Hey friend,
If you're new here, this is my monthly letter for all my favorite peeps. Welcome—I'm so glad you're here! If this was forwarded to you by a friend, you can subscribe below for some hope delivered straight to your inbox!
Every month I wonder… is this newsletter too long? Which sections can I delete? Does anyone read all the way through it? Alas, it’s all still here. Feel free to choose your favorite parts and skip the rest! And if you have a minute, would you let me know your answer to these two questions:
What section(s) of this email would you absolutely KEEP?
What section(s) would you ditch?
Greg & I just returned from our long-awaited 30th anniversary cruise—after 31 years of marriage, 😂. He wanted to go on a cruise. I wanted to go to Europe. So we compromised and planned a Mediterranean cruise (win-win)! We spent seven nights sailing, stopping in Palma de Mallorca, Florence, Rome, and Naples.
We explored the Colosseum in Rome, the Duomo in Florence, walked the Old City in Mallorca, visited The Leaning Tower of Pisa, and navigated the crazy streets of Naples.
On board the ship, we tried the zip line, the climbing wall, saw a couple of shows, and enjoyed the beautiful view from our room.
Here are 5 highlights:
Clearly, one of the best parts of our trip was the FOOD! Gelato on the daily, giant paninis, pizza, pasta… give me all the European carbs 😋!
Sitting on our balcony talking, reading, praying, and watching the ocean go by.
Experiencing the breathtaking sights and sounds of these ancient cities.
Soaking in the hot tub after miles of city exploration.
Focused time with G! We completely UNPLUGGED for the entire trip. No dings, notifications, or texts…just uninterrupted time together. (We must figure out how to make this part of our regular life!)
(Bonus 😉): We had planned to go on a cruise for our 10th wedding anniversary, but instead spent the money on a marriage intensive in an effort to help our struggling marriage. If it hadn’t been for that intensive, we might not be celebrating all these years later… more on that in the “Personal Note” section below.
Maisie Dobbs
by Jacqueline Winspear
Maisie Dobbs is the introductory book to a whole line of novels by Jacqueline Winspear. Set against the backdrop of WWI, Maisie comes up through humble beginnings and eventually begins working as an independent investigator with a psychological twist.
What I enjoyed most was her ability to solve external cases, while connecting with the inner mysteries of her subjects. I found her practice of mimicking the posture of others (in order to better understand them) a fascinating process. With her blend of intellect and intuition, Maisie reminded me of the power of paying attention—something worth evaluating in my own life.
Will the Circle Be Unbroken?: A Memoir of Learning to Believe You’re Gonna Be Okay
by Sean Dietrich
Sean’s writing is powerful and moving. I listened to this story on Hoopla, where Sean narrates it. I think there’s something to hearing a person tell his story with his own voice. Sean has a gift for making you laugh out loud one moment and cry the next. This is the first book of his I’ve read, and it certainly won’t be the last. I’ve already started You Are My Sunshine, and I’m looking forward to hearing more of his stories and life lessons!
To get a flavor for his writing, you can find and follow him over at
. Are you familiar with Sean of the South? I’d love to know which of his books you’ve read!
A Cup of Tea with Honey
On the cruise, I got in the routine of ending each evening with a cup of chamomile tea with honey. We are creatures of habit, and ending the day with this treat brings a sense of calm and closure. There were nights when there were no desserts on the menu to my liking (since when did they stop serving lava cake every night??) I found this cup of tea to be a sweet-enough stand-in for dessert.
My favorite tea for bedtime has always been Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Tea. Now with the cooler weather approaching (for those of you up north), this is the perfect time to add this sweet ending to your evening. Have you ever tried closing your day with a small, calming ritual like this? Even a simple cup of tea can bring a little peace before bed. Do you have a favorite brand or flavor? Please share!
Read Yourself to Sleep
On the cruise, I was completely unplugged for eight glorious days! In the evenings, instead of trying to tear myself from my computer, stop checking my phone, or write “just one more email,” I crawled into bed next to Greg—who falls asleep approximately 0.2 seconds after his head hits the pillow—and picked up the Maisie Dobbs novel I had brought on the trip. I found several benefits to this:
No blue light disturbing sleep rhythms
A peaceful, relaxing way to end each day
I actually wanted to get in bed earlier to keep reading my book
Maybe you’re a person who goes to bed easily at night. That has never been me. But I’m hoping this simple practice of allowing my mind and body to unwind at the end of the day will become part of my nightly routine. Do you struggle to slow down and transition yourself into rest too? Why not try swapping your screen for a story this week and let me know how it goes?
The One Question That Changed Everything
Counselor: ”Will you stay true to the revelation that God is good no matter what?”
Me: “But what about…”
Counselor: ”Will you stay true to the revelation that God is good no matter what?”
Me: “But what if things don’t change?”
Counselor: ”Will you stay true to the revelation that God is good no matter what?”
Me: “Stop saying that! I need assurance that things will get better.”
Counselor: ”Life is uncertain. There are no guarantees. Will you stay true to the revelation that God is good no matter what?”
By this time I was ready to punch him. I wanted certainty; I wanted guarantees. We were nearing the end of our ten days of intensive counseling, ready to enter the real world, and I wanted a handhold—something I could take home with me. I desperately wanted him to tell me that all would be well. He refused and simply repeated the mantra he’d touted all week.
Now, more than twenty years later, I realize that this question has become a handhold in my life. It’s the question I’ve returned to again and again through 31 years of marriage and in seasons when God seems slow to answer my prayers. The certainty I have learned to embrace is not the assurance that things will go my way. My hope and anchor in uncertainty is the goodness of God as revealed in His Word.
God is good. Period. Not because He answers my prayers the way I want, but because His goodness is rooted in His nature.
God’s goodness is not “good” as in Poor–Fair–Good–Excellent. It’s not a “meh” kind of good. His goodness is synonymous with excellence, perfection, beauty, glory, and grandeur. Beyond mountaintop vistas or deep ocean mysteries, it is His sure presence in our lives. He hears our cries and sees our tears. And perhaps where HIs goodness shines most brightly is in His willingness to leave glory and enter our suffering.
During this deeply painful season, I memorized Psalm 63. There is a phrase I continue to cling to:
“Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.” Psalm 63:3 (ESV)
This is where I stake my hope — in God’s chesed love, better than life itself. Whether eating gelato on a Mediterranean cruise or crying on the shower floor, His steadfast love is greater than my highest highs and lowest lows. And because it is better than life itself, my lips will praise Him.
Yes, I will stay true to the revelation that God is good. No. Matter. What.
Will you?
Beauty in the Brokenness (formerly Find Hope Here) has begun, and we are in full swing with our Seen Series. In case you missed any of them, here are the September episodes:
Why Beauty in the Brokenness? Episode 120.
Introduction to the Seen Series. Episode 121
An UH-MAZING 2-part conversation with Dr Curt Thompson in Episodes 122 and 123. If you’re looking for something kind to do for yourself this week, listen to these episodes!
The God Who Sees: Hagar’s Story: Episode 124
Or if you prefer, you can watch on YouTube!
GRACED: A Women's Gathering October 10-11, 2025. Trinity, FL
The Women Conference November 8, 2025. Melbourne Beach, FL
Hope Restored Trauma Healing Intensive February 5-8, 2026. St Augustine, FL
As always, friend, my prayer is that you find hope here.
And remember, if you have a minute to spare….
Which section(s) of this email would you absolutely KEEP?
Which section(s) would you ditch?
♥️ Teresa
Don't ditch any of it! I love your newsletters. And I'm so jealous of your Mediterranean cruise. It looks like it was amazing!
Hi Teresa! Definitely keep the book reviews! Love that part a lot.....and Sean Dietrich is a gem! Your newsletter is lovely....I will listen to your podcast on my way to work this morning. Kudos on getting Curt Thompson! Looking forward to it.