For a long time, it was a bad word. It meant angry–radical–abortion supporter–man-hating–and, perhaps worst of all, dark business suits with big shoulder pads. It was the woman I never wanted to be, the promiscuous party girl and corporate high-flyer who disdained motherhood, or shipped her kids off to a nanny.

Yet today, I will tell you boldly (with humility and grace, I hope) that yes – I am a feminist.

And you are, too.

(Probably.)

While I did (and probably do) have some anger, I arrived here without becoming any of the things I feared and disdained. I still love pink and decorating and babies and fashion. My relationship with my husband looks quite traditional, in many ways (I hate driving. He likes driving. Guess who drives most of the time?) Often, I’m the traditional feminine “feeler” and he’s the traditional masculine “thinker.” So what does…

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I received these fantastic questions from a blog reader:

How has your faith grown since ERP? Have you found new ways to talk and relate to God now that you free from its influence?

Well.

Everything is different now.

I believe that my prayers are heard, that there is no glass ceiling over my head, preventing them from reaching God’s ear.

I walk in the lightness of freedom and not with the yoke of legalism.

I can picture Christ delighting in me and my work.

My new normal is feeling loved and accepted, redeemed and rescued.

I am anchored.

I can think about other worldviews without being triggered into a total meltdown.

My faith feels less about feelings and more about choice: I choose Christ and, better yet, he has chosen me.

Prayer feels more like a two-way conversation than just one-way pleading.

I experience God’s sense of humor more.

I…

1. Fall in love with someone who loves me back.

2. Write books that matter.

3. Get a book deal with a major publisher. (Check!)

4. Be a homeowner. (Check!)

5. Visit Australia and England.

6. Be blurbed by John Green and Melina Marchetta.

7. Meet John Green and Melina Marchetta.

8. Have fan fiction written about my characters.

9. Be a commencement speaker.

10. Meet my Compassion kids.

11. Endow a scholarship.

(Plus one more writing-related one that is too personal and embarrassing to share because it’s even more absurd than being blurbed by John Green.)

What’s on your bucket list?