Beauty in the “Ber” Months

Beauty in the “Ber” Months

Beauty in the “Ber” Months

{An ode to the last four months of the year}

Bring on the “ber” months

With their gentle breeze

That beckons all things fall

And welcomes the wonder of winter

Seasonal change

Beginnings that become ends

And ends that bring new beginnings

The “ber” months, by far, my favorite

Cooler temps

And warm beverages to sip

Comfy sweaters

For the colder weather

Colorful leaves

That lead to barren trees

Amid the steady evergreens

Ending with a wintery mix

Of my favorite holidays

My favorite people all in one place

Decorations and celebrations

Goodbye to the old year

Hello to the new

So bring on the “ber” months

September

October

November

December

Time to let go

And time to remember

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No Grand Plan for 2023 — Just Rising Above it ALL by way of Vulnerability

No Grand Plan for 2023 — Just Rising Above it ALL by way of Vulnerability

I’m going to be honest with you. I’m not going into 2023 with some grand plan. Five days in, and I haven’t chosen my “one word,” nor do I feel confident right now with any of my words. As a writer and a wordy girl, it’s an uncomfortable place to be, but it’s where God has me now.

Wrestling. Wondering why. Why is life so hard? Why is pain so deep?

So, here’s to a little vulnerability in 2023.

I’m struggling.

Struggling to focus.

Struggling to fix my eyes on Jesus.

Struggling to find the right words.

Struggling to find any words.

Not just for this post,

but in response to people’s pain,

in response to lots of change,

and in response to a myriad of things.

2023 is a BIG year for our family. It’s a year I’ve been excited about — joyful and expectant in regards to ALL it holds, but now I’m ALL tied up in the tension of the expectation of it ALL coupled with the guilt of even having the expectation in the midst of ALL the pain and suffering and loss for so many so close to me.

This year, we celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary, and we’ll celebrate two graduations — one from college, one from high school. The high school grad will be moving 200 miles away to attend college in the fall in another state, so we’ll have three in college at some point this year in three different states. The youngest turns 16 which means ALL will be on the road, and the oldest, who has already been “on his own” for quite some time, will be officially a full time mechanical engineer.

It’s ALL a bit much for the momma heart, and yet, I’m holding the excitement and expectation of it ALL with some sadness, grief, and pain knowing what some so dear to me are experiencing.

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abide.

abide.

abide. My one word for 2021. I’ve been studying it closely for the past two years, but it only took me a couple days to decide that in 2021 (and beyond) this is where I want to stay. Safe and secure in Him.

abide. Honestly, the mere thought of focusing on this one word throughout this new year brings peace to my troubled heart. There’s no magic formula in picking one word for the year, and believe me there is no power in the word itself, but oh is there power in the Word of God to help us live it out no matter what this year brings about!

{a little aside, and then back to abide... vision was my one word for 2020. Seemed appropriate, right?!? Well, I can tell you now, on the other side of 2020, hindsight truly is 20/20. In a year of so much chaos and confusion, God’s Word, His Truth, His Way has never been clearer. Life Giving Gospel Truth calling me to be brave as I simply stay and abide...}

abide. A small word that silently screams “be still,” yet harnesses so much power and potential. I want abiding to be more than a topic of study, I long for it to be a new rhythm — a pace I’ll learn to embrace as God continues to embrace me. He holds me fast. I stay. He leads. I follow. He speaks. I listen. He prompts. I obey.

abide. The very structure of the word personifies its meaning — symmetrical and seeming to flow rhythmically through the ups and downs of vowel, consonant, vowel, consonant, and vowel. The long “i” — longing to stay planted, rooted, and established in the very center of the word (much like I long to stay planted, rooted, and established in the very center of God’s will. That little letter — safe and secure in that little word — cushioned by the “b” and “d,” as if God is whispering, “I’ve got you. I’m holding you there.”

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