On a recent bike ride, I stopped to capture this beautiful picture. Here, God reminded me that He is with me, that His presence surrounds me like the brightness of the morning sun. I am covered by His love and His peace surrounds me.
– denise marie
“So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36
Childhood trauma doesn’t stay in childhood, it lingers, in the body, in the mind, in the way we trust, how we love, how we see ourself, how we protect ourselves, and it follows you quietly, into relationships. For a long time, I lived disconnected from my body, and it didn’t feel like home.
Healing began when I started letting myself feel, and when I started naming what happened and letting it move through me, sitting in the stillness, feeling the discomfort, no longer numbing the pain, but learning to be present with it.
Therapy has helped me find language for my pain and trauma recovery work has taught me how to stay present, how to breathe again, how to come home to myself and by doing so, I am learning to trust myself again, to listen to the signals in my body, and to believe my own voice.
I’m learning to trust God more deeply, not just as a rescuer, but as a trusted friend, who sits with me, not just in the light, but in the darkest places of depression and anxiety. God never left me there, He’s walking with me through it, step by shaky step.
I’m present, I’m breathing,
I’m becoming, and everyday that I choose not to give up, that is healing.
-denise marie
“So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36
Un-rav-el: to free from complication or difficulty; to make plain or clear.
Father God,
I lay down what I can no longer carry, the masks, the striving, the silent weight. Help me to not fear the unraveling, but to trust that even now, You are near. Even in the undoing, You are making space for what is true. In Jesus name, amen.
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”. – John 8:36
Lately, I’ve been noticing the small things, the way the sunlight dances on the leaves, how the birds always find their song, how my heart softens in nature’s presence.
It’s in these quiet returns that I remember who I am, a daughter still becoming, a soul still unfolding.
God isn’t asking me to hurry, He’s asking me to come close, to rest, to remember I’m already loved, already chosen, already home. – denise marie
“So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36
Lately, I’ve been learning to slow down and really see, not just with my eyes, but with my heart.
The sky is soft in the morning, the flowers blooming by the sidewalk, and the wind brushing the trees like a song.
But something inside me is changing.
I’m learning to pay attention, to notice the light as it filters through the leaves, and to find beauty even in the ordinary and overlooked.
This is the lens I’m choosing now,
one shaped by gratitude, healing and hope. The more I look through it, the more beauty I see, not just around me, but within me too. – denise marie
“So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36
There’s something sacred about the journey back to love, the kind that begins with God, that transforms how I see myself, and leads me into wholeness.
Falling in love with God isn’t about religious performance; it’s about discovering the One who loved me first. It’s a quiet surrender, a drawing close, a resting in presence where striving ceases.
As I lean into that love, I begin to see myself differently. Not through shame or scarcity, but through grace and my reflection softens. I start to unlearn the lies, rewrite the inner dialogue, and reclaim my worth.
And that’s where wholeness begins, not in perfection, but in acceptance, not in having it all together, but in being fully known and still deeply loved.
This journey is tender, It’s holy ground, and every step is towards love, God, self, and a step towards healing. This is my road to becoming, and this is My Journey Home.
– denise marie
“So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36
As I was taking a walk, I stepped on these leaves that had fallen from the tree. The sound of the crunch beneath my feet brought a huge smile across my face and an instant feeling of tingling happiness.
It brought me back to my childhood living in Seattle, where I would fall backwards into a pile of leaves that were newly raked in front of our house.
Reminiscing on these memories, I could literally hear the sound of laughter that filled the air with pure joy!
I’m so grateful for today and for taking a moment to be present within the beauty of nature, I honor you God, the creator of such a gift.🩷
– denise marie
So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed. -John 8:36
#nolongerheldcaptive
Last night I took a Mindfulness and Gratitude through the Visual Arts Class.
I learned about the Golden Ratio and Zentangle Patterns.
I was able to create my own Zentangle pattern which allowed me to be present, with no expectations, no right or wrong and no judgement. I was free.🩷
This form of Art Therapy gave me so much joy! It helped me to calm my mind, breathe deeply and simply relax.
– denise marie
“So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36
#nolongerheldcaptive
I decided to get out of my comfort zone and nervously read one of my poems in front of the camera.
Speaking in public or in front of a camera, causes me some anxiety and I normally find myself completely overthinking, being self-critical and sometimes talking myself out of it.
But not tonight.
I sat in my living room, didn’t fuss with the perfect application of makeup or the correct lighting. I just went for it….and because I did, it was a huge breakthrough for me!
You see, after surviving the pulmonary embolism, I struggled with the affects in my mind, emotions, and body. My brain seemed to be a bit different, very foggy, easily overwhelmed/overstimulated and anxiety. I struggled and sometimes still struggle with terrible fatigue, hair loss and extra weight gain. These things had began to mess with my confidence and I found myself beginning to hide a bit and shrink back from doing things that I used to do much easier in the past.
Being in my 50’s and a survivor of…well an overcomer of so many different challenges in my life, (past childhood trauma, stress etc.) I realize that it’s ok to not always be ok, but it’s not ok to be stuck in my circumstances. Taking things one day at a time, allows me to remove unrealistic expectations and letting go of my own pressure of perfectionism, the need to please others and making space for plenty of love and grace. Healing is a process and I am choosing to be present, every step of the way.
My hope is that I continue to show up and do things that make me uncomfortable.
This not so simple act of getting out of my own head, and doing things even if I am afraid or nervous is truly liberating.
Thanks for sharing this moment with me, it means a lot!
– denise marie
“So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36
You have the gift to
powerfully shine light
on darkness,
to set captives free
by the stroke of your
own pen.
– denise marie
“So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. – John 8:36
My Journey Home….to God & Self 