⸻ Do We Throw Out the Baby with the Bath Water? With nearly 80% of our clientele coming from Anabaptist backgrounds, we’ve been on a journey of deep learning. The nuances… the layers… the unspoken codes. The culture runs deep. And so does the programming. We’ve walked through the heartbreak and the breakthrough. We’ve sat at kitchen tables, inside barns, at weddings, and in the quiet of late-night conversations—listening for the heartbeat beneath the lifestyle. This past weekend, while at a wedding in Ohio, one of our clients couldn’t wait to dress us up. Amish threads, head to toe. Her face? Pure delight—laughing hysterically as she saw us fully suited in her world. It was one of those moments you never forget. And it stirred something in me. After all the years of walking people out of high-control environments, I’ve noticed something consistent: It’s rarely the clothes or the chores people are running from. It’s the control. The emotional repression. The weaponized guilt. The abuse of Scripture in the name of order. But once the heart begins to heal… A tenderness often returns. A deep appreciation for what was beautiful—community, family, work ethic, simplicity, rhythm. So much richness is there… if you know how to look for it. And while we never shy away from naming the abuse—because the trauma is real—we also don’t believe healing has to equal hatred. So I’ll ask you this: When you leave a culture, religion, or community that hurt you… Do you carry offense forever? Or can you do the work to reconcile your heart? Can you sift through the rubble and find something worth keeping? That’s what maturity looks like. That’s what healing invites. And that’s what allows us to walk in wholeness, not just freedom. What have you learned to appreciate again—after leaving it behind? ⸻ #highcontrolreligion #amish #mennonite #anababtist #freedom #healing #reconciliation #epicyourlife

@Jesse Kauffman I really liked what you wrote about the age gap on Facebook and I decided to respond here and here's why: I've been in a relationship with a young man for awhile and since I was married and have children, I don't want them finding out about Tumi and I on Facebook. So once Tumi and I really know what our future hopefully holds then we will tell my children before posting on Facebook. Anyway back to the age gap. I used to look down on people who were to many years apart in age and for some reason ten years was the magic number. Well then I got to know Tumi through Facebook dating and I don't really remember age really coming up right away. But after we had spent some days and hours in chatting I finally realized that I didn't know his age so I asked. I was about blown over by his answer of 32. I'm currently 50. Immediately my mind went what will everyone say especially my children. Also we're in two different stages of life and I really couldn't see how that would work. We finally talked it out and I realized that the ONLY thing keeping me from being okay with the difference was my worry about what others might think and decided that definitely wasn't of my Daddy. So,yes, we've had a lot of interesting discussions about things that most couples don't even really think of talking about but it's been good for us. We both feel strongly that our Daddy is the only One who would have been able to bring us together like we did. Hopefully sometime soon I'll be able to share pictures and more details with you all. And I end saying don't go and close the door that your loving Daddy is holding open for you or you'll miss many wonderful opportunities to love and be loved.

I've been thinking about sharing this for quite awhile but with the holidays and some craziness in my own life I haven't had the time to write this. I'll try to give a very condensed version bc there's a lot of things involved in this. It's been about 4 weeks or so now since this happened. One evening I was agonizing over a decision I was facing regarding a young man in my life that I've been talking with for quite some time now. And btw we are still engaging with each other. (: I was getting ready to go to bed and I was sitting on the couch yet when I just suddenly started praying out loud which honestly was something I never did. That evening within a 90 minute space of time my Daddy made himself very visible to me. I have never actually had a good relationship with either of the men that I called dad and I have over the last year prayed about having someone to be in my life that I could actually experience a good dad relationship with but I figured it'd never happen since both of my dads are gone from this life. But that evening I met my Daddy and I experienced what a true loving daddy relationship is like. At one point even though there was no one physically in the room with me I physically felt like I was lifted up to sit on my daddy's lap where he wrapped his arms around me. I cried as I finally experienced the love, safety and security in his arms that I had always longed for. Around this same time I was flooded with a warm feeling that spread over my whole body. It was a truly beautiful and special thing that happened. Even now writing this there's tears because I'm remembering again of every special moment of that evening. The next morning morning I woke up from the soundest sleep I've ever experienced. As I was moving to get up I suddenly realized that I didn't have the pain that I normally had upon waking up. Let me explain a bit about the normal pain levels I had everyday. Even sleep didn't alleviate much of my pain. I've had chronic widespread pain for as long as I can remember even as a 7 year old I realized that my body hurt a lot more than my other friends did. Now I know that it's a result of the trauma my body had experienced even by that young age. In my upper 20's I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and told that I really needed a hip replacement but my Dr recommended to handle it with my own hip as long as possible since a hip replacement needs replaced so often.

Are you stuck in cycles of pain or blame? It’s easy to get trapped, but recognizing these patterns is the first step to freedom. Here’s what you need to know: 🌪 Addiction to Trauma • Trauma can feel familiar, even comfortable, creating a dependency on chaos. • Stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol can make the “drama” feel addictive. • Without healing, some seek relationships or situations that mirror past pain. 💔 The Damage of Blame • Blaming others erodes trust, creates isolation, and leaves you feeling powerless. • It fosters a victim mentality, keeping you stuck in negativity and emotional instability. • You lose the opportunity to grow, build resilience, and take control of your life. ✨ The Power of Personal Responsibility • Taking ownership of your actions empowers growth and emotional stability. • It builds trust, reduces conflict, and strengthens your relationships. • Responsibility fosters independence, self-worth, and a solution-focused mindset. 💡 Ask Yourself: • Am I stuck in cycles of blaming others or reliving past pain? • How can I take responsibility for my emotions and actions moving forward? Healing starts with YOU. When you stop blaming and start owning your story, you regain control of your life and open the door to healthier relationships and deeper peace. Are you ready to take that step? Let us know in the comments! 🌟 #HealingJourney #PersonalResponsibility #BreakTheCycle

THE FORMATION OF MAN In the original Hebrew, there is a significant difference between the creation of Adam and Eve. When Adam is created, the verb yatzar (יצר), meaning “He fashioned,” is used. This term, often associated with a potter shaping clay, is the default word for divine creation and appears multiple times in Genesis. WOMAN: A MASTERPIECE OF CREATION Eve’s creation, however, uses a different verb: banah (בנה), meaning “He built.” This is the only instance in the Bible where "build" refers to creation. Why is this significant? The verb banah (בנה) is closely related to binah (בינה), which means “intelligence.” This connection highlights that Eve was not created as inferior to Adam. On the contrary, from the very beginning, women were endowed with a profound sense of knowledge and understanding, underscoring their unique and elevated role in creation. CONNECTION TO THE MESSIAH Isaiah foretold the coming Messiah, stating, “A shoot shall grow out of the stump of Jesse: the spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding (binah)” (Isaiah 11:2). Just as Eve was built with binah, the Messiah would embody this divine spirit of wisdom and understanding. In this way, Eve set the stage for future generations of empowerment, becoming a symbol of wisdom and strength echoed in the life of the Messiah.