Choosing to Offer Ourselves Grace

Beth VogtBeth K. Vogt, brokenness, challenges, change, choices, expectations, Faith, grace, hope, kindness, Life, perspective, Quotes, stress 12 Comments

@bethvogt     Some days are going to be harder than others. Just typing that simple sentence made me feel a whole lot better. I’ve been slogging uphill against my expectations and emotions this past week. Looking back, I see reasons why the past seven days have been challenging – everything from anxiety before, during, and after some dental work, …

7 Quotes to Challenge Your Perspective on Life, Love, and Relationships (and a Giveaway)

Beth VogtAuthors, Beth K. Vogt, emotions, expectations, Faith, family, forgiveness, Friendship, hope, kindness, Life, Love, perspective, Quotes, Relationships, Romance, trust 8 Comments

@bethvogt   As I considered possible topics for today’s blog post, I decided to indulge my love of quotes and create graphics for you to enjoy. You’ll find quotes from some of my favorite authors, including two of my writing mentors — waving at you, Rachel Hauck and Susan May Warren. What are some of your favorite quotes about life, …

Choosing to Wait for Hope When Grief Wrecks Our Hearts

Beth VogtBeth K. Vogt, brokenness, challenges, choices, COVID-19, expectations, Faith, grief, hope, Life, perseverance, perspective, prayer, Quotes, suffering 18 Comments

For all our hopes this new year would be better than the previous 12 months, the first 27 days of 2021 are disappointing. Such an understatement, right? I texted with a good friend several days ago. Normal “how’s it going” stuff. And then a little while later these words appeared on my phone screen: got some really bad news. A …

Sometimes We Need to Take a Bye Week

Beth Vogtchallenges, change, Faith, hope, prayer 6 Comments

I decided to take a bye week instead of posting a blog today. For those of you who aren’t sports fans, a bye week is a term used where each team — for example, a national football team — is scheduled to have one week near the middle of the season where they do not play a game. Today is …

Choosing to Keep the Lights Turned On

Beth VogtBeth K. Vogt, challenges, Christmas, COVID-19, Faith, holidays, hope, Life, New Year, perseverance, perspective, Quotes 16 Comments

@bethvogt My family always packs away our Christmas decorations right after the new year. Only this year, we didn’t. My husband Rob suggested we keep our outside lights up until we no longer have to wear masks because of COVID-19. His recommendation includes the white lights on the evergreen tree in our front yard. It’s grown taller than we ever …

Viewing Christmas Through Others’ Words

Beth VogtBeth K. Vogt, Christmas, Faith, family, gratitude, holidays, hope, In Others' Words, kindness, Life, Love, perspective, Quotes, Relationships 10 Comments

@bethvogt “My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others.” Bob Hope (1903-2003), British-American comedian and actor   My love of quotes prompted today’s post. I decided to step aside this week and let others step front and center stage. I spent last night gathering some of my favorite Christmas quotes for you to enjoy. Let …

Choosing to Believe Love Conquers COVID-19

Beth VogtBeth K. Vogt, challenges, choices, COVID-19, Faith, family, grief, hope, Life, Love, perspective, Quotes, Reality, Relationships 22 Comments

My 102-year-old mother-in-law was diagnosed with COVID-19 in October. Our family kept the news off social media, told some close friends, and prayed a lot. We also predicted that, in her typical determined fashion, she’d beat the virus. I’ve always said that if my mother-in-law was run over by a Mack truck, she’d stand up, brush herself off, and proclaim, …

Forget New Year’s Resolutions and Choose One Word to Focus on in 2021

Beth VogtBeth K. Vogt, change, choices, Faith, family, Friendship, goals, grace, hope, Life, New Year, One Word, perspective, Quotes, Relationships, Scripture 12 Comments

I abandoned the tradition of New Year’s resolutions 15 years ago. Instead, I select One Word to focus on. I always look forward to sharing my annual One Word with family and friends, as well as finding out what One Words others select for the coming year. For only the second time in all these years, I’m repeating a One …

Choosing Not to be Afraid of the Dark

Beth Vogtanxiety, Beth K. Vogt, bravery, challenges, change, childhood, choices, courage, emotions, Faith, freedom, hope, Life, mental health, perseverance, perspective, Quotes 11 Comments

I was afraid of the dark when I was a child. Truth is, I was afraid of the dark when I was a 21-year-old newlywed. That was a bit of surprise to my husband. I had both real and imaginary reasons to be afraid of the dark.  Make believe monsters are scary enough. The real-life ones? Those are harder to …

Choosing to Stress or Choosing to Trust

Beth Vogtanxiety, Beth K. Vogt, challenges, choices, expectations, Faith, health, hope, Life, perspective, Quotes, Reality, stress, trust 13 Comments

@bethvogt Life stopped abruptly for me last week, thanks to unrelenting muscle spasms in my jaw. Forget powering through the pain – sleeping was the wiser choice, curling up in my bed with either a heating pad or ice pack pressed to my face. Not how I planned to spend the week. Several days in, I was in bed – …