took me this long to feel ready to post it. A month later and my house barely remembers his visit. 

I like to believe that in a few more months like this…my life will feel just as wiped clean of his memory.

A week ago he walked into my house and with his words, attempted to tear it all down. Brick by brick, the words flew and the foundation » Read More

Dash of Sass: You Did All You Could. Now Let Go.

Maybe there wasn’t one thing you could have done differently to make things turn out differently. Maybe you did all you could (and then some). Maybe you should give yourself a break. Maybe, just maybe, you tried to love someone who didn’t love themselves enough to accept your love. Maybe the fact that you simply cared shows how brave you are. Maybe next time your efforts will be matched by someone who appreciates everything you » Read More

Something wonderful is on the horizon
Life doesn’t always look the way we want it to look. In Mandy’s upcoming book, Turn Toward the Sun: Releasing What If and Embracing What Is, you’ll find encouragement to live in the moment, sit with your experiences, and trust God with the unknown.
Preorder from Baker Book House for 40% off and free shipping!*
*US shipping only
Something wonderful is on the horizon
Turn Toward the Sun CoverLife doesn’t always look the way we want it to look. In Mandy’s upcoming book, Turn Toward the Sun: Releasing What If and Embracing What Is, you’ll find encouragement to live in the moment, sit with your experiences, and trust God with the unknown.
Preorder from Baker Book House for 40% off and free shipping!*
*US shipping only