Thanksgiving – Traditional or 21st Century?

by | Nov 19, 2015 | Trends

I recently glanced at the cover of the November issue of Good Housekeeping and saw – in big letters – THANKSGIVING. It’s no surprise that the November issue would focus on the upcoming holiday, but then I saw a picture of a cake. A CAKE! “No, no, no!” I...

#PrayforParis

by | Nov 14, 2015 | Trends

I was driving home from the dry cleaner when I heard the news blip on the radio. Something bad had happened in Paris, and there were hostages. Oh no. It couldn’t be affecting any of “My Frenchies,” could it? I immediately began to pray. Oh God, protect the innocent....

Church on the Couch

by | Oct 29, 2015 | Trends

For the last four months my family and I have been “doing church” a little different.   Our church is under construction and the congregation is meeting in another facility until the building is finished. We could have done that, too. Actually, we had...

Faith, Family, Football

by | Oct 15, 2015 | Trends

I forget. I always forget. Then something like Saturday afternoon’s homecoming game featuring a double reverse pass play brings me back to reality. Watching the gridiron team of my alma mater, I was mesmerized early in the game, still in the first quarter, when my...

Trafficking in Our Backyard

by | Sep 28, 2015 | Trends

As an advocate working with individuals who have been sexually violated and exploited, I see the everyday reality of violence and slavery. Our culture has repackaged, sanitized, and masked the sex industry under the guise of liberation, empowerment, and glamor. There...

Stylishly Feminine

by | Aug 26, 2015 | Trends

(Head down) (The air is heavy with hesitation) (Muttered under my breath) Hello, my name is Julie, and I am fashion-challenged. (HUGE sigh of relief) Whew! There. I finally said it. It feels good to get that off my chest. It’s something that I’ve been trying to hide...