Category: Joy

  • The Rest of the Story…or Running Away

    The other day I was reading the story of Elijah and the Baal priests.  How God rained down fire from heaven and burned up an altar saturated with water.  How Elijah prayed and God answered.  How Elijah was blessed to see the power of God first hand and to be a part of the display…

  • What’s Wrong with Happy?

    Last week I had the most wonderful time sitting at a picnic table studying God’s word, journaling, and writing some.  It was quiet and peaceful. I felt inspired. I had such a blessed time writing more than I have in months, and guess what?  Not one document was saved…not one.  Technology and me….ugh. I was…

  • Be Encouraged

    Everyone has something. You know that thing. That thing that you feel will never go away. Never be easy. Never be uncomplicated. Never be what you want it to be. Never be overcome. I have a few somethings. Some things I can’t figure out what to do about. Some things that baffle me. Some things…

  • My First Book Review

    A few months ago I had the privilege of being asked to write a review for a book by Shannon Upton entitled, Building Your Home:  A Faithful Mom’s Guide to Organizing Home and Family. I love a good book on organization.  I feel like it has been my life’s goal since my first born took…

  • Those Things and Thankfulness

    There is this thing I keep talking about.  This thing called thankfulness.  I keep coming back to it in my life and in my writing. I think it is because God keeps bringing me back to it. Over and over and over again. Today my devotional time included the verse I often use to deal…

  • But he said…

    But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  2 Corinthians 12:9 I have taken for granted that I understand this verse. I’ve had it memorized for years, but I don’t think I fully grasp its meaning.  I think I’ve been skating along the surface…

  • Shake it UP

    I finally did what I’ve wanted to do for a long time.  I didn’t bring work home and I spent some beautiful moments thoroughly enjoying my kids. We spent the evening together without homework, work, or chores. The best, most enjoyable thing was dancing. Seeing my little girls’ faces light up while I danced like…

  • God said No and That’s a Good Thing

    I just have to begin by saying thank you for all the prayers and kind words of encouragement. Yesterday I finally called to find out test results.  I was twisted in knots waiting and decided that it was time to just find out already. When I called the nurse took a minute and then came…

  • A Strengthening Struggle

    I’m in a season of blog starting. I start them and save them and kind of forget about them.  I think it is because I want so desperately to be encouraging and sometimes I’m just not.  Sometime I’m just an all out mess. And my blogs can reflect that mess quite well. And I have…

  • Taking 4 Steps Back

    Once upon a time… There was a little girl who dreamed of being married and raising beautiful little children who would love the Lord and each other.  There wasn’t a white picket fence, but there was a big oak tree with a tire swing, a creek with tadpoles, a kitchen counter with a fresh loaf…