When the Valley is Part of the Healing Journey

I’ve been thinking about how challenging it can be to share our struggles honestly, especially when we’re still in the middle of them. I know that healing requires honesty and vulnerability. Pretending everything is fine isn’t just exhausting - it’s dishonest to who God is creating me to be. I’m not ashamed of the work God is doing in me, and I hope we can all be more gracious when people share their authentic struggles.

People have asked about my health because I’ve hinted that things are challenging right now. Here’s my honest answer: I’m trusting that my self-care efforts are helping offset the mental stress I’m experiencing. But if we’re going to be real here - no, I’m not okay and it’s been a struggle, and I’m not ashamed to say it. It’s just how it is right now.

If my honesty makes you uncomfortable, that’s okay - and this might not be the right space for you. But if you want to journey with someone who’s committed to authentic living, even when it’s messy, then let’s keep walking together.

Sometimes life is really hard. I think of that scripture verse probably in Psalms: “Wake up, oh sleeper!” I’m waking up to honor my Creator who has beautiful plans for my life. Do I need to share every detail? No - some things are best kept private. But I also won’t pretend everything is perfect just to make others comfortable.

My world feels turned upside down right now. Yes, I’m sad. Yes, I’m grieving and processing. Yes, I’m in a valley, and I wish I wasn’t here. But isn’t this part of the human experience? My job isn’t to pretend I’m not in a valley, but to look up and ask, “Where does my help come from?” The Creator of the universe is holding me and guiding me toward wholeness, freedom, and wellness.

What do I need from you? Prayer. I’m learning to trust God’s plan even when it looks different than I expected. He’s known my path all along, and I’m holding tightly to Him because sometimes it’s scary and He has to carry me through the difficult parts.

I also need compassion. Trust that my journey is seen by God. I’m learning to trust His process. Will it be messy? Yes. Will I figure some things out as I go? Absolutely. But am I being brave and standing up for the woman God created me to be and the inner child I am as well? Yes.

Does this sound confusing because I’m not giving details? Of course. Please don’t let your imagination run wild - you don’t know the whole story, and that’s okay. Just know that I’m climbing out of this valley with God so I can live fully as His delightful daughter He created me to be.

This is my season of surrendering to God’s healing.  I’ve gained clarity and made some hard choices for my health. I’m reading recommended books, engaging in healing ministries, starting counseling, and planning spiritual retreats. I’m being intentional about my physical and mental health too.

This last week my cousins Pam and Todd Parmenter offered me sanctuary at their farm where I could process in their RV next to their barn that’s full of lots and lots of puppies! It’s been part of a long healing journey. I’m trying to exercise daily and riding my mountain bike when I’m able - it’s so therapeutic!

I woke up to sunrises with roosters and bullfrogs ushering in each new day, and then having heart-to-heart conversations with my precious cousins each morning at 6 AM except for the last couple days because I got a nasty cold and was drugged with decongestant.

Thank you for walking this journey with me through prayer and encouragement. 💕

**Here’s my heart in song during this season:**

In Jesus Name

Thank God I Do

You Say

Hold On to Me

Start with God, End with God, God in the Middle

Beginning my blog with one of my favorites…the comfort of Psalm 23. 

Friend Karen and I got to hit the rails to trails bike path on a picturesque Saturday but I had about a 15 minute delay due to those pesky charlie horses in my feet. However, despite physical side effects like this, there’s really nothing as sweet as spending time with Christ centered girlfriends who uplift me, encourage me and are always available to lean on when I need a compassionate ear. 

After my infusion I got to pick up my usual 3 loaves of organic sour dough sesame bread from Dan the Baker in Columbus, OH! I treated myself with this fresh strawberry (illegal) croissant topped with edible flowers!! Chloe is one of the gentle souls that walk this planet and she made me a delicious cappuccino with a floral pattern. Ok, going back to WFPB greens, grains, legumes, seeds, veggies and fruit! 

Rockford, IL where my parents and sisters live was just one of the loving sanctuaries I got to visit in this past three week period between infusions. I got to hike, bike, stay up late talking, ate nutritious food and learned a lot. Growth is my word for 2025 I think. 

Memorial Day gave my parents, sister Melissa and niece Breanna an opportunity to drive to the country where we visited some of my family plots at Irish Grove cemetery. My Grandpa Vince Richardson grew up close to here and I loved hearing the old stories of his simple farming lifestyle. He was born in 1915. His parents and grandparents had their headstones there and I got to see the marble edifice of my great grandfather Patrick Richardson whom I was named after! Even though I’m no longer a professing Catholic, I wonder if there’s a way I could be interred next to them some day? I’m hoping it’s not for 45 more years! We had a good laugh imagining where we all be placed and we stood on the very plots of ground…as living head stones!!!

My sweet sissy, Melissa, making me homemade açaí bowl!! Choosing to eat WFPB is much easier because of her!!

Because I was much closer to northern Wisconsin on this trip, I took advantage of proximity to a dear friend that I met a few years ago. Brenda is always referred to in my mind as my Gratitude friend. When I was re-diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in April 2022, she reached out to me from a women’s mountain biking Facebook group connection we had briefly and she quickly became one of my daily encouragers. We hiked in the gentle rain a couple days and in truest Brenda fashion, she helped me work on my biking skills…this time it was cornering. I love how God knits beautiful souls into the tapestry of my life. 

This special lady became the reason God both used me and blessed me. My niece, Stephanee has had 4 surgeries in the past couple months and needed her Aunt TT to have a week long slumber party. It was such a joy to spend true quality time with her including teaching her how to chiffonade basil for a family recipe I call Corn Off the Cob summer salad. It’s so simple and oh so refreshing. Corn, purple onion, basil, olive oil, vinegar and honey!! Yum

 One of the coolest experiences I’ve had was being invited to share my story for a chocolate company, The Conscious Bar, so they could make a testimonial marketing video. They finally finished editing it and now I can share!! What a blessing again how God uses nobodies to highlight His goodness and miracles!! Please buy their chocolate. Ignore the investment. It’s healthy and guilt free chocolate!!