As our year of restoration continues, I find my mind repeatedly thinking about all the opportunities we own to seek and find restoration. Pondering the beauty which comes from restoring a lifeless work of art back to its pristine form makes something as simple as cleaning the house feel less tedious. Let’s restore our home hits somewhere deeper and pleasant than Do I seriously have to clean this place again?! Restoring brokenness has been on my mind a lot as I gear up for this year’s theme, but one word has also been standing out in my mind more than the rest: forgiveness. If there is … [Read more...]
Love and Restoration
For as long as I can remember, Valentine’s Day has evoked some sort of emotion for me. As a child, I loved red and pink decorations everywhere (and still love it now), handing out and receiving Valentine cards at school, and especially the Valentine’s Day party complete with so many sugary treats. As a teenager, my feelings towards this holiday hinged completely on whether I had someone special in my life. I still have a picture of my fourteen-year-old boyfriend holding an accordion card I gave him which opened three feet long displaying large XOXOs. A few years later, I walked into the … [Read more...]
A Year of Restoration
Many wise folks have warned that time goes by faster with each passing year. Now that I am increasingly approaching the realm of aged wisdom, I can wholeheartedly agree with their sentiments. Time on earth is finite and we only have so much of it to accomplish our goals, to grow in our faith, to forgive and seek forgiveness, and to restore our broken places. So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12, ESV) My friend sent me a meme which said, “Instead of kissing someone at midnight, let’s all collectively scream.” Suffice it to say... I connected with the … [Read more...]
An Intentional Fresh Start
We have entered that limbo week between Christmas and New Years’ where you are never quite sure what day it is. If you can be off work, enjoy the rest and take some time to contemplate the upcoming year. Which habits do you want to continue and which changes do you want to make? The cold January can leave a lot to be desired, but one joy of the gray month is the chance to have a fresh start. Although nothing magical happens between December 31st and January 1st, the new year gives us all an opportunity to take a deep breath, shake off the mental clutter of the previous year, and embrace the … [Read more...]
Fifteen Pre-Christmas Activities to Enjoy Together
There is just something about Christmas. Even in the depths of grief, overwhelming stress, or when we are exhausted and desperate for rest, Christmas is still beautiful. Between the nostalgia, lights, and bustle, Christmastime still warms the heart at all stages of life. Eric and I even bonded, in part, over our love of Christmas. The beautiful evergreen trees in our yard is one of the reasons we chose our current home. We had a Christmas tree set up in the foyer beside the sanctuary during our June four-seasons-themed wedding. From our earliest days together, we knew Christmas was going to be … [Read more...]
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