Neighboring

It started about a month ago. My favorite farm guy and I went to Orlando, Florida with some friends for the Exponential Conference where the focus was on evangelism. We heard story-after-story about the opportunities that Covid has brought to the Church with how to be better at neighboring.

Jay Pathak, a Co-Author of the book titled, The Art of Neighboring spoke and really challenged the packed auditorium to take more seriously the commission from Jesus to love our neighbors.

Here’s a quote from page 20 of their book.

Love your neighbor as yourself. Could it be that simple? I (Dave) remember thinking, Jesus is a genius! He is asked to pick one commandment that is more important than all the others. And he shares something that would change the world, if only every person who believes in Jesus would actually do it. - Dave Runyon

As I sat there in my seat, I began to feel remorse over how greatly I have neglected this simple command.

You see, you have to travel down a long driveway to get to our country home. The only neighbors we know are the ones we share a driveway with.

And that should not be okay with us, but somehow it has been.

After coming home, I texted the one neighbor we already knew and shared with her my desire to be a better neighbor. Then I asked her if she would help me plan a dinner party with the neighborhood this summer. She said yes! And then she went on to tell me about some other neighbors.

And I could almost see the party in my mind.

Since then, we’ve stopped over to visit the house across the street from the end of our driveway three times. We discovered their names and also learned that the grandma who’s living there with them has cancer. And now we know how to better pray for them.

I must admit that we’ve also had some fun with it.

We’ve dressed up in our country best all while bringing plates of food and eggs for the adventure.

Prayer '- Forgive us Lord for not taking the time to know or care for our neighbors. Help us to do better.

This man of mine.

Years ago I lived in a house tucked away from the road with property surrounding us from all around. We had chickens, a garden, and a long driveway.

It was quiet.

It was peaceful.

And then the winds came and blew and our lives were uprooted and somehow we landed smack dab in the middle of a crowded neighborhood.

Although the community was kind to us, it wasn’t familiar and all I longed for was home.

When my favorite farm guy and I started dating, he too lived on a busy street. Although nice and neat, it wasn’t quiet and free.

It wasn’t long before our conversations drifted toward a forever future together. And wouldn’t you know it, we both had a desire for a home with land and room for animals and tractors.

And then God led us right to it. Of course He did.

Five years later and we’re still so very thankful. God gave us everything back and then some. He’s so faithful to redeem and restore.

Last night, we walked outside and I snagged this picture of him.

This is my guy.

He prides himself in how he cares for his family. He loves splitting wood throughout the year, all things Carhartt, filling the outside wood stove, hunting, and everything in-between.

I told him after I took this photo that he sure knows how to take care of a woman. And I meant every word.

Pursue Peace

When I decided to date again after my divorce I may not have been sure about much, but I was certain about one thing. And that was that I did not want to spend any more of my living years arguing with someone over petty things.

The lessons I learned from my past were tough things to be taught and none of it was easy.

Here I was with a clean slate and another chance to love someone again and I sure wanted to do it right this time.

Maybe you can relate?

Because to love and be loved is a gift. And sometimes we miss that and then we go through some hard days.

When I started to date and get to know my favorite farm guy, I just wanted to love him really well. My history of being the keeper of someone else’s heart was not perfect yet somehow God was giving me another chance. And I’m so so grateful He has.

Here we are almost five married years in and our hearts are beating strong, because being right is not our goal, love is.

When you have a dream

I can still remember how scared I was years ago to tell people that I was feeling called to write a book. I didn’t know the first thing about publishing a book and I had no idea where to start. I just knew it was going to take faith steps for me to move forward with this idea.

One of the first things that I did was announce it on Facebook. And then once it was out there, I had to put the rest of the pieces in place, including actually writing the book. Yikes!

Once I sat down to write, I couldn’t stop. Although the story was already in me to share, I had to discipline myself to put the words to page.

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us”

— Ephesians 3:20 ESV

As time went on, I became more confident about the dream God put in my heart to do. Actually it was no longer just a dream, it became a mission of mine to see it accomplished.

Have you been there?

You know… When He nudges you to step out with Him on a new adventure, but it sounds crazy and you’re afraid you might fail with it.

But what if you don’t fail?

What if it is actually a path forward to other adventures that you would have never discovered if you had not first starting dreaming with Him to begin with? And hear me with this….

God’s dreams are never just about us. They are for others.

I pray you never stop dreaming with God. <3

Dads and Daughters

I can still see the picture in my head. It was a summer day in 1982 that I spent with dad. On this day, he happened to have the camera out when he snapped a photo of me sitting in my yellow sundress on a small bridge in our backyard. Behind me laid the garden that he was so proud every year. I loved being outside with him.

It was peaceful that day and I remember feeling beautiful.

I’m sure it’s because dad must have said something to make me feel that way before he captured the shot.

As I continued to grow, dad and I spent more days together where we would find adventurous things to do. Sometimes bringing the dog along and my sister too. Dad has a way of inspiring people to enjoy the simpler things in life and I have always loved that about him.

The older I get the more I appreciate the relationship I have with my dad. Don’t get me wrong, mom is special too, but for different reasons.

Dad was always carefree and fun.

He lived life slower.

He was creative and innovative.

He was strong.

He was my protector and hero.

When I became a mother, God blessed me with 5 sons, but no daughters. I did my best to be as adventurous of a mother as I could be, but honestly, the wild and fun side has been hard to maintain over the years. I think I lean a little more toward order and structure than anything.

Maybe it’s a mom thing.

In 2017 when I met my Mr. T and his 2 girls, I felt a little out of place. I had not seen a dad and daughter relationship so closely since my childhood.

Little-by-little, they let me in and I have found my place.

But I also enjoy taking a step back to watch the three of them work.

There’s a song out right now called Dads and Daughters by MaRynn Taylor and I love the message it holds. Here’s a little portion of it:

Dads and daughters they go together like boats and water, they’re meant for each other. The wind and the waves they’ll sail away from the storm and make it to shore. There’s nothing stronger than a love between dads and daughters.

God’s design for us as parents is the perfect design. He fully knows what each child needs to feel loved, secure, and free.

And He’s the best Father to us all.

These are the good days.

I watched a quick little video on Instagram which inspired this post. Isn’t it amazing how a 30-second video can ignite a dream in someone.

The video was of a family who recently bought an 1800’s farmhouse. The person behind the camera said something along the lines of… “Some people saw this old 1800’s farm and thought it would be too much work… We thought otherwise, watch and see why.”

And then the video went on a journey of their renovations while the song Home by Phillip Phillips played. And with every new shot, I longed for an 1800’s farmhouse too.

So then I sent the video to my Mr. T with a text that read "Let’s buy a farmhouse” - and then he quickly responded with a “Yessssss! I’m in!

But why is this such a longing for us?

What is it about an old farm that grabs our hearts the way it does?

For me, I think it represents f a m i l y.

There is something about a place that is off the beaten path - tucked away from the busyness of the world that is always pulling us apart. There is something about land and freedom and quiet that reawakens my soul. There is something about getting your hands dirty and working on a project with the ones you love. And there is something beautiful about my past that makes me want to savor it forever.

My childhood was free. We didn’t necessarily live on a farm, but we had property, a creek in the backyard, and life was so much slower back then. The best part of my memories are the ones of being together with my family.

Together was home.

For my Mr. T… Well although he had some property at home with his own family while growing up, his fondest memories were the ones out on the farm where his grandparents lived. And that is where the rest of the family would gather together and to him, those were the good ole’ days.

Although we do have a small hobby farm right now, our hearts are to have a real one someday. But when I think about it, I sometimes get sad to think that it may not be while our kids are still young. In fact, our older boys are already off and married now. And the years just keep flying by.

Maybe just maybe this longing is for a place we’ll call home, but our kids will all be grown.

Whatever the case, I am grateful to know the dream is fully alive in us. Whether its for our kids or our future grandchildren someday, we long for a place for all our loves to call home.

To my hurting friends…

I have been working on my notes for the breakout session I will be doing this weekend at the Renew conference. Typically I go with an inspirational topic that appeals to a larger crowd, but this year I sensed God was calling me to focus on reaching the women I can relate with most. And with that prompting, I knew which direction He was leading me to go in.

As much as I long to inspire women with how to be an entrepreneur or on how to be a powerful woman leader in the church, the truth is my niche is probably more to the woman who is broken and falling apart.

You see there is a desire in me to move on with my life now that things are put back together after divorce, but in doing so, I often forget what led me here. And when I do that, I grow cold to the hurts of others and I forget what it feels like to be hurting and broken myself.

As I have sat here and done some self reflection, I am reminded that brokenness is still very much here with me. Actually brokenness never leaves us because of the nature of the world we live in. It’s all around us and in many parts of our daily lives … in fact it will be forever.

And that’s a heavy thought.

The earth is utterly broken, the earth is split apart, the earth is violently shaken.

- Isaiah 24:19

It has been seven years since my life was changed through divorce and in so many ways God has redeemed my story. From family-to-finances-to-His favor on my life. I have experienced so much redemption, but there are still some broken pieces and it’s okay for me to recognize that.

Sometimes I forget that my job is just to lock eyes on Jesus so that He can continue to teach me what He has for me in each heartache that I face. It’s always when I take my eyes off of Him that I start to sink. You too?

So for this weekend, I will be transparent and vulnerable again because I believe it’s the path to connection with some hurting women. And that is who I want to minister to.

Now here is my encouragement and reminder to you dear friends… Remember your brokenness.

Don’t let the gift of a rebuilt life harden your heart to the hurts of others.

We never arrive. We are always on a journey until He calls us home.

Let the ground rest.

We meet up every couple of months just to check in. We’ve been doing this for years. We share the commonality of being divorced as well as a passion for deep theology. Our conversations are always a mixture of laughter, deep thought, and then tears. It’s just the way we roll.

A few years ago, she experienced a new form of heartache when she and her husband were hit by another car while they were on their way to dinner. They were both greatly affected from the incident, but he more than she. He was in a coma for a while and has since began his road to recovery. And this will be a forever journey.

In the last year, she’s begun to process the accident some more and has begun to settle into this new life of hers as his primary caretaker.

If you knew my friend, you’d know that she lights up the room wherever she goes and that her laughter is contagious. She finds humor in the simple things making me want to be more like her. She inspires me so much just by how she’s learned to navigate through this part of her story.

While we were sipping on our lattes, she told me about a song that has been ministering to her in this season and then she texted it to me so I could listen to it later. On the way home from our visit, I played the song and felt every word as if I were hearing them from her healing heart. And then I realized how much my heart needed to hear these words too.

Because the truth is there are many things about my story right now that are also waiting for a harvest.

How about you? Are there things in your life that you wish were for now but you’re having to trust God with them and let the ground rest? It’s okay, you’re going to grow and it’s for the best. Trust the process.

It’s called; “Let the ground rest” by Chris Renzema.

Here’s the chorus:

Ohhh, just let the ground rest

Cause if it’s not right now

It’s for the best

You’re going to grow, I know this

But for now, just let the ground rest.

>>> S E C U R E <<<

It’s a New Year!

For the last few weeks I have been spending time at night flipping through old magazines trying to find inspirational words to add to my 2023 vision board. I love the hunt for meaningful words, dreaming for what’s to come with my new year, and the hope that fills my heart along the way.

Not only do I search for words out of magazines, I also spend time praying and discerning what God may be trying to show me for my future and for my family. As I put the pieces together, the puzzle becomes more clear and I begin to catch a glimpse of where we’re headed. It’s always a beautiful process.

Over the years, the words that I received have been so personal and have always become more significant as the year unfolds. I started doing this back in 2012 and now have encouraged our kiddos to join. Here’s my collection so far:

2012 - BIG

2013 - FAMILY

2014 - DREAM

2015 - LETTING GO

2016 - CHANGE

2017 - FLOURISH

2018 - ORDER

2019 - EXPAND

2020 - ANCHOR

2021 - SOAR

2022 - AWAIT

2023 - SECURE

Along with my word, I find some scriptures that fit together and I turn them into a personalized prayer for me to pray throughout the year.

How about you? Do you have a word? Do you put together a vision board?

Job 11:18 ESV

I will feel secure because there is hope; I will look around and take my rest in security.

What do you have to lose?

My twin boys asked me to go on a backpacking trip out west back in 2017 shortly after they graduated from high school. It was going to be the first vacation I’d be taking after my divorce had finalized and boy was I ready for the adventure. The year leading up to the divorce, plus the painful journey that divorce takes you through had really taken a toll on me.

Divorce is ugly.

Divorce is painful.

The further we drove, the lighter I felt. I knew God would be with us on our hike in the mountains and I knew He wanted to minister to my broken soul. The pages of my journal those days penned many sorrowful truths.

- July 24, 2017

“It’s a new week. A gentle breeze has rolled in today. Thoughts of fall are filling my mind. I recognize there’s so much healing yet to come.

How long Daddy?

When will the pain go away?

When will I move on with my heart?

I’m so lonely.”

Although I felt the freedom to share these words on my journal pages, I was so fearful to ever echo these words out loud. Because they would show my true vulnerable self to others and I never wanted anyone to know that I was not as strong as I was presenting myself to be.

God heard my words. And not only did He show up, but he showed off. Because that’s the kind of God He is.

While on the trip, I learned the depth of His love for me and the measures He takes to send us people we need to help us when we can’t help ourselves.

(Home from the trip for 2 days) - August 7, 2022, I wrote these words in my journal that I felt I heard from God.

“Jennifer,

I am preparing you my daughter for another adventure. You saw glimpses of what’s to come. Hold on to what you experienced. Don’t let go to the openness that I brought you to. I brought you to breakthrough and freedom in trusting others. In believing in the good of mankind. I created man. Man is good. Open your heart to what I have in store for you in the future. It’s time for a full healing so you can walk into wholeness.”

My second day back to work after the trip, I met Travis DeBrot. After a few weeks, he asked me out for coffee. I asked my mom and my sons what they thought about me going out with someone and they all said…

“Why not. What do you have to lose.”

I trusted their wisdom and then I took the bravest step I ever could and I trusted myself to let someone see and know my heart. There is no doubt in my mind that God led Travis to me and that this was and is His plan for us.

There are mysteries in life I will never understand until I meet God face-to-face and I’m okay with that. For now, I will just choose to cherish the gifts He gives us on this side of heaven.

From the luckiest woman on the planet,

The gift of Sabbath

This year we have a one-hour gap between when our 7th graders need to be to school and when our 4th graders need to be to school. With this dilemma, we have decided to use it to our advantage. Travis and Em discovered “The Farmhouse” and Jude and I have enjoyed trying a few different places in Spring Lake, Michigan.

He opened the door for me as we entered “Village Baker”…. (What a gentleman). Light music played in the background as we sat there and visited. We took a moment and held hands across the table so we could take a picture in our minds of this special morning together.

Not only are we getting to start off the day with breakfast out, we also get to come home to a fun-filled family weekend. Friday-night-Family-nights are our favorites.

With our ever changing schedule due to activities we’re all involved with, we have shifted our S A B B A T H nights to begin on Fridays at 5pm. What a great day to look forward to each week.

What day do you practice sabbath?

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. Exodus 20: 8-10

Authentically me

I’ve always appreciated the opportunity that writing presents with inspiring and encouraging others. I try to be intentional with my messages because I want those who read to hear hope through my words. But I also want to be authentic in my sharing because I know that’s where real trust is built and hearts soften.

Being vulnerable isn’t easy and doesn’t come natural to anyone. It’s something that you have to work at and it requires you to really know your why.

Why share?

Why be vulnerable?

Why Care?

Because I want my words to reach people who may be hurting. People who may stumble upon this page and discover they can relate to something I’ve mentioned. And if and when that happens, it’s worth the risk…every time.

So here goes… bear with me.

I was good at painting a pretty picture with how my story was being told, I really was… I wanted others to see something that I wished were there myself. I danced with denial and held hands with a false reality because that’s what you do when you’re trying to cope. The signs were there from the beginning, but I didn’t want to face them so I suffered alone year after year.

I was good at putting on a smile and saving face in front of the crowed, especially at church, because that’s what a good person in ministry should do - right?

Yes, I had a few who were close enough to know the truth, but they couldn’t fix my situation.

Only God could.

It’s often in the desperation of our hearts cry where God is nearest to us. Actually Psalm 34:18 even tells us so. It’s in the pain and brokenness of our wounded mess where God sits and holds us close. And although things don’t always work out the way we pray they will, in His timing and in His way, He always responds.

Many years have passed since that season of my life and as they have, not only has my life and circumstances completely changed, but I have also changed in the process too. You see, during the chaotic and toxic turbulence, I wasn’t able to see how broken I was and I wasn’t able to really face how I was part of the storm. So God held me and waited patiently as He worked and moved and then while I was being put back together, He gently offered me to find more healing by seeing more of the truth.

Some of the things I’ve learned through my journey God nudges me to share with you. Whether it be over coffee, in a group setting, or through the art of writing. And when He does, I get the choice to respond. Today, I said yes.

If I could go back and talk with the younger me, I would say to myself:

1. Be careful with your words dear friend.

2. Be honest with yourself and with others, they can handle the truth.

3. Life is too short to worry about silly things.

4. To love and to be loved is a gift, cherish it.

5. God can redeem anything.

That picture up there was taken on April 3, 2017. It was the last day I was staying in the Smokey mountains during a trip I took with my little guys and family. I see it in my eyes. I was being humbled, facing real surrender for the first time, and finally shedding off the pattern to pretend all is well when it wasn’t. And as much as I didn’t like how it felt, I knew that it was what was needed if I was ever going to really be f r e e.

Where are you at today? Are you pretending? Are you part of the chaos in your life? Is He holding you close? If so, I get it. I really do. I’m sorry for your pain and I hope these words have encouraged or inspired you in some small way.

Psalm 34:18 - The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart. <3

Time slips through

There are moments when life slows down long enough for me to snap a still shot to capture where life has me t o d a y.

Times where I recognize the importance of taking it all in and savoring the seconds with the ones I love.

Another son celebrated a milestone last weekend as he said “I do” and became united in marriage with his beautiful bride. This time around my mama heart knew what was coming with his new chapter. You see, we went through this last summer when his twin brother got married. I didn’t realize then how much things would change and how little we would all be together. Now I know. Our oldest has been gone for many years. Not once has it been easy.

Another mama with adult children recently said to me… “you never let go”… and I am comforted to know that it’s okay to hold on forever.

Although they are called to leave and cleave, they do come home and life does continue to bring new memories and treasures for a growing family. I know there are many wonderful seasons ahead with new experiences for me to behold. And I’m so grateful for that.

And I pray that I will continue to find days to

stop.

pause.

rest.

reflect.

On the beauty that each chapter brings. Because life is such a gift and the ones God gives us to love are so precious. And I want to let it all sink into my heart a little bit deeper just how lovely this journey is.

Changing Seasons

There’s just something about a season changing that inspires us to reflect on life, isn’t there.

For me, the Fall season heightens the urgency to evaluate where my year is projected to end. I start asking myself hard questions and pondering what more I want to fit in before it really comes to a close.

I pull out my dream board, my prayer notes, my “wish lists” and I look to see what else yet needs to be done and I begin to celebrate the ones I’ve successfully crossed off already.

Do you do that too?

It seems like I start my year off in January with really high hopes of what I think I can accomplish and then month-by-month, I put steps in place to get me there.

Somewhere along this wonderful journey of life, I began to realize that baby steps would be needed in order for me to knock off the “Big Ones” on my checklist. I think that’s from learning the hard way in years past.

So I put more details to my dreams. Rather than saying - I want to go hiking….. I put - Go hiking 3 times this year.

I decided to really ask myself early on what I thought would be a good measure of success for me before the year ended.

To date, I have a few more things I need to finish out, but all in all, we’re tracking pretty good.

How about you?

What goals have you set for yourself - body, soul, and spirit? I’m so grateful that God never gives up on us and that His Word never changes!

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” - Isaiah 40:8

Kitchen Sink Thoughts

I used to write often. There was always different ideas floating through my mind throughout the day that I wanted to formulate into a note I could share with the world online. Writing for me was therapeutic and I always hoped my words were touching someone else’s heart.

For the last few years I haven’t written near as much and I’m sometimes disappointed with myself for not being more intentional with it. It’s not for a lack of things to share because truly there is so much I could say.

I wish I had time to share more about my wonderful husband and the gift he’s been since the day God sent him to me more than 5 years ago.

I wish I had time to share about our hobby farm life and the peace it’s brought to my soul.

I wish I had time to share about what life feels like for a mama with sons ranging from 9 years old to 25, and of course about my 2 bonus girls from my beloved husband.

I wish I had time to share about the nonprofit we started a few years ago and how amazing it’s been to watch it grow into something beautiful.

I wish I had time to share about the many different things God has taught me through the years of surrender, letting go and the joys found in rebuilding life over again as a blended family.

As I sat and reflected the other day, God reminded me that so often in years past when I wrote, I was writing from a place of pain and desperation because life was hard and I really wanted someone to care.

I’m no longer there.

I know that life will shift again in the next few years and I’ll have more time on my hands to fill some pages with notes I want to pass along, but for now, here is what I’d like to relay for today:

• God speaks at the kitchen sink (listen to what He has to say).

• Time speeds up with each year you live.

• If you make your family a priority, you will have a forever family.

• Don’t try to fix people.

• Practice sabbath and self care, it’s essential to a good and healthy life.

• Spend some time each day with Jesus… And He will lead you to the desires of your heart.

  “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart” - Psalm 34:7

Truth Be Told…

We put our chairs down to watch our fifth soccer game of the weekend and began to chat with the couple sitting next to us. Our boys are on the same team yet nothing is the same about any of our lives. They are an ‘in tact’ family like most of the families along the sidelines. They only have two kids and one in sports. That’s not the case for us (at all).

As we sat there and attempted to explain our family structure and the many activities we’re involved with, it was clear they were getting lost in our complicated life.

We felt their empathy.

We felt vulnerable.

We held our heads up high as we always do.

We’re doing our best.

Blended families have dynamics that in-tact families will never be able to fully understand. Here’s a glimpse:

We have 4 kids under 12 in 3 different school districts and none of them are the one we live in. This weekend, we have to be in Grand Rapids for an Art festival for our daughter with dance, in Coopersville for a 5k girls on the run race for our other daughter, Holland for a soccer game, Grand Rapids for a soccer game, back to Holland for a piano recital, to Spring Lake to drop off and pick up 2 of our kiddos for youth group, and two more additional soccer games beyond that.

And truth be told… I’m T I R E D.

Philippians 4:13 says, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Right now the days are tough. The commutes are far. The weekends are busy, but we know that there will come a day when things shift and we’ll be able to look back and say it was worth every minute.

If you can relate, hold on tight to these words from Paul in Philippians. You too can do ALL things with Christ’s help.

New Perspective

I bought myself some reading glasses a few months ago and boy oh boy has that been a real game changer for me when it comes to seeing things more clearly. Whether its the new glasses or the fact that I’m approaching my mid-40s, I sure have hit a spot in life where reflection feels like medicine to the soul.

Hopefully with each new year I’ve gained a bit of wisdom to go along with the hardships life has brought me and I’ve taken the appropriate steps and applied some new things along the way. I’d like to think that’s true.

I heard something in church a few weeks ago that really resonated with me. Pastor Bill said something along the lines of this…

Life seems to be a series of tests we go through. So often we have to keep taking the same test until we finally pass.

At the beginning of every new year I ask God for a word to focus on throughout the year and this year my word is the word:

A W A I T - To anticipate, expect, hope (for) wait (for).

Romans 8:25 says But if we hope for what we do not see, we await (it) eagerly with patient endurance.

As I look ahead, I get pretty excited to think that maybe I’ve passed a few tests by now and He’s ready to take us some place really really good.

How about you?? Are you ready for something fresh and new or do you sense that it may be another year of learning?

He’s one of the good ones

This man of mine inspires me everyday to be a better woman oh yes he does. It’s his daily disciplines that continue to spur me on with my own desires and dreams. From early mornings where we share coffee, dreams, and time with God and throughout the day where he doesn’t show any signs of quit - he motivates me to follow his lead.

And I won’t take any of it for granted. Not for a minute.

From keeping our home warm-to-his loving ways-to-the plowed driveway and each sacrifice made - the list goes on and on.

God sent me a good one. Oh yes He did and for that I am forever grateful.

If God sent you a good one too - be sure to take a moment today to appreciate the gift.

Learning to exhale

I can’t pinpoint when it started… Maybe it was few years ago or maybe it’s been several years now and I’m just beginning to realize it, but at some point, I started holding my breath without even thinking about it. I wasn’t doing it consciously, it was just something that naturally happened as though it had always been a part of me.

As my life has picked up in steam over the years, I just kept inhaling. Maybe you can relate?

I sat with some friends last night and while we chatted, the light turned on for me. God was gently reminding me to remember to exhale. We don’t have to think about breathing because our bodies are wired to do this on their own, but we do get to choose how often we exhale.

Ezekiel 37:5 “This is what the Sovereign Lord days: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again.”

I want to live fully alive and free! I don’t want to hold on to any breaths that weren’t meant for me carry within. How about you?

Oh God - teach us to live fully alive in you. Teach us to exhale again and again.

I was made for this

I was made for this.

That’s the thought that filtered through today as I was putting another batch of chocolate chip cookies into the oven…

I quick snapped a picture and sent it off to our college boy with a note that said - cookies to celebrate that fact that you’re coming home for the weekend <3

With the busyness of this season and the challenges of the ongoing pandemic, I sometimes have to ground myself to remember what really matters most in life.

Almost 25 years into this motherhood thing and I can definitely say that it’s the little things that make my heart smile.

This world is hard but home should never be.

Lord - please help us to create spaces for our kids to feel safe and celebrated each and every day.