Posts by ChrisMadaySchmidt
When all else fails: hitting the trails
Change your mind, change your life isn’t just a trite phrase because the mind is one area in our lives we can control. A few weeks ago, I coined an expression that ranks right up there with how my husband Bob, and I initiate change: When all else fails, hit the trails. This statement, though…
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Finding a happy medium: 4 tips for a nontraditional Mother’s Day
Before our daughter, Bailey moved out of state—and after her dad and I relocated to Northern Arizona—she commuted three hours that first Mother’s Day and we hung out at our cabin for the weekend. Once she was living in Colorado, however, the second year we celebrated over FaceTime. Unfortunately, this year logistics forced us to…
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Beyond the storm clouds: searching for glimmers of silver lining
Thanks to a couple of unplanned surprises during a recent overnight trip for medical appointments in the Phoenix Valley, I’ve gotten to practice resting in the Lord’s finished work on the cross (see Claiming victory). During our last day in town, a simple oil change resulted in a new starter several hours later. In addition,…
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Claiming victory: resting in His finished work on the cross
During Easter weekend, my husband and I watched An Easter Bloom, a sweet Hallmark movie about love and forgiveness. The hero, Pastor Derrick, had been unable to forgive himself for a mistake and to share his authentic self with his congregation. I realized how often I, too, hide behind my laptop screen, hesitant to be…
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Consistency counts: making a commitment to yourself
I believe one of the key factors in generating and sustaining movement—the energy that propels us forward and introduces us to a world of possibilities—is consistency; i.e., to be dedicated and focused on a goal, and to remain committed to a task or habit. For me, this means spending time in the Word each morning…
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Short-term discomfort: pushing through for long-term gain
During a recent hike, my husband, Bob and I hashed over an uncomfortable situation we’d found ourselves in due to several choices we’d made. And for weeks, we’d been grasping at ways to quickly bypass the unease to reach our end goal. But while we talked, we soon realized we’d fallen down the rabbit trail…
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No kidding: The Fire Chief’s Surprise releases in 3 months!
It may be All Fools’ Day, but it’s no joke my newest Love Inspired book—The Fire Chief’s Surprise—releases on July 1st! Readers will fall in love again with the small town of Sweetwater introduced in A Father’s Vow, my 2024 debut. He wasn’t looking for love… Until one little boy came into his life. Fire…
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Taking cues from nature: the pattern of our daily rhythms
On a recent Simply Write by Polly Campbell podcast, the host talked about patterning our schedules and daily rhythms to align with the seasons. I’ve always considered winter a dormant period—especially since my husband and I relocated from the Valley of the Sun to our little cabin in Northern Arizona where we get snowed in…
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Old dog, new tricks: putting a ‘pin’ on it
Fifteen years ago, I graduated summa cum laude in my late 40s and coined the phrase, “it’s always the write time to teach an old dog new tricks.” I’ve shared how this saying eventually morphed into my tagline—“always the write time for hope, humor & heart.” But I still believe in the importance of maintaining…
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Stop and drop: rolling with the punches
If you grew up in the 70s, then you’re probably familiar with the phrase “stop, drop, and roll, ” popularized as a fire safety technique to teach people what to do if their clothes catch on fire. While I’m not making light of the natural disasters experienced in the U.S. this past year, I have…
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