soul care, faith, inner healing Charlene VandenBrink soul care, faith, inner healing Charlene VandenBrink

Sacred Scars

I used to be self-conscious of the scar by my eye from a childhood accident. I suppose it looks like a deep smile line as I creep closer to 40.

From surgeries, injuries, self-harm and accidents to c-sections, stretch marks and age spots; we adapt, cover-up, rehabilitate, and carry on as wounded warriors.

Some may appear to make it through life unscathed on the outside but none of us do on the inside.

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Letting myself be loved by God is a choice among many... I was struck by the powerful image in Inside Out 2 when Anxiety began tearing up as she worked hard to try and manage and control Riley’s life. I sat in the theatre this summer, tears s
This little girl is sure missing her daddy on his 69th birthday... Words fall short, so I cut our tallest sunflower for the graveside vase. A symbol of grief for all that's broken and hope for the Light to come🌻
After a decade of homeschooling I am still growing, changing, and finding new rhythms for our crazy, beautiful days together... Hudson was especially excited about his first day at our homeschool enrichment program 💙 This is the second year for th
First day of school...ever! Grade 9 at MCS 🙌 Yes, I cried as I drove home and called Benj and a friend 🥹 Change pulls at the heart strings, but all is well and she's still smiling 💓
It's ok if I cry this Thursday...right? I didn't get to when she started Kindergarten at home... Now, my little woman is poised for learning adventures at Millwoods Christian School for grade 9, new backpack and all! Annelise and I headed out on F
It's a wrap on another amazing week camping together, milking a region for adventure + treats! 🙌 The Pembina area has it all: -repelling off a bridge🪢 -hiking to a private river beach ⛱️ -sliding down mud into the river 💩 -swimming in an out
I am so grateful for the last 10 days...first at a family camp where Benj went to Bible College and then chasing waterfalls, groundhogs and tennis balls in the beautiful Kananaskis country. 🏔️ This photo is while on a 10 K hike where Benj said, &qu
Happy 40th Birthday, @seskim & @colleenjrobertson! You girls are a gift from God and it was so special to reflect on our 40 years of friendship with these photos & memories (link in bio): www.charlenevandenbrink.com/blog/forever-friends Ha