Have you ever felt like you were doing all the right things… but still felt off?
That was me. As a mom, wife, and business owner, I had seasons where I was busy all day long—checking off to-dos, showing up for everyone, building my business… but still feeling empty.
I believed in Jesus, but I wasn’t starting with Him.
And that made all the difference.
And that made all the difference.
When I Realized I Needed to Start with Jesus
I’ve been talking to the Lord since the day I gave Him my heart. But I’ll be honest—there have been seasons where I wasn’t spending consistent time in His Word.
The turning point came when we were living at the motocross track. I was trying to come out of depression and desperately needed to shift my mindset. One Sunday, we visited a church, and the pastor preached about returning to your first love.
It was like he was speaking straight to my heart.
God gently reminded me:
“You don’t need something new—you need Me.”
God gently reminded me:
“You don’t need something new—you need Me.”
Around that same time, I also went back to Celebrate Recovery for a couple times. I knew it would be a safe space where I could be honest and find encouragement. And it was. Between that church message and the CR meeting, God showed me that I couldn’t keep going in my own strength.
I needed to start with Jesus.
I needed to start with Jesus.
What Happens When I Don’t Start with Jesus
When I don’t take time to meet with Jesus first, I feel it—and so does everyone around me. I get impatient. I complain. I start focusing way too much on my plans instead of what God wants me to do.
But when I do start with Jesus?
My heart feels lighter.
My thoughts are clearer.
I’m more loving, more focused, and more peaceful.
My heart feels lighter.
My thoughts are clearer.
I’m more loving, more focused, and more peaceful.
I go from striving to serving. From feeling scattered to standing steady.
What “Starting with Jesus” Looks Like for Me
Here’s how I spend time with the Lord most mornings:
- I wake up before the house
- I grab my coffee
- I open my Bible app and follow along as the Word is read to me
- I pray over my day
- If I need to clear my head, I’ll go for a walk or run with worship music
It’s not fancy. It’s not long.
But it’s consistent—and it’s changing me.
But it’s consistent—and it’s changing me.
Scriptures and Habits That Keep Me Anchored
I don’t have just one favorite verse because God has used different ones in every season. From the Old Testament to the New, there’s always something He uses to speak right to my heart. I love His Word!!
Right now, I’m using a Bible app to read through the Bible in a year. And even when it’s just a short reading, God always gives me something I need. His Word brings peace, direction, and clarity.
How This Practice Has Changed My Life
Spending time with Jesus has impacted everything:
💛 My family life – I’m a better mom and wife
💛 My business – I lead with purpose, not pressure
💛 My emotional health – I feel grounded, joyful, and more like me
💛 My business – I lead with purpose, not pressure
💛 My emotional health – I feel grounded, joyful, and more like me
Honestly? This is my sanity.
I am more "me"—the real, whole, joyful me—when I put Him first.
I am more "me"—the real, whole, joyful me—when I put Him first.
For the Busy Mom or Entrepreneur Who’s Feeling Overwhelmed…
I see you. I’ve been you.
And I want you to know this:
And I want you to know this:
You don’t need to carve out a full hour.
You don’t need the perfect space or setup.
Just start.
You don’t need the perfect space or setup.
Just start.
Write one Bible verse on a notecard.
Read it every day.
Meditate on it when you're folding laundry or sitting in the carpool line.
Read it every day.
Meditate on it when you're folding laundry or sitting in the carpool line.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” – Psalm 119:105
You wouldn’t leave the house without your phone…
Don’t leave your heart uncharged.
Don’t leave your heart uncharged.
What I Do When the Day Goes Sideways
Because… let’s be real—it happens.
Even when I start with Jesus, there are days that get messy.
But when I’ve spent time with Him, I hear the Holy Spirit a little more clearly.
When I mess up, I feel His nudge. I don’t spiral—I course correct.
But when I’ve spent time with Him, I hear the Holy Spirit a little more clearly.
When I mess up, I feel His nudge. I don’t spiral—I course correct.
Grace doesn’t mean I’m perfect.
It just means I don’t have to do this alone.
It just means I don’t have to do this alone.
My Favorite Thing About Starting with Jesus
It helps me live with intention.
It changes the way I think, the way I love, the way I respond to hard things.
It changes the way I think, the way I love, the way I respond to hard things.
I plan better.
I parent better.
I take care of my body with more grace and less pressure.
I parent better.
I take care of my body with more grace and less pressure.
Every good and perfect gift is from Him.
And when I start with Him, I remember that.
And when I start with Him, I remember that.
God sees you!
He loves you.
He wants to meet you right where you are.
He wants to meet you right where you are.
So don’t start your day empty, friend.
Fill up with His Word. Let Jesus lead.
Watch how everything begins to shift—from your mindset to your motherhood to your mission.
Fill up with His Word. Let Jesus lead.
Watch how everything begins to shift—from your mindset to your motherhood to your mission.
If this spoke to your heart, I’d love to hear your story.
Leave a comment below or share this with a friend who needs the reminder:
You don’t have to hustle your way to peace. Just start with Jesus.
Leave a comment below or share this with a friend who needs the reminder:
You don’t have to hustle your way to peace. Just start with Jesus.
With so much love and grace,
Sue 💛
#ReclaimingYourHealthAndJoy
Reclaiming Health & Joy: My Story of Faith, Healing & the Reset That Changed Everything
Hey sweet friend,
If you’re here, I have a feeling you're doing a lot. You're the glue holding everything together, pouring yourself out day after day—for your family, your work, your home. But deep down, you're tired. Maybe even wondering… “Where did my joy go?”
I see you. And I want you to know—you’re not alone.
This space is about reclaiming what was never meant to be lost: your health, your joy, and your peace. But before I share the simple steps that helped me get here, I want to tell you my story. Because healing didn’t start with a plan—it started with a breakdown. And Jesus met me right in the middle of it.
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The First Crack in My Joy: Losing My Dad
When I was seven years old, my dad died in a car wreck. My parents both had other spouses, but none of that mattered to a little girl who just wanted her daddy. That loss cracked something open in me—and the enemy rushed in.
At the exact age when core beliefs are formed, I started believing I was unlovable. That I was too much and not enough, all at the same time. I was angry. So angry. Especially at God. He was the one, in my eyes, who had taken my dad.
I didn’t know it then, but it would take 15 years to even begin forgiving Him.
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Growing Up in the Tension: My Mom’s Story of Redemption
My mom has always loved us with everything she had. But after leaving my stepdad, alcohol took over. Our home went from a place of safety to emotional storms. There was verbal abuse, sometimes physical, but never a lack of love. I know that might not make sense to some, but if you’ve lived in it, you understand.
She fought hard. And I’m so proud to say she won. My mom has been sober for over 20 years and been married to a man who loves her deeply for over 30 years. She’s one of the most compassionate, big-hearted women I know. Watching her transformation is one of my greatest joys in life.
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My Own Escape: Alcohol, Ministry & a Wake-Up Call
I started drinking in high school and never really stopped. Even after getting married. Even in my early years of teaching in Awana’s. I had cleaned up a lot of things in my life, but alcohol was legal and felt justified. I was functioning, but not free.
One Wednesday night at church, my pastor was telling a story and asked a question that pierced my soul:
"When will it be enough? Will someone have to die before you wake up?"
That week, I had driven home drunk, exhausted, with a friend in my car. I’d been up for 24 hours. I could have killed someone. -And in that moment, I knew God was calling me to lay it all down.
I prayed with my pastor that night.
I haven’t had a drink since…in over 17years
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From the Mountain Top to the Valley: When Depression Returned
For years, life was good. I was growing in faith. Raising my boys. Building a business I loved.
Then came 2020. We started riding motocross. It was fun and exciting, and we were living a fast-paced, adventurous life. We sold our house. We packed, painted, homeschooled, and moved to a training facility.
From the outside, it looked like a dream.
But on the inside?
I hit bottom.
Depression hit me like a freight train. Out of nowhere. It had been over a decade since I felt that kind of darkness, and it came at what looked like the most exciting season of our lives. I was suicidal. I wrote goodbye letters. I cried for days and couldn’t see a way forward.
But in the middle of that pain, I reached out.
I prayed. I clung to God. I started reading the Word daily and taking walks. I pushed myself to be more social, even when I wanted to hide. Several months later, I read two books that changed my life: Get Out of Your Head by Jennie Allen and Atomic Habits by James Clear. They helped me understand the power of my thoughts and the importance of small, consistent changes.
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The Turning Point: Creating My Reset
Eventually, it was time to leave the track and move again—and honestly, I was scared.
I had just fought my way out of depression, and I didn’t want to go back there.
So I got intentional.
I started moving my body daily.
I drank more water.
I prioritized real food.
I added NingXia Red to my routine.
I created simple rhythms that supported my energy, my mind, and my mood. I followed the 14 day reset plan.
It gave language and structure to what I needed…
And it changed everything.
Now I share it all the time—because I know how powerful it is to have something simple, doable, and life-giving that helps you reclaim your energy and your joy.
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What Reclaiming Really Looks Like
Reclaiming doesn’t mean having it all together.
It means you show up anyway.
It looks like:
• Making your bed even when you want to stay in it
• Drinking water when you'd rather grab another coffee
• Turning on worship music when you don't have words to pray
• Brushing your teeth and calling it a win
• Taking a walk around the block
You might think, “This doesn’t feel like much…”
But I promise you—it is.
Over time, these simple, intentional habits became the fuel that helped ignite my joy again.
Not all at once—but little by little, they reminded me that I was still here.
Still worthy.
Still being held by God.
Healing is sacred.
It’s messy.
And it’s holy ground.
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To the Woman Holding It All Together (But Falling Apart Inside)
This is for you.
You, who feels unseen.
You, who keeps giving even when you feel empty.
You, who wonders if she’ll ever feel peace again.
You are not too far gone.
You are not broken.
You are not alone.
God sees you. He hears you. And He is not finished with your story.
So let’s start small:
• Drink a glass of water
• Take a short walk
• Read one Bible verse
• Say no to what drains you
• Say yes to what fills you
That’s how we reclaim it—one faithful, grace-filled choice at a time.
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This Blog Is For Us
Every week, I’ll be here—sharing:
• Encouragement for your soul
• Simple wellness habits
• Stories of hope
• Product favorites
• Tools and truth rooted in faith
This is about reclaiming your health and your joy—not in a Pinterest-perfect way, but in a real-life, Jesus-centered, grace-soaked way.
And if you’re ready to take a step toward feeling like you again—mind, body, and spirit—I’d love to invite you into the 14-Day Reset.
It’s the exact rhythm that helped me rebuild from the inside out.
And I’d be honored to walk alongside you as you reclaim yours.
You were never meant to do this life alone.
With so much love and grace,
Sue 💛
#ReclaimingYourHealthAndJoy
