Hi, I’m Cheri!

Thanks for stopping by! I’d love to take this time to help you get to know me a little bit better. Before I tell you more about my life, I want to make sure you realize that I am an imperfect human being who is simply trying her best to live in God’s grace as she walks this journey of life. You could say that I am a work in progress.

My husband and I have five sons (23, 21, 19, 17, & 14), one daughter-in-law, and one grandson. Whoa!

I love my boys, but being a mom has not been easy. I have messed up and continue to mess up. A LOT. (Just ask my boys.)

I wish I could say that I had perfect mom moments all the time, or even some of the time, but that would be an outright lie.  In all honesty, I lose my temper, say the wrong things, refuse to say the right things, sit at my computer instead of spending time with them . . . far too often.  I see them growing up and I know my time with them is limited, yet I still mess up. I write blog posts with fun activities to do with kids, but I still feel like I don’t spend enough time with my own kids. I am far from perfect when it comes to being a mom.

But there’s no such thing as a perfect mom. Perfection is unattainable and rooted in fear.

There is no fear in love.

So I love my boys, extend them grace as I extend myself grace, all while living in the grace of God . . .

And I am, indeed, a work in progress.

I am a mental health counselor in the state of Michigan. I received my bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology from Bethel University and my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Grace College. Part of my training program included clinical work at the Bethel University Wellness Center working with college students, Well of Grace Ministries working with adult survivors of sexual abuse, and Corewell Health Southwestern Medical Counseling working with children, adolescents, and adults with a variety of presenting issues including anxiety, depression, grief, and stress-related issues. Additionally, I have experience working with women with pregnancy, parenting, and relationship issues as well as men and women who are dealing with the effects of past trauma.

However, while I feel that this is right where God wants me to be and that He has equipped me perfectly to sit with people in their suffering as a counselor, I still struggle with uncertainty and lack of confidence at times. I know there is no way I can truly help my clients without God’s help . . . and I really, really need His help!

Again, I am far from perfect . . . but, again, perfection is unattainable and rooted in fear.

There is no fear in love.

So I love my clients, extend them grace and extend myself grace, all while living in the grace of God . . .

And I recognize that I am truly a work in progress.

Then there’s this blog.  Talk about a work in progress!!

When I first started this blog, I had dreams of becoming an internet sensation over night. Guess what? It didn’t happen. For months, I would check my blog stats every day only to see that a handful of people (if any) had actually visited it. More people are visiting it now (so glad you’re here), but I would say I am far from an internet sensation.  I really do care about everyone who visits this blog, and I am sooo grateful that people are actually using the lessons and ideas that I write here . . . but I also want people to know that I am just an ordinary person. That I am, truly, a work in progress.

Aren’t we all works in progress?

But the work that I am is being formed and molded by the One true King . . . the King of Kings.

If He can use ordinary, imperfect, messed up me and my fun little blog, He can use anyone.

He can even use you.

So give yourself grace . . . relax . . . do the best you can without having to do everything perfectly . . . enjoy the moments . . . and join me as we walk this journey together in love and grace.

Cheri