I’ve read many worldly thoughts about men and women lately, and I’m going to write truth...we are not the same in thinking, physicality, and emotions. We will never be, but that’s okay. God made us in different formats, So we can be formatted together perfectly.  We each have our own uniqueness, which brings a unified balance to relationships.  Men and women express emotions and grieve differently, but that’s okay. In 2008 I lost my dad to Cancer. After his passing, my mom and I talked about the memory of my dad. We cried amongst the days. My brother expressed his grief in a different way. He did not mention my dad for a few years, until he could cope with his mourning. He cried amidst the nights where darkness could hide his tears.  My mom didn’t push my brother into a realm of emotion he did not inherit. She waited patiently for him to “come into the sunlight”.  The emotions of men are stately subtle. They firmly stand, watching sorrows, with dewed eyes.  Women are not as physically

Are you running with intention or running aimlessly? Are you dashing and darting, impulsively disregarding your God-given destination?  Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. - 1 Corinthians 9:26 Are you beating the air like a punching bag, straining your mind with tedious thoughts?  No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. - 1 Corinthians 9:27 As Christians, we have to beat our flesh into submission. We have to tame our minds with God’s peace. After we have divinely domesticated our spirits, we can think clearly without hindrances.  Sometimes we run without aim. We race from our minds instead of stopping and boxing grievances.  Stand firm and box trials with intent. Knock them out with perseverance.  We occasionally place stones of projects upon our running path, tripping us with empty healing.  Unt

Is your battle supposed to be stationed on a mole hill, but you have flagged the your battle site upon Mt. Everest? Sometimes, we let overthinking and anxiety mound into problems as big as the Rockies, when our problems should be as small as ant hills. Occasionally, we put ourselves right in the middle of fiery bombs, when we should hide in the solace of God’s trenches.  God’s allowance of trials varies in stature. Don’t weigh yourself down with choking chainmail when God wants you to wear rain boots to cross a puddle.  We all face troubles in everyday life and we all face wars where armor and a steed are warranted. Whether we are upon a mole hill or a snow-peaked mountain, let God be captain of the battleground.  When we trust without fear, even the biggest trial can be graded into a heavenly hill.  “For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory." Deuteronomy 20:4

Life, as they say, is a beautiful thing.  That beauty is a rush of rose blooms over water drenched land.  Those red buds burst with joy o’er thorns that make the stems strengthen with green leafy grit.  Those thorny prickles progress you towards the beautiful sun, illuminating the silky petals with ironed grace. Life is a black and white dog named Tucker, who has peed on your rug four times, but still sleeps next to you with a love unbound and so sound.  Life is aggravating phone calls with customer service, but the person on the other end of the line is a supportive soul clearing the burdensome brush off the road.  Life is cracked windows that need to be fixed, but behind that window is a sheen of perfect peace and a glisten of gratefulness.  Life is tiresome droughts, but sprinkles of rain  nourish faded crimson cheer, giving you a drink of revitalization.  Life will always provoke with pops of thorns, but God will always shine the sun on your rose garden.  H

No matter how big or small God’s blessings are, don’t negate them.  Sometimes, we are blind to the simple gifts God sets before us. We ask God, “Where are you? I need you.”  While searching for His presence, He has unwrapped a present right before our negating eyes. Don’t place mediocrity on those small surprises, because the extravagancy of surmountable blessings will be lowered with a lulled spirit.  Recently, my husband and I got an unexpected blessing. We were able to pay off two credit cards, thus we have no credit card debt.  I cried tears of joy as I opened the intricate and timely ribboned blessing.  Do not negate God’s gifts and unwrap them with a doubtful mind. Cry and shout from the rooftops of God’s goodness! Open your blessing with faithful fervor. Today, unveil your eyes to all blessings, whether tiny treasures or big bowed boxes.  Open blessings with bountiful faith and do not negate God’s presence in all presents.  What blessing do you want to shout from the rooftop tod

Last night my husband and I ate at our favorite Mexican restaurant. We chatted and laughed as the colorful decor listened to our conversation. When we were done exploring each other’s day over tortilla chips and queso, we walked to the counter to pay our bill. As the waitress took our payment she asked if we were on a date. I said, “Yes, a married date.” We walked through the doors, full of attentive affection and love.  Our attributes as a couple shined like the yellow chairs amidst the restaurant. Godly attributes of a man should majorly impact his wife and others around him.  Those godly attributes should entail: Love that is found within the gold seams of a bible that is read by a husband under a glistening lamp. Leadership that is drafted into prayer with his family   Guidance that is architected into wise words with his wife and children Protector of souls and warrior of hearts Casting out a safety net for finances, provision, and trials Disciple-like characte

Recently, my husband and I strolled Downtown Thibodaux.  We caught a storybook glimpse of a squirrel eating seeds in a Magnolia tree, then came across a historic mailbox. It “cat-pawed” my Alice in Wonderland curiosity, so I took a picture. The washed-out color of olden times drenched the mailbox in rust.  I thought to myself...are we all in or out of the mailbox of true Christianity? Today’s world has become more “open-minded” to veiled sin. They are condoning unstamped letters of promiscuity that have slipped into society.   As Christ followers, we need to think of ourselves as letters that have been sealed with righteousness.  Are you being fully slipped into the mailbox with a boldness or are you being jiggled in halfway, falling to the world?  Are you being stamped with truth or unstamped with a holy vagueness? Are you being slipped into the mailbox with a fervor or being finicky and falling to dirt-like debauchery.  Is your letter to God being written wit

As I sit here amongst plaid and orange Fall pillows sewed with comfort, my mind isn’t as comfy.  I finally received my washer and dryer that seemed to be as elusive as the Autumn wind. I was so excited to use my washer, that I rushed to the hamper and unloaded some clothes into the new shiny drum. That sheen quickly darkened as an error message lit upon the panel. My washer stopped working... So, I will be returning both of my prizes tomorrow and will be on the search for different appliances. But, my best friend, Jesus, sits beside me on my cushy couch as the world around me sickens with ailments.  I sometimes think... Why did my dad die? Why did I have to hold my dog as he took his last breath? Why have I went through so many life changes? Why are there addicts in my immediate family? Why is there so much hardship? Why is there so much sorrow? But then, I pull the reins back in on my horse named, Endurance.  We are called to be strong, to trust, and to hav

As a Christian woman, I am learning there is a grace within firmness. My husband and I purchased a washer and dryer in July. We were told we’d get our appliances at the end of August.  We did not receive our appliances that hot Summer Louisiana date. So, I called multiple times requesting an estimated time of arrival.  Miscommunication was the main factor in the elusive washer and dryer formula...the dryer is here, it disappeared, you will receive the washer in September...no, you will receive it in January.  When I pondered this problematic equation, I thought about the newly released movie, Mulan.  In the end, Mulan remained a truthful warrior and daughter. She arose like a graceful Phoenix empowering a poised boldness.  After an array of calls, conversations, and tick-tock of the waiting clock, I achieved success like the refined strategies of Mulan.  Christians are called to be bold. We are called to remain graceful amongst slip-moss rock situations.  I had to r

  I’m laying in my bed with a migraine as I write this blogpost. Life is unfair you say? Let me shout the truth...it definitely is! Life will always tamper with your mind, soul, and heart. My dad always said, “fair? Life will always be unfair.” Life is taught and tough. Life is a Redwood log and you are the horse pulling it up the side of Mount Unfairness. But, do you know who is fair? God.  God bears fairness. Yes, I’m in pain and feel sick, but I will heal. That’s the fairness, the promise God christens upon us. I may lay here in a dark room, but I know light will shine in our apartment once again. There is always a good outcome amidst kingdom come.  Fairness may find us on this earth or we may feel its warmth in heaven. When my dad’s cancer spread, we laid hands upon him and prayed. We saw Gods grace light upon him like a Monarch butterfly. Even though, he lost the battle, he won the fair war. He won the ultimate prize. He attained the fairest of the fair outcome, Heaven

Well, I just dropped off our last rent check.  The last check signed and dated “the next adventure awaits”. The last check signifying another daisy stem added to the marriage bouquet. As the years dew drop by, each chime vines and intertwines around a marriage. New nuances and friendly nostalgic moments add ponder peonies, romantic roses, and baby’s breath to the marriage bouquet. We are adding a “new home” hydrangea to the Baudoin vase.  The years truly sway like wildflowers free amongst a peaceful pasture.  But, those moments are picked and placed upon a grainy table, engraining love that lasts and clasps generations.  Our marriage has blossomed with beautiful blooms every year, every moon. Place a vase on your timeline table and fill it with memory magnolia stems.  Watch your bouquet sow and grow. 

Adoration is defined as the act of paying honor, reverent homage, and fervent and devoted love. A couple days ago, as I was about to venture off into berry bushes of busyness, I noticed a sweet gesture caressing my dashboard...my husband filled my car with gas.  That simple act that is done by drivers on a daily basis adorned my heart with adoration.  Adoration comes in many subtle nuances that grace the marriage house. Gestures that lighten the burden of a spouse honors your husband or wife with servant-hood. Servant-hood pays homage to the person’s mind and their well-being. A spouse should eliminate stress and place a picture of peace on the wall.  Adoration frames your true love with reverence and a light shines upon the picture with devotion.  Line walls with tribute to your spouse, accentuating attributes.  Adoration will fill the hallways of the marriage house with dedication. Your spouse’s needs are important knick-knacks that home on sentimental shelve

Behind this door there has been love forever more. Behind this “B” there has been a mahogany chest of memories. Behind this “B” that represents our last name, the letters have been soldered together, bonding a cherished chain. Behind this apartment door, a love has been written into a Baudoin folklore. This apartment is our first home as a married couple. We have built our new marriage here for 2 years. Now, we will be moving into a new house August 25th - our official moving date. Last night, I looked around our joy filled home and got tears in my eyes. “We will be starting a new chapter,” I thought.  When memories that have been made into joyful bricks and have covered you with a roof of adoration, it’s somewhat bittersweet to shut the door behind.  But, I am over the rainbow to start a new journey with my soulmate. God has set before us our new path. His paths are lined with lovely lilacs aromatic with goodness. I know the memories that have been made in o

I can’t help but notice all the strife, unrest, and chaos in the world. Frigid Winter waters have frozen souls with hatred and emptiness. Hearts are lacking heated blankets of fulfillment.  Discord is choking the world with the cord of discontent.  I want more I’m not happy  I’m depressed I’m anxious  I need answers  I want more  Hearts are bathtubs full of icy water. Hearts are bathtubs that bear holes. Without God, fulfillment comes from worldly finds and psychology. Gushing waters of hollow hopes fills the heart, then quickly siphons through the hidden hole at the bottom. Splashes of enticing enlightenment fills the heart, then swiftly leaks through the masked hole in the corner. Waves of wavering wonder fills the heart, then rapidly drains through the veiled hole at the rim.  God fills the heart to the brim and beyond, with truth and sound love.  God heals the depression holes with joy God fixes anxiety holes with stability God pads the barren holes