I thought I’d be married by now. Really, I thought I’d be married a long time ago—planning playdates, packing lunches, and figuring out how to make time for date night. That desire wasn’t something anyone pushed on me. It wasn’t pressure from the church or my family. I’ve just always loved children and longed to be a wife and a mom. That dream has felt stitched on my heart from the start.  Even as I hoped for it, I never saw marriage as the only way to live a life of meaning, joy, or purpose....

Dashed hopes are painful - whether you were dating the guy or just hoping to date him, whether he expressed interest or just left you...

During my single years, one the things I struggled with a lot was envy . I saw people in romantic relationships and burned with covetous...