Meet Richella

"R-i-c-h-e-l-l-a." If I had a dollar for every time I've spelled my name, I'd have a nice little retirement account all funded.

So first, my name. My mother's brother's name is Richard. My mother's mother's name is Luella. Take the beginning of Richard and the end of Luella and you've got my name, pronounced rih-shell'-uh. Kind of like Michelle, only fancier.

Fifteen years ago I was a young mom with three little red-headed boys, living in a small town and doing my best to make a home for my husband and kids.

Since then, among other things, I've moved five times; worked with my husband through a career shift and five job changes; seen two of my children off to college; buried my mother and my father-in-law; helped to plant a church; cared for both my husband and children through six major surgeries in five years; joined the Board of Trustees of Renovaré; and written a small book on spiritual formation.  

And boy, have I made a lot of mistakes along the way.

I'm not such a young mom any more, and my boys are big now. But I'm still doing my best to make a home for my family--only now I do it with a little less perfectionism, a little more perspective, and a lot more assurance of the goodness of God. This blog is my place to share what I've learned and what I'm learning.

My husband took this picture of me. 
I like photos of myself wearing sunglasses.

These are the ones where you can't tell that my eyes are closed.

As for my blog name, I got to pick that one out for myself. I've always been very verbal, and in recent years I've realized that many times in my life I've used words in ways that I'm now ashamed of. I've spoken with harshness, with judgment, with meanness. I wanted to change that, and I was inspired by a verse from the Bible: "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good. . . that it may impart grace to the hearers" (Ephesians 4:29). I liked the idea of trying to impart grace with my words, so I took Imparting Grace as my title--and my goal.

Click on the "My Heart" and "My Home" tabs at the top of the page if you'd like to learn a little more about me and what I write about here.  Or click on the Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest icons to connect with me.  Or send me an email to say hello.  I'd love to hear from you.  

I'd be so honored for you to join me in my journey here!