The clock read a quarter ’til five and still nothing. No phone call. No email. Surely she would have heard something by now. Nothing. Then, my phone buzzed and those four little words with huge meaning flashed across my screen: “I got the job!” I let out a sigh of relief and a silly grin … Continue reading »
How 8 Days With College Kids Brought Me Back to Life
“Breathe. You’ve cried only twice today, Carrie, that’s improvement,” so the self-pep talks go these days. Wake up. Go to work. Sit at desk. Computer screen, internet, email. Meetings. Go home. Repeat. That’s been my version of “keeping my head above water” in the last couple weeks after returning back to Georgia from two of the … Continue reading »
When the Guy Wearing Ray-Bans Says Those Four Words
Less than a month after God and I decided to try out this writing thing, I met someone. A man I had never before heard of stood on stage at a conference telling some story about asking a girl out in middle school. I think he wanted to convince us to take risks, but I … Continue reading »
What Do You Mean Denial Can’t Stop the Calendar?
2012 ended with a bang. But not the fireworks, bubbly and confetti kind of bang, more like you and the nurses in the ER are on a first-name basis kind of bang. Bang. I stuck my heels in the ground of 2012 because of the change 2013 brought with it. Some change I knew of … Continue reading »
(Don’t) Save it for the Honeymoon
How’s Bora Bora sound? Very sexy sexy. -Serendipity Here’s a confession — I may be a hoarder. I try saving up: creativity, because I am convinced the stream will run dry, and I will have nothing left to offer. big asks, like collecting gold coins at Chuck E. Cheese to buy the bright neon stuffed bear … Continue reading »
A Choice Drink for Victory
Then all the people went away to eat choice food and drink, and celebrated with great joy because they now understood the words that had been made known to them. Nehemiah 8:12 “Wait, Jesus is coming back?” I remember that light bulb moment as surprise swept across her face. Her eyes, wide and bright, looked … Continue reading »
Kick Drum Heart {11n11 Throwback}
It was 7:15, still another twenty minutes until our tuk tuk would arrive. My belly was stuffed beyond contentment with chips and salsa. Yes, Mexican food in Cambodia. Some of my teammates were anxious to get home for toilet’s sake. Others wanted to take advantage of the shopping opportunity the street vendors boasted. We crossed … Continue reading »
How to Fake Your Own Death
I couldn’t breathe. I felt my body being pulled out of the water and onto a backboard. I heard the Velcro of the neck brace pull apart just before someone lifted my head and stabilized my neck. My eyes squeezed shut. Sounds of whistles blowing and worried voices filled the air. I tried not to … Continue reading »
Friends Beneath the Sheets
In the same week my Jenga tower collapsed, my roommate built a fort in our living room. I have long searched for a safe place. A refuge. A place to be me. And unknowingly, a place to be messy. This week, I found that safety in the form of twinkling lights and linens clothespinned together … Continue reading »
When the Last Piece is Pulled From Your Jenga Tower
Remember the game Jenga? The game’s objective is to remove as many wooden blocks from a tower without letting it fall. You take turns with your opponent and if the tower falls at your play, you lose. You remove each block with steady hands and give a big exhale when you realize the tower is … Continue reading »
