Winter Promises Spring

These past four years full of blessings and still we had been in the winter of our lives. The cold, tired, wearing kind where you have to choose to find joy, hope, and live out loud anyway.

Challenge takes some type of toll on family, marriage, and on most any relationship. We have had struggles and hardships that we would never wish on any one, ever. As each one came, the prior one would find partial or total resolve. For a long time, most would only find partial resolve. 

Thus, the thrust into three and a half years of winter. 

Worshipping Him, our God, always brought just enough warmth to keep us from bitterness. We clung to His love for us and committed to each other. That commitment would have to be spoken out loud over and over again. 

Words are alive. Those words and our worship breathed more and more life into our winter. Helping others and giving some of those words away put more and more logs on the hearts fire; What a gift. 

Speaking, worshipping, trusting, giving, and loving.

Now, we are here. Spring started peeking in over the last two weeks! We’re in the middle of actual winter, but in our family spring has let us know it’s coming. 

Spring - new, green, fresh, alive. We can feel it, something new. It’s springing up and coming round the corner. It’s a brand new season!

You have to wait until January for all the news. 

Yes, this is just a random pic of Shadow...hee hee :D

Just know and be encouraged that God was always good in that harsh season. He never left us alone. We didn’t always “feel” Him. We had this convicting assurance that He was very present and working out His plans. 

You may be in a season of winter 

in your life, relationships, job, or gifts. We are praying and believing for your spring. 
We know that winter promises spring for you too.




Psalm 116

^7-8 I said to myself, "Relax and rest.
      God has showered you with blessings.
      Soul, you've been rescued from death;
      Eye, you've been rescued from tears;
      And you, Foot, were kept from stumbling." 

 ^9-11 I'm striding in the presence of God, 

      alive in the land of the living! 

   I stayed faithful, though bedeviled, 

      and despite a ton of bad luck, 

   Despite giving up on the human race, 

      saying, "They're all liars and cheats."

We are unwrapping today with Ann
over at A Holy Experience. 
You're invited.

Your Stories Season My Life - Thank You!

We took a much needed hour four ourselves just to get a drink, Starbucks of course, a walk around the mall and some “small talk” time.

On the back of David’s bag it read “Food and stories get even better when you leave out all the unnecessary parts...” 

Very cool and on a Starbucks take out bag to boot! 

He bought me this mug because I liked the quote on it so much. “Stories are gifts. Share.” 

Our lives are filled with everyday stories. Each step writes our story. It’s even more beautiful when our stories overlap and weave together.

Your stories season my life, turning my journey into fun adventure.

You write about your excitement to work for that special organization. You tell me the awesomeness and the opposition. Then, you tell me how you overcome and start all over again.

You write about recipes turning out great, projects coming together, people you’re reaching out to, and that your book got published.

You invite me into your everyday with the new C.D. you just bought or that book you just read and have to tell me about. You share your ins and outs, ups and downs, fun and craziness.

Sometimes you tell me your stories with photographs - funny, beautiful, amazing photographs. Those videos and vlogs really crack me up, touch my heart, and inspire me to truly live. 

Compassion, hardship, beauty, fun, and awe...

Matthew 5:13 "Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.”

Your seasonings flavor my life.

Today I’m linked to Bonnie at Faith Barista Jam Thursdays Serving up Fresh shots of Faith

Expressing Appreciation - You Gain Much by Doing So

Reid left this note for me almost 10 years ago now. 

Friday is usually my day to visit the blogs I follow and see what's been going on there all week. I love to leave a comment on their last post. By then, I've laughed, cried, learned, been inspired and empowered. 


A wonderful author I love to read, Max Lucado, once wrote that we should be sure to let people know their work somehow touched us. 






He went on to write that even successful authors (himself included), leaders, artists, and so on do need to hear that what they do is making a difference or that it matters. 


Ever since I read that, I've tried to make sure and write to people when I've read, heard, or watched something they produced in any way, shape or form that touched me - made me laugh, lifted me up, opened my eyes, helped me see deeper or with a new set of eyes. It's been 4 years since I've been practicing this and still, I'm always the one blessed and filled by their response. Just to be clear, I don't always get a response and that's completely understandable. I write only because I truly want to!


I've made many connections and associations by this. But more so, I'm glad to call the many I've met friends, sisters, and family. Many I have yet to meet and I assure you David and I have already put some foundational talks in the works for a weekend meet-up to finally face-to-face, thank, and hang with some of these wonderful people. 


Most importantly, I'm mentored, encouraged, prayed for, and almost daily am guided in life through having had written to thank these people. I had no idea all this would come from such a simple expression of gratitude. My life is changed forever!

I have truly gained much by doing so.

This post was inspired by:


My awesome husband, David, who mastered the art of leaving me notes in the neatest places :D


Lindsay Wolf and Marisa Miller Wolfson - your messages always fill my heart, make me smile, and encourage me to live my life "real".

To all of you who write the blogs, sites and books I'm privileged to read. Always know, your heart on those pages fill the book of my heart.

Your turn - please do write to one person today who has touched your life. Have a blessed week.

Taking notice and Appreciating the "Supposed to's"

David and I are practicing giving and receiving genuine compliments to each other, our sons, and the people in our lives.

We realized we hadn't been doing that lately.

"Thank you for taking my glass to the sink, Honey." 

"Dinner was great!"

"Your hair is so pretty today, Sweetie."

"I really like your laugh."

Seems like such little things to say doesn't it? But, the little words are the ones that help us take notice of how much we are loved and cared for. It develops an awareness of how much there is to appreciate in the ones who are there for us all the time, everyday.

Thanking our 24-year-old son for taking care of the dishes

Calling our 26-year-old to say, "We're so thankful that you are our son."

Telling our neighbor how we appreciate their conversation.

These are the words that can fuel a persons very being. It seems so silly. When we take the everyday and make it better with these words, we're saying "I noticed" and "you matter to me." Especially, the things we're supposed to do anyway. 

David always tells me, "Thank you for doing the laundry today" and "Thank You for cleaning the house".  It took me a long time to receive it and say, "You're welcome" because I thought I was supposed to do it. 

Only problem, I'm so used to it that when he doesn't say anything, I let him know he forgot to...LOL.

One of my favorite things to do is to tell each neighbor as the leave for work "Good morning! Have a good day at work!" At first, they were so surprised and would just nod in amazement. Now, they thank me and bless me back! 

Finally, a compliment is incomplete until the "Thank You" follows. 

That's a hard one too.

The thing is, it will feel awkward, but practice makes genuine.

It's fulfilling both ways and sustains us.

Thank You to Emily Freeman of Chatting At the Sky for teaching me 

to unwrap the gifts in my everyday and everyone.

This post is linked to Emily's Tuesdays Unwrapped.