Category Archives: confidence

The Breathin’ Part

Posted on April 8, 2016 by

Nancy Bingham Farley Years ago, when my beloved grandmother Mama Farley died at age ninety, my husband, Don, and I decided our then five-year-old daughter, Holly, and six-year-old son, Jay, would attend the Kentucky funeral with us. During the long … Continue reading →

Posted in a child's wisdom, aging, ancestors, Appalachia, children, confidence, encouragement, faith, families, funerals, grief, heaven, Kentucky

Lazarus, Light Bulbs and Trust

Posted on March 27, 2015 by

Excerpt from Day 3 of Heart Hugs for Single Moms Do you ever wonder what is your part in each day and what is God’s? I have. Often. In fact, when I became a single mother years ago, that was a big … Continue reading →

Posted in confidence, courage, faith, God's presence, perseverance, prayer, single mothers, single parenting, single-parent families

Dare to be the Bold Button

Posted on December 31, 2014 by

What are your thoughts as we approach the New Year? Are you excited about fresh opportunities on future unblemished days? Or are you concentrating on the all too rapid end to another year? Are you determined that this year you … Continue reading →

Posted in antiques, appreciation, Bold, button jar, confidence, counting blessings, courage, encouragement, perfection, pleasing others, Psalm 138:3, self-esteem, self-talk, Stouthearted

Believing Makes It So

Posted on December 9, 2014 by

Even though I’m a card-carrying member of AARP, I still ponder the wisdom my maternal grandmother, Mama Farley, possessed. The world undoubtedly saw her as a simple Appalachian mountain woman, but her strength and understanding of life rippled out to … Continue reading →

Posted in ancestors, Appalachia, appreciation, confidence, counting blessings, courage, education, encouragement, faith, families, grandmothers, Kentucky, mentors, perseverance, self-esteem, self-talk

Thank you, Doris Schumacher

Posted on October 1, 2014 by

Has someone ever changed your life with just a few words? Years ago, that happened to me. In fact, a three-minute conversation gave me the vision to get an education. The summer before I entered seventh grade, I met Doris … Continue reading →

Posted in children, confidence, education, encouragement, helping others, mentors, perseverance, self-esteem, self-talk

Give Yourself a Not-So-Silly Gift

Posted on September 23, 2014 by

What are your thoughts about giving yourself a gift? As my friend Marian and her 72-year-old neighbor, Ruth, browsed in an antique shop, Ruth gently picked up a doll with soft hair. “I used to have a doll just like … Continue reading →

Posted in antiques, confidence, encouragement, gifts, self-talk

Our Past Is Not Compelled to Cloud Our Future

Posted on September 17, 2014 by

Do you ponder long-ago scenes, sometimes with regret? Me, too. In fact, I have a yellowed Peanuts cartoon with which I identify. In it, Charlie Brown is on the pitcher’s mound as Lucy hands him the ball. “Sorry I missed … Continue reading →

Posted in confidence, encouragement, regrets, self-talk | Leave a comment