Amazon link dump (just [barely!] in time for Christmas)

So here’s the deal: As an Amazon affiliate, I need to occasionally post affiliate links to my website in order to maintain the agreement. So this is a dump of products I’ve bought, used, and loved, over the last year. Take what you need, ignore what you don’t and enjoy the reviews!

Nalgene water bottle. I accidentally left mine at a conference a month ago, and missed it so much that I promptly reordered. I like the widemouth, for ease of drinking, cleaning, and adding electrolytes. Sturdy, no bad taste, and BPA free.

Reishi and Ashwaghanda gummies from Charlotte’s Web. For the days when my nervous system needs some extra support, these powerful little gummies are some of the first supplements I reach for. They won’t replace proper sleep, prayer, water, or community connection. But they are a great addition to that! Side note: I don’t use anything with THC and prefer to avoid even hemp products. This supplement does NOT contain either.

Flare Calmer “earplugs” (mini). This makes the list of things-I-didn’t-know-I-needed-but-I-absolutely-love-it. They are designed to take the “agh” out of annoying or loud sounds without muffling sounds. And they do just that. The effect is subtle, but noticable. Full disclosure: the seller twice sent the wrong size and I finally ended up ordering directly from Flare. So be aware and look at this size before opening the package if you order the mini.

My absolute favorite multi-peptide collagen. Clean, relatively inexpensive, tasteless, and dissolves well in coffee.

I have hard water, and this shower head filter saves my skin from irritation and my hair from breakage.

The God Ask book. This should be essential reading for any missionary or worker who relies on support. This book totally changed how I saw support raising, and how I go about it. (I also credit it for the joyful success I’ve had!)

A gigantic write-on wall calendar. This thing has saved my visually-oriented brain SO MUCH struggle and effort. It’s incredible to see my whole year on one wall, in one place.

Small, feminine earring studs. These dainty studs are an understated and feminine way to wear earrings, and add a small pop to an outfit without being very noticeable. If you have strong facial features, you will probably want to opt for one of the larger sizes.

Blue light blocking glasses. These things are absolutely incredible! I had no idea how much blue light was disrupting my sleep until I tried these and discovered that I had much better, deeper sleep. I try to put them on every evening, or for sure if I’m using screens within two hours of bedtime, and the difference is significant and noticeable.

Barefoot sneakers. When I bought these shoes, the only color available was red (which is far from being my favorite color!). Despite that, these quickly became a favorite; light-weight, comfortably wide toe-box, with zero drop. Reminiscent of my much-loved Keds from grade-school but this time with room for my toes to wiggle!

Bac-Out stain remover. I first discovered this while working with a client who was massively incontinent of urine, and all my clothes started to stink. This product effectively removes any biological scents and stains, but is not as good for grease.

And there you have it, eleven Amazon products that I have bought, used, and loved in 2025.

NOTE: The links above are affiliate links, and if you purchase through them I will receive a small commission. This does not increase the cost to you, but does provide a financial incentive for me to recommend products. I am very careful never to promote products I have not used and loved.

Biologically Female

I recently had the experience of sitting with a woman who confesses to same sex attraction. The pain and confusion is deep, and my heart aches for her loneliness and brokenness.

The next day, I spoke to a professional woman (probably lesbian, although she didn't say so) who asked me, outright, whether my religious beliefs would keep me from teaching “non-binary clients” with respect and professionalism. She made it clear that if I couldn't, it would mean she was unwilling to work with me. I fumbled for words to express that I am committed to treating humans with respect and honor, without negating my own beliefs.

I was deeply challenged by these experiences. On the one hand, I am deeply and firmly committed to celebrating the beauty and glory of God's design for sexuality. On the other hand, I feel incredibly under-prepared and hesitant to know how to graciously and effectively share this delight.

One of the simplest and most profound realizations, as I wrestled with these situations, is that sexuality and gender is clearly indicated by our biology, for more than 98% of the population. Do you have female genitalia and chromosomes? You are female. Do you have male genitalia and chromosomes? You are male.

As a medical professional, I know this well. Male and female differences, medically speaking, have nothing to do with one’s gender identity and/or sexual attraction or emotions, but are simple facts of biology that affect how we express and respond to disease.

Our sexuality is deeply embodied, fleshed out, written unequivocally in our bodies. It doesn't matter if you're a tomboyish female or a sensitive gentle male. Your sex and gender is not in question, even if you don't fit the standard gender stereotypes. In fact, and here is where it gets exciting, because I am female, the ways that I show up in the world ARE female, by definition. Even if it doesn’t quite fit the gender stereotype.

If you, or someone you love, is struggling with your sexuality, gender expression, or related issues… may I encourage you to lean into the fact of your biological gender, and that God did make you gendered, with a unique and beautiful expression of your sexuality? As you do so, over time, I’m confident that you will begin to see more clearly, to heal, and to find true freedom in Christ.

PS. I first wrote this over a year ago, and finished it today. As I've personally wrestled and grown in identity over the last year, I’ve found these ideas to be even more true and relevant than when I first penned them.

Love cannot be earned...

Love isn't earned.

It cannot be.

I got my tail twisted in an anxious knot the other day, over a friendship that means a lot but isn't quite where I'd like to be.

"What if they don't like me? What if I'm not good enough? How can I change me to be what they want?"

The anxiety put a knot into my left shoulder, the one that always aches when I carry tension I'm not meant to carry. And the pain reminded me to take it to my Father, who knows me (and the other person!) much better than I can.

And there it was. The simple, profound thought. Love isn't earned. It cannot be.

I can't earn someone else's love. They choose to give it.

But neither can they earn mine. I choose to give it. (There's tremendous freedom in that.)

Love isn't earned. It cannot be. Love is a gift.

.

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Photo from the beach on Thanksgiving, which was its own kind of gift. 🥰

Blessed are the kingdom beggars

Blessed are the poor (beggarly, destitute, helpless, lacking in power) in spirit.

What a rich picture this is! Me, having nothing. Helpless. Asking. Crouching down, asking for alms of the richest King in the world.

And He, seeing, smiles and calls it very good [happy, to be envied].

I cannot express what joy this conveys to my heart. My weakness, my helplessness, my inability to effect change and healing…. This is the very thing that the King blesses, and calls good. AND. And, He says that to this beggardlyness, He WILL give the kingdom of heaven, the right to reign over His domain and to use His authority upon earth.

Going Back to Go Forward

This was supposed to be the summer in which I make big strides towards my physical fitness goals. The summer in which I attain new levels of emotional and spiritual maturity, gain new skills, and advance my career.

What actually happened was that back-to-back injuries put me in physical therapy, a counselling/therapy group revealed a lot of emotional immaturity that I hadn't known was there, and I faced spiritual doubts and wrestling that I thought I had already settled. As I pursued new skills and knowledge, I realized how very much there still is to know.

As I've been reflecting on the last six months, I am deeply grateful. Although in many ways, this summer was the opposite of what I wanted, but exactly what I needed.

Sometimes, we need to go back to go forward. I needed to regress my physical training to find and address the injuries and weaknesses that were holding me back. And the same principle holds true in the emotional, spiritual, and career areas.

Because of the regression I experienced this summer, I am more mature, more settled, beginning to be stronger, and have a clearer idea of where I need to work on, learn, and grow in.

Regression before progression. Going back and restoring the foundations. It's a good thing. And if this is happening in your life, I'm excited for what God is doing, and for what will be.