Choosing to Embrace Unexpected Life Change

Beth Vogtchange, choices, encouragement, hope, Life, perspective, Quotes 22 Comments

@bethvogt The last few months I’ve experienced a few changes in my writing life. As I worked on producing an audiobook of Things I Never Told You, book 1 in my Thatcher Sisters Series, and self-publishing Unpacking Christmas: A Thatcher Sisters Novella, I spent a lot of time in 2021 praying about “what’s next?” The first answer to my “what’s …

Second Chances and the Chance of a Lifetime

Beth Vogtbravery, challenges, change, choices, confidence, courage, dreams, encouragement, grace, hope, Life, opportunities, perseverance, perspective, Quotes, success 10 Comments

My husband Rob and I are Guy Fieri fans. Fieri is American restaurateur, author, and an Emmy Award-winning television presenter. Rob and I first got hooked on his TV show “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives,” segued to “Guy’s Groceries Games,” and our favorite is now “Guy’s Ranch Kitchen,” where his chef-friends come to his ranch and cook themed meals. Which brings …

Unpacking My One Word for 2022

Beth Vogtchange, choices, encouragement, expectations, Faith, hope, Life, New Year, One Word, perspective, prayer, Quotes, words 11 Comments

@bethvogt   I’m five days into focusing on my One Word for 2022. A quick reminder, because you’re not responsible to remember my One Word: I’m focusing on the word pray. Pray, not prayer. I’m specific about the difference between the two words. Prayer is a noun, a word referring to a person, place, or thing. Pray is a verb, …

What Life lessons Did You Learn on the Playground?

Beth Vogtchallenges, change, childhood, choices, dreams, encouragement, expectations, failure, hope, Life, perspective, Quotes, Relationships 2 Comments

@bethvogt I was thinking about life yesterday. And the children’s game “Mother, May I?” You remember how to play this one, right?   You have one player who is Mother. Other players are, well, just regular players. The regulars line up shoulder to shoulder in front of Mother. Make sure there is plenty of space between Mother and the regulars. …

It’s Not Too Early to be Thinking About 2022

Beth Vogtchange, choices, Christmas, encouragement, expectations, Faith, goals, hope, Life, listen, New Year, One Word, perseverance, perspective, prayer, Quotes 8 Comments

@bethvogt A lot of people are counting down the days until Christmas. There are 73 days until December 25, my friends. But did you know there are 80 days until the start of 2022? If those 80 days race by like the other 285, then January 1, 2022 will show up on our calendars before we’re ready. I’ll admit I’ve …

Five Inspiring Quotes to Help You Discover the Beauty of the Fall Season

Beth Vogtautumn, change, encouragement, gratitude, hope, Life, perspective, Quotes, Thoughts, time 6 Comments

@bethvogt   I’ve always said summer is my favorite season of the year, but I may be changing my mind. So many of my friends declare autumn is their favorite time of year—and there certainly are quite an assortment of quotes about this time of year. Here are a few new ones I discovered. Tell me: how do you feel …

What Helps Us Clean Out Our Mental Junk Drawers?

Beth Vogtacceptance, anxiety, brokenness, challenges, change, choices, crisis, emotions, encouragement, expectations, Faith, family, Fear, Friendship, grace, grief, hope, Life, listen, Love, mental health, perseverance, perspective, Reality, Relationships, Scripture, stress, suffering 12 Comments

  My friend Mary and I went for an early morning walk the other day. During our weekly walks, we take turns talking about life in an honest, here’s-what’s-going-on-with-me kind of way. Mary invited me to go first, so after discussing my latest ups and downs, I yielded the, um, sidewalk to Mary. As we neared the end of our …

Making Today and Every Day an Opportunity to Encourage Others

Beth Vogtchange, choices, encouragement, gratitude, hope, kindness, Life, Love, mental health, perspective, Quotes, Relationships 14 Comments

@bethvogt Did you know that September 12 was National Day of Encouragement? That it’s an annual national holiday? I didn’t. With just a bit of research, I discovered National Day of Encouragement started when a group of high school students attending a leadership forum were asked: what was the biggest problem young people were facing what’s a solution for the …

Choosing to Own Our Days

Beth Vogtacceptance, age, change, childhood, choices, confidence, contentment, expectations, gratitude, hope, Life, perspective, Quotes, time, trust 9 Comments

  I wake up several times each night. I know I’m not alone in this repeated I’m-asleep-now-I’m-awake middle of the night routine. The first thing I do when I wake up is glance at the alarm clock on my bedside table. It’s an illuminated model with oversize red digital numbers I purchased several years ago for my mother-in-law who battled …

Choosing Not To Let Stress Run Our Lives

Beth Vogtanxiety, Beth K. Vogt, challenges, change, choices, emotions, gratitude, health, hope, Life, mental health, perseverance, perspective, Quotes, Reality, stress 10 Comments

@bethvogt I’ve been in an ongoing tug-of-war with stress … and right now stress is winning. I stared at that sentence and considered deleting it, one letter at a time. Choosing another topic for today’s blog. But I’ll go with the reality that, despite my best efforts to “Go placidly amid the noise and haste” … well, I’m not. I’m …