Tag: mental health

Posted in Moments and Musings

The Power of Lifting Hands in the Darkest Moments

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

“So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.”
 Psalm 63:4 (ESV)

Years ago, I walked through one of the darkest seasons of my life. I was battling depression and anxiety with no professional support. My marriage was falling apart. I felt like I was trapped in a deep well—so deep that even God seemed unable to reach me. I had two toddlers running around, needing me every minute, and I felt like life was crumbling faster than I could hold it together.

I remember one night especially clearly. After yet another argument with my husband (now ex-husband), I tucked my babies into bed, walked to the couch, and broke down. I cried because I didn’t see a way out. I wanted to be strong for my girls. I wanted to be a better wife. But I had no idea how to climb out of the hole I was in. God felt so far away, and I felt like a failure.

Then, out of nowhere, a familiar Scripture came to my heart:

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18

Praise and worship had always been my favorite part of church. I’ve always loved to sing, and at the time, I was on the praise and worship team at my local church. I knew the power of praise. I knew what it meant to lift my hands. But in my depression, I couldn’t even find the strength for that.

I remember admitting to God, “I’m not sure I can even lift my hands anymore. I don’t even know why I should.”

And in that still, gentle way God speaks to our hearts, I heard Him ask,
“When your babies lift their hands to you, what does that mean?”

I answered, “It means they want me. They want me to pick them up and hold them.”

Then He said, “And what happens when you hold them?”

I replied, “They’re comforted. They feel loved. They feel safe in my arms.”

And God whispered,
“Then lift your hands to Me, daughter. Let Me lift you up and hold you. I will comfort you, love you, and make you secure in Me.”

From that day on, lifting my hands in worship became easy—not because life got easier, but because I understood. I remembered how it felt to lift my hands that night and be lifted by Jesus in return. In those moments, depression and anxiety melted away while I rested in the arms of my Heavenly Father.

Was life perfect afterward? No. The abuse in my marriage became adultery, which eventually led to divorce. My girls and I had to learn a whole new way of life. But none of that overshadowed what God had shown me:
Whenever the waves felt too strong, all I had to do was lift my hands—and He would lift me higher.

Today, my daughters are grown. They haven’t received this revelation yet, and they’re still shy in worship. But I’m not worried. I know their own conversation with God is coming. One day they will lift their hands, and when they do, God will hold them, comfort them, provide for them, and reveal Himself not just as their Heavenly Father—but as their Daddy.

Maybe you’re like I was—sitting in your own well of darkness or heaviness. Maybe you need to be lifted up, too. If so, can I pray for you?

A Prayer for the One Who Needs to Be Lifted

Heavenly Father, we love You so much. Thank You for Your Word that gives us everything we need in every season. Your Word tells us to praise You in all circumstances. And You know, Lord, that sometimes that’s hard. Sometimes we don’t have the strength. Sometimes our hands feel too heavy to lift.

But You are a Father who desires our freedom. You want us to know You not only as Abba but as Daddy. So today, by faith, we lift our hands to You. And as we lift our hands, we ask You to lift us up. Hold us close. Wrap us in Your arms. Let us feel comfort, security, and love. Thank You for pulling us out of the pit and placing our feet on solid ground.

We thank You and praise You for all this, in Jesus’ name.
 Amen.

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash
Posted in Who Am I

Introducing Myself

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

Hi, I’m Vikki Lynn, and I’m genuinely grateful you’ve found your way here to my little corner of the internet.

A bit about me: I’m a single mom to two amazing adult daughters who continue to teach me more about love, patience, and resilience than I ever expected to learn. Recently, I stepped into one of the sweetest roles of my life—becoming a grandmother. My granddaughter has already brought so much joy into my world, and she’s a big part of why I reflect so often on family, purpose, and the legacy we leave behind.

I share a home with my sisters and my eldest daughter, which means there is always someone to laugh with, talk things through with, or split a late-night cup of coffee with. (If there’s one thing you’ll learn about me quickly, it’s that coffee is basically a personality trait at this point.)

Faith is another big part of who I am. I’m a Christian, and while I’m far from perfect, I try to live each day with grace, gratitude, and a desire to grow. You’ll see glimpses of that woven through the things I write—whether I’m reflecting on life, sharing lessons learned, or simply talking about the little blessings that show up unexpectedly.

I’m also someone who finds comfort in creativity. Put a crochet hook or an embroidery hoop in my hands and I’m instantly at peace. Whether it’s making something warm and cozy or stitching something meaningful for someone I love, those quiet, creative moments are where I recharge. And when I’m not crafting, you’ll often find me tucked away with a good book, a soft blanket, and (of course) a freshly brewed cup of coffee.

This blog is a space where all of those pieces of my life come together—my family, my faith, my creativity, my reflections, and my desire to grow through every season. My hope is that something you read here makes you feel seen, encouraged, inspired, or simply a little less alone in your own journey.

Thank you for being here. Truly. I’m excited to share this space with you and see where it leads.

From the left to the right: My older daughter Shelby, my younger daughter Emilie and me!
Posted in Moments and Musings

The Five Unexpected Gifts of Becoming ‘Grandma’

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

A few weeks ago, I announced the birth of my new granddaughter, Sophia. What a little bean she is! We’re completely in love with her, as you can imagine.

Becoming a grandmother—it’s still strange to even say it—has been both beautiful and unexpected. I never had a clear picture of what I thought it would feel like. We go from season to season in life, and while I knew this one was coming, I didn’t expect it to arrive wrapped in so many unanticipated emotions and thoughts.

I know it’s normal. Change is as inevitable as the sun rising and setting. I’ve raised two daughters; I’m a mother—and I still don’t entirely know what that means, even though they’re grown. Sometimes I still feel like a kid myself, even in this 56-year-old body with all its menopause weirdness.

But being a grandmother? That’s something different. I always imagined it as a place of honor in my daughter’s life, yet that’s not exactly how it feels. I’m not sure what I expected, but what I’ve experienced has been beautifully strange. So here are my top five “unexpectedlys.”

Unexpectedly Different

Growing up, the word grandmother was spoken in one of two tones: a quiet, reverent one for the matriarch who ruled my aunt’s house from the kitchen table with her Solitaire cards and Jeopardy, or a whimsical one for the Italian woman upstairs who yelled at my dad and bought our affection with candy from her underwear drawer.

I feel neither regal nor whimsical. I feel pure, unfiltered joy. That’s it. And it surprises me every time.

Unexpectedly Wealthy

Financially wealthy? Absolutely not. 😄
But suddenly I feel this deep desire to help—to ease the burden of the endless list of baby expenses. No one prepares you for that part, and my daughter and son-in-law are in the “shock and awe” phase even though they prepared well.

I find myself tossing diapers and formula into my cart and then reminding myself (more than once) that my son-in-law is a fantastic provider and my daughter is wise and frugal… which means I can put the diapers back, slowly back away from the formula, and return that money to my retirement fund. 😄

Unexpectedly Energetic

I am a proud couch-dwelling homebody. My life, my job, my cozy hobbies—crochet, embroidery, reading—they all happen from the comfort of my favorite spot.

I’m healthy, but as my older daughter insists, I am fluffy, not fat. And yes, I could stand to lose more than a few pounds. When I first learned Sophia was coming, I got motivated… then unmotivated… then re-motivated… and then my birthday happened, and Thanksgiving, and Christmas. You know how it goes.

But now she’s here. I’ve held her. I’ve seen her tiny face. And suddenly living a healthier life doesn’t feel optional—it feels necessary. For me, yes, but also for her. I want to be the grandma who rides bikes, plays on the floor, takes long walks, goes exploring. I can’t do those things for long stretches right now, but Sophia has become the best unexpected motivator I could have ever asked for.

Unexpectedly Prayerful

There’s so much facing kids today. Even more facing parents trying to raise a godly child. Social media can be brutal—post one picture of your baby and complete strangers feel entitled to tear you apart. And women… we can be the worst to each other. “Women empowering women” is sometimes more slogan than truth.

As my daughter grew up, she lived out her faith boldly, especially in high school, and she paid a lonely price for it. But she never wavered. And God blessed her with a husband who won’t waver either. Together, they’ll be a strong, steady, Christ-centered force in Sophia’s life.

My role is to pray for them—and it is both my job and my privilege. They will need it.

Unexpectedly Hopeful

I feel a kind of hope I’ve never felt before. I’ve visited Sophia twice, and each time I take a thousand pictures. My daughter sends me pictures constantly, and I look at them several times a day.

I think about who Sophia will be. What she’ll love. What I’ll get to teach her. What she might teach me.
I hope she likes me.
I hope I’m enough.
I hope I can pass down the wisdom my own sweet mother gave me.
I hope that even though I live three hours away, she always feels me near.

I hope, I hope, I hope.

Pam Brown once wrote, “Becoming a grandmother is wonderful. One moment you’re just a mother. The next you are all-wise and prehistoric.” It’s true! I hold a kind of wisdom my daughter doesn’t have, simply because of the era I lived through. I remember phones attached to the wall, VCRs costing $700, VHS tapes over $100. (I saved $80 for my first Duran Duran video—an eternity of babysitting money.) I remember libraries before the internet.

A whole age of technology unfolded while I grew up. I’ll be able to tell Sophia all about it. And then I’ll teach her the simple things too—the joy of a blooming flower, the beauty in a piece of classical music, the deep appreciation for everything God gives us to enjoy.

This feels like the best season of my life—one I’ve been preparing for without even knowing it.And now it’s here.
And it’s wonderful.

Posted in Moments and Musings

Time To Change

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

The time change is coming. Turning back the clocks, gaining that one precious hour of sleep if only for one night. We’ll pay for it come the Spring but for now, every one looks forward to that one glorious hour. It’s an important thing, this hour.

It’s that hour that pulls the darkness of the winter forward pushing back the light. In the darkness, the earth will reset itself. It’s a quiet, reflective time. Time to rest, stay indoors and just breathe. Time for hot chocolate, cinnamon tea, soft blankets and cozy fires.

For me, I both love and dread this time. I require light and a lot of it. For years, I’ve struggled with a bit of seasonal depression. It’s a slight feeling of gloominess. Fall beauty starts to fade, giving way to a colorless, monochromatic time. Evenings become a little harder to get through than in other seasons. I find, as I get older, that I’m more of a skylark than a night owl.

This year will be different than others that have gone by. The menopause blues like to have a swipe at me now and again. And with my younger daughter married and living three hours away and my other daughter working an overnight job, I’m alone…a lot! Add that plus a time change to the menopause blues and it’s a triple whammy ending in many tear filled evenings.

But I recognize all this so I decided to do somethings to try to head this all off at the pass.

  1. More movement – I really don’t like walking around my beautiful little lake because there’s bugs and there’s snakes. Not poisonous but they’re there and I’m good staying away. So I bought a hula dancing DVD. I needed something that would be good for me but also be fun. I may look for more dance DVDs. I’m sure I’ll look like a buffoon but I’ll be up, I’ll be moving and I’ll be having fun.
  2. Journaling – I’m back to it and it makes me happy to write down my thoughts and feelings. It also helps me to look back and see how far I’ve come.
  3. Bible Study – This is a no brainer. More God, more peace. I remember when my mom passed and I sat down on my bed, dejected and said, “Ok, God, I cry ‘uncle’.” God immediately spoke to my heart and said, “Stop crying ‘uncle’ and start crying Father.” He is the great encourager and I go to a church full of happy, imperfect people. I plan to be one of them.
  4. Celebrate the season – I mentioned earlier this is the time of the year when the earth resets itself. I’m determined to do the same. Reflect more. Go deeper. Let go. Seek to find. God is in every season.
  5. Create – I find I’m more contented when I’m creating something. Crochet isn’t just the means to another blanket in the house; it’s the process of allowing my hands to do something other than eat while my brain engages in a different way. I look at the world a little differently. I overcome the habit of perfection when I’m crafting.
  6. Call – As in pick up the phone and call people. More conversations mean less loneliness.
  7. Enjoy My Food – I don’t subscribe to a diet. I never have and never will. Food is to be enjoyed. Plain and simple. I’m going to experiment with new recipes and new techniques using my hands, like bread making.
  8. Light My Home – I love candles. All kinds of candles. And I love candle holders. Bright, crystal or glass holders that reflect the light from the candle. And while I use flameless candles, my preference is real candles. (Unscented, please)
  9. Selfcare – I really think all the above is selfcare in one form or another. But some things I’d like to be more intentional about. Giving myself a facial, or a manicure. Something that makes me feel pretty.
  10. Hallmark Christmas Movies – Too early? That’s ok. They’re full of cheese and ever so predictable but each one puts a smile on my face and makes me happy. It helps me to focus on all that’s ahead, like lights, color, family, food and giving.

The very last, and probably most important, thing I’ll do is remember that this is only a season. It’s not forever. Like every season, it will end and a new one will be welcomed. Also, like every season, it has a purpose and definition.

So tell me – do you love or strongly dislike this time of year when the days grow shorter and darker? Or are you indifferent? Do you celebrate anything special, outside of the obvious? What does any change of season look like to you?

Photo by Emanuel Ekström on Unsplash