The light might dim, for a season, but ladies - it will never go out.  We must fan the flame.

My hope is that each of you can approach next week feeling empowered, connected to yourself and more confident than in years past.

You WILL look back and see the good.  Sure, there are tears, there is grief, there is pain - it's not easy.  We will wrestle and struggle our way through - looking for the hope.

Here is the deal - I know I'm not alone in looking at others, seeing what all they are doing or not doing and wondering - what went wrong.

As we begin to accept ourselves and find belonging from within - we are then able to show the true and real version of ourselves to others.

The next Restore Workshop is in Dallas, TX in less than two weeks. I would so love to see you there!

What I didn't realize is this: the cleansing work of deep grief is actually just what I needed to breathe lighter and easier.

In this video - Jason and I discuss detachment (for wives) as well as how husbands can stay put and present and not react to in a destructive way.

It was through the wait that God started a good work in me, cultivating character and strength, hope and love; and born out of the suffering - immense joy.

I would love for you to join me for a weekend of laughing, crying and digging deep. No doubt you will leave feeling restored and with a plan for wholeness and healing.

And - what I believe to be helpful - whether you love new years or whether you are dreading the year to come - is to give the year prior some proper closure.

More than anything - I want each of you to know that you are not alone and there are women across the world in similar situations to yours. Trying to figure out how to celebrate Christmas with grace and ease.

For women walking through betrayal - this is especially hard because betrayal is pretty much just like a mid-life crisis and what we thought we liked or were passionate about - all of a sudden goes out the window.

I've thought of all the times when I choose hiding over showing up. When I lurk into the shadows instead of bravely walking into the light and saying - here I am - pain, hurt, ugliness and all.

If I was going to get comfortable in this season of wading through some tough parenting and some tough fighting with Jason - I needed a word (or several) for it.

Oh God - how much we all want that for our stories - for it NOT to be for harm but instead be for good. And for not just one life to be saved because of our pain but for many lives to be saved. Yes - that's what we want!

We just kept right on running right beside it as we groaned, punched the air with our fists, and started laughing.

It wasn't until the pain of change became easier to bear than the pain of staying the same that we got sick and tired of being sick and tired and said enough is enough and sought help.

Because when my marriage started to blow - I was convinced I was ruined. My heart would never repair. My soul was damaged for good. Heaven come quick.