Author: ivy.sweeney1
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The Ones I Looked Up To
I used to think growing meant matching the people I admired. But what happens when you outgrow the rhythm you once reached for? This is a reflection on family, faith, and learning not to shrink yourself just to belong. Read more
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Not a Series—But Maybe a Pattern
I’ve been writing through a lot of changes lately. Not as a plan—just as prayer. Now I’m noticing a pattern: God’s been building something in the in-between. Read more
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Layers of Becoming: When You’re Living in More Than One Season
What if your life doesn’t fit into one season right now? This is a reflection for anyone living in layers—trusting God while standing in multiple truths at once: growth, loss, clarity, confusion, and becoming. Read more
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What If the Gift Wasn’t Natural—But Still Mine?
I’ve always written—but rarely shared. For years, I believed my gifts had to come naturally to be real. But what if the most powerful callings are the ones that stretch us beyond what feels safe? This post is a reflection on rediscovering my voice, reclaiming my gifts, and learning to trust grace more than talent. Read more
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Trusting Who I’m Becoming (and Where I’m Going)
I’m moving to St. Louis—but the bigger shift is happening inside me. I don’t fully know who I’m becoming, but I’m learning to trust God in the in-between. From childhood memories to quiet airport moments, I’m starting to see clues of purpose, clarity, and calling. This is a story about surrender, growth, and choosing to… Read more
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The Moment Everything Stops Repeating
I’ve started strong before. And I’ve stalled before, too. But this time, I’m not just trying to start again—I’m asking God to help me stop repeating. This post is about the moment everything shifts—not just for a day, but for good. A pattern-breaking kind of breakthrough. The kind I can’t go back from. Read more
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The Day I Finally Said Yes
After months (okay, maybe years) of circling around the same gentle nudge, I finally said yes to what God’s been whispering all along. Not in a flashy way. Not with a marketing plan. Just with peace. This isn’t hustle work. It’s holy becoming. And maybe that’s where you are too—standing at the edge of clarity,… Read more
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When Overthinking Feels Holier Than Obedience
I’m still growing into my authentic self—learning to lean into fear, loosen my grip on perfection, and trust that God shows up when I move. This post is for the overthinkers, the planners, the ones who pray long and act slow. The mantle still works—but it only works if you work it. Read more
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Learning to Be Kind to Myself (Even When I Didn’t Know How)
I stepped into motherhood and stepmotherhood before I even knew who I was. For years, I felt like too much, not enough, or both. This is a reflection on grace, quiet growth, and learning to be kind to the version of me who didn’t know what she didn’t know. Read more
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If I Could Be Like Anyone in the Bible
If I could be like anyone in the Bible, it wouldn’t be the kings or the prophets—it would be the one who walked with God and disappeared into His presence. Read more
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The Weight You Carried: A Father’s Day Letter to My Husband
You’ve carried a lot.Not just in the practical sense—bags, deployments, moves—but emotionally, spiritually, deeply.You’ve carried weight I couldn’t always name.And you’ve done it without asking for applause. There are seasons that don’t let up, that demand more than seems fair.And somehow, for the last six years, you’ve lived through a storm that never seemed to Read more
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The Silent Weight: Mental Health, Fatherhood, and the Strength No One Sees
Sometimes silence holds more than peace—it holds pain too. We talk about fathers as providers. As protectors. As leaders.But we don’t often talk about fathers as people who need care, too. I’ve been reflecting on something I heard recently in a sermon—that some men are “dead men walking.” Not because they’ve given up physically, but Read more
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The Strength That Raised Me
You’ve Never Had to Say Much My dad doesn’t say much.But when he walks into a room, you feel it.It’s not loud. It’s not showy.But it’s clear. He’s the kind of man who doesn’t have to raise his voice to be heard. He’s been that steady presence my whole life—the one who kept things grounded, Read more
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Self-Control: The Quiet Strength That Doesn’t Clap Back
This post is part of the 9-part series: “Faithful Fruit.” You can read the full series here. Have you ever had one of those moments where you were completely justified in reacting—but something in you said: Don’t. Not like that. Not this time.? It happened to me recently in traffic. The kids were in the Read more
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Gentleness: The Strength to Stay Soft
This post is part of the 9-part series: “Faithful Fruit.” You can read the full series here. Have you ever noticed how gentleness rarely gets the spotlight? It’s not usually the first thing people see. They notice confidence. Charisma. Efficiency. But gentleness? That takes a little more time to reveal—and even then, it’s easy to Read more