 By Lavern Nissley
(This post is birthed out of a challenging, life-altering experience affecting Lavern & Ronda Nissley, Encompass co-directors.) Ronda was feeling some abdominal discomfort the Friday before Father’s Day, similar to an episode she had experienced earlier with diverticulitis. What worked before was antibiotics. So when she went to Urgent Care on Father’s Day and was sent to the ER for a CAT scan, she was still thinking, “I just need some antibiotics.” I joined Ronda in the ER after receiving her text that she had been sent there. We were not prepared for the results of the CAT scan.
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 By Lavern Nissley
(Danny Meyer is a former pastor and overseer in the Association of Vineyard Churches) If you are married, please stop and take 2 minutes to read some super marriage advice from a May 18, 2018 Facebook post by Danny Meyer, a personal friend and acquaintance. In this brief post he offers incredibly humble and transparent reflections on his 44 year marriage to Penny. No self-promoting heroism at all! Seriously . . . This. Is. Good. Stuff!  By Ellen Dudney
(Ellen served with the Pregnancy Resource Clinic in Springfield from 2008 through 2018, beginning as a Nurse Manager, then leading as Executive Director from 2011-2018.) Yes, Virginia, there is life after the working! I do not like the word “retirement”. It focuses on things ending, but it says nothing about the future. And, it makes me sound old – which I most certainly am not! How about if we call it “transition” instead. After all, I’m still the same person, with the same skills, interests, and passions – I’ll just be pursuing these in a different way, as will you.  By Lavern Nissley
If I were to tell you that there is a simple, 5 minute daily habit that has been shown to increase the chances of marriage success to over 99%, would you want to know what it is? Would you be interested in trying it out? Ronda and I came across this secret during a marriage workshop in March, 1990. It changed the trajectory of our own marriage, likely saving it. And we love to share this potent secret with others.  By Lavern Nissley
Most people, myself included until last year, have never heard of ACE. No, it's not the standardized test for applying to colleges; that's ACT. A person's ACE score (Adverse Childhood Experiences) has been correlated with a host of physical and psychological maladies. Continue reading to understand why ACEs are so important and relevant.  By Abby Glaser
I was listening to a podcast recently where the guest shared something called the “10-7-5 Rule”. The gist of it is that each person has ten defining moments, seven critical choices and five pivotal people who impact who they are. Defining moments, both positive and negative, are events who have changed or redefined who we are. Many of those are situations out of our control and our response to them is what changes us. Critical choices, also positive or negative, have affected our life up until today and set the path for our future. Lastly, five pivotal people are individuals who have made an indelible mark on our lives. That latter category has had me thinking the most.  By Lavern Nissley
One of Ronda's goals for 2019 is to become more minimalistic. What that 5 syllable word means is that she is "on a mission" to do a lot of household item purging so that clutter is reduced and only the essentials are available to us. Scary. I wasn't sure how this was going to turn out. Just under two months into this crusade for simplicity, I don't want to go back. It's had an amazing effect upon us!  By Lavern Nissley
So, how’s that for a blog post title 2 days before the day of love? Yet, it truly reflects my heart on the emphasis of singling out one day a year for an inferior type of love that has a truly bizarre origin. You know the drill if you’re interested in hearing more.  By Lavern Nissley
A precious 60 year marriage transitioned suddenly on Monday, January 7, 2019. Gary and Dottie Wade were married June 13, 1958, having met each other in junior high school. But on this fateful Monday morning Gary found the love of his life slumped over in a chair.  By Lavern Nissley
As we head into the holidays and spend time with families and friends, many will experience fond memories and heartfelt joy. Others will experience the opposite, becoming acutely reminded of relationship dysfunctions. Many of us experience some of each. So, how do you cope effectively in the middle of this seasonal insanity? Those emotional allergies and buttons have a physiological affect, don't they? Increased heart rate and breathing. Blood pressure pounding away at your skull. Stomach churning and knots forming. Help!!! What to do? |
HostsLavern & Ronda Nissley are co-directors of Encompass. Married since 1978, both enjoy coffee, riding their tandem bicycle and working together to build strong relationships. 
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