May 2019 – Raelyn Pracht

Where Humor Grew

“Where are you from?” This is a question I get asked a lot because I do not sound like I am from Texas. My answer usually goes something like this: I was born in England, lived in California, then spent really the first third of my life in Arizona, the middle split between Ohio andContinue reading “Where Humor Grew”

You Are Not Alone

You are not alone. Can you hear Him whispering these words in your ear? In your darkest moments, He is there with you. When it seems like no one understand, He is there with you. You are not alone. When you are facing a trial, or when you are suffering, you may be feeling asContinue reading “You Are Not Alone”

Pressing On

I recently committed to participate in my first 5k in September. This seemingly simple commitment was a huge first step for me – a step towards not letting fear rule over me anymore. When I was diagnosed with Peripheral Neuropathy, my doctors told me that any exercise that involved pressure on my joints (jogging, Zumba,Continue reading “Pressing On”

The Deepest Waters – Poem on Psalm 69

The deepest waters are swallowing me whole yet, my throat remains parched and my eyes can no longer produce tears. I stretch my hands up through the waves, reaching out to my God. He reaches out to me, breaking through the water and the fears. Thoughts flood my mind of things past and present sorrowsContinue reading “The Deepest Waters – Poem on Psalm 69”

This Present Moment

I once did an interpretive reading of the book “The Time Keeper” by Mitch Albom for my Toastmasters club. That book is one of my favorites and one I took a valuable lesson from . . . at least for a few days – a lesson about being in the present moment. Then I turnedContinue reading “This Present Moment”

“I have often regretted my speech, never my silence.” – Anonymous

I crashed onto my bed last night, not out of sleepiness, but out of emotional exhaustion. I was drained. It had been one of those days. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God” – Psalm 46:10a I did not turn on the sound machine. I did not turn on the fan. IContinue reading ““I have often regretted my speech, never my silence.” – Anonymous”

To Catch a Falling Star

Photo by Neale LaSalle on Pexels.com One of my favorite memories from childhood was camping out in my friend’s backyard in Arizona. This camping was simple – a bunch of us in our sleeping bags, laid out on a tarp, under the stars. At that time, you could see the stars so clearly and theyContinue reading “To Catch a Falling Star”

Through Her Eyes: A Lesson Learned from my Daughter

This photo is the visual example of one of the biggest lessons I have learned from my daughter: To never stop looking at the world with childlike wonder. Between ages three and five, her and I would drive from Virginia to Ohio to visit my family. There was a standing rule for this trip: IContinue reading “Through Her Eyes: A Lesson Learned from my Daughter”

Sometimes You Just Need to be Alone

Today I did something I try to do at least once a week – take myself out for lunch, dinner, or in this case, a snack. I know people who are horrified at the thought of eating in a restaurant alone, going to the movies alone, really, anything alone. But I crave and relish thisContinue reading “Sometimes You Just Need to be Alone”

Changing Relationships

While attending a conference over the past few days, I was thinking about how many relationships I have built because of my job. This led me to think about the evolution of relationship needs and what they were like at different stages in my life. What a journey I discovered! As a child, my relationshipsContinue reading “Changing Relationships”