Breathing Room For The Soul

  We have some exciting news! Even more exciting than the fact that there is more Christmas decor than fall decor already in the stores!. I secretly can't believe that we are almost to November! 2018 has flown by and we are thankful for all the Lord has done as we move into cooler days and longer nights. Oh yes, exciting news! This is news that we have wanted to release for a long time, even before we had anything "in the works." You see, when we began this blog, we wanted to create an environment where ladies came from all different stages and walks of life for one purpose: to learn more about the incredible beautiful grace of God. All while encouraging one another and encouraging a healthy, beautiful relationship between a mother and a daughter. This past weekend we did our first conference together in Cedar Falls, Iowa! My mom shared her story and how God's grace wanted her when it seemed no one else did. I, Elena, led the ladies into worship reminding all of us that there is none as powerful and none so true as our Savior and friend. Have you ever felt like you were "too far gone?" Or, maybe you've thought, "God has had enough of my repeated prayers". The accuser has used your past to try & define your future making you believe that you could never be accepted again by anyone lest alone the Creator of ALL. I have news for you...nothing can separate you from the love of  God-N O T H I N G! GOD'S GRACE WANTS YOU! This grace is not made of flesh. It cannot … [Read more...]

How can I do less than give my best? When Jesus gave His all! May this prayer encourage and strengthen you to go and share the Gospel in His name however He wants YOU to share Him . . . we go, because He came!   Because You Came –   Hope rises out of hopelessness      Fallen humanity can know restoration         We can bring our needs to the One True       Holy God and call Him Father.     Our unworthiness is swallowed up in the worthiness of You. You make us Holy. Because You Came –    Life results after death        Joy within all earthly sorrow          Peace within our pain        In the middle of our “lostness” You find us    You take our shame, our guilt Forgive our sin. Because You Came –    And gave Your all for me       My heart bursts with love         And gratefulness flows from my heart     Expressed in worship, awe, love, & praise!   No longer am I worthless – You have bought me I am Yours! Because You Came –    With brokenness, I humbly give myself,       My life, my all to You         “Live through me” becomes the passion of       My heart cry, my soul    Because You came I gladly Go! By: Janene A. Dubbeld/FGG   … [Read more...]

  A couple Thursday evenings ago our family was gifted 4 Green Bay packer tickets. Growing up in a family of die hard colts fans, you can imagine the mixed emotions! My youngest brother though, has parted over into the dark side & has been a packer fan for a few years now. Every time we visit WI, he is one blessed boy! We decided to put our differences aside for one evening & make it an enjoyable time for B! Into the Uber we go, off to Lambeau Field. We got there & in our seats an hour before the game would begin even after I had delayed us. So we watched as green & mustard yellow people filled the stadium. Big & small ones, short & tall ones-all there to scream & cheer for their favorite team (most of them wearing cheese hats, my brother included) The game began, I tried to figure out what was going on while acting like I knew. Finally I just figured if they had the ball, it was good! Lol Because they were not really my team & because I was the only girl in the group I became the refill runner & nacho nagger. Lol The 2nd quarter was winding down & I headed down to get some snacks for everyone before the halftime crowd emerged. In search for cheese-curds I looked up to see a big black sign with a girl jumping over a poll on it. It read “we write the comeback stories” & all of the sudden refills, cheese curds & nachos didn’t matter. It hit me as hard as one of those big guys on the field was … [Read more...]

Wisconsin is a lovely state! Rolling grassy hills dotted with red barns and milk cows. Homemade cheese and “squeaky” cheese curds. Lakes, rivers, forests.... it is quite lovely! The people are lovely too! Their kind smiles exude a steady warmth and a strength lies within them that seems born from making it harsh winter winds until the sun shines bright again. Process. Wisconsin folk understand good things often take necessary process. Cheese.... must process. Milk... you feed the cow, milk the cow...and there is a process from the barn to the table! This year I heard of something else “good “ that takes process! A certain plant grows up here and has a large, purple cluster like blossom. I saw some blooming along a sidewalk but had no idea what they were. After ministering in a concert, I was sitting around the table with a new found friend. As we talked together, my friend told me about lemonade being made from this blossom. But the thing that struck me was she said, “After you pick it you have to bruise the head “... and then it can be made into great tasting lemonade. The sweet taste only came from the bruising. Trials kind of feel at times like we are being bruised and battered. But, our kindhearted Heavenly Father would never allow anything into our lives without a greater purpose. Sweeter, more understanding, a depth in our kindness, and love are all brought about through the trials He allows to work in our lives. It’s all a part of the process. … [Read more...]

  Hey Friends!! It's been a minute since we've gotten to chat! How are things with you? I've got my coffee & am ready for whatever the day may bring! Heres the latest on me... Yesterday I shopped in the nations favorite blue & grey store as I talked with someone on the phone. I'm really not very good at talking while trying to shop. I either neglect what I am doing & walk around the store for 30 minutes looking for bananas or I neglect the phone call & end up saying things like "really, interesting, thats neat" over & over. So I tried to stay connected to both things this time & even told the person on the phone I might have to pause our conversation at points to look at my list. I seemed to be doing fine, I had stayed somewhat connected to the conversation & the cart, while checking off my list until...I attempted to grab a 28 count of water bottles with one hand while still keeping the conversation going. (it didn't work) Lol I dropped it into the cart and it quickly hit the eggs which broke & left me with a splattered foot & eggshells. Yepp, multi-tasking gone wrong, right? I got off the phone, exchanged the messy eggs for new & finished the shopping before I called her back. Y'all, this is the lesson of my life right here. Learning to focus on one thing instead of many at one time. I think it actually takes more time to multitask more often than not. (at least in my case) Things usually take a little more … [Read more...]

  Hi friends, Its been a while since we've talked. Hope you are doing well and hopefully you are somewhere warm enjoying some spring weather. What a year for the weather! We arrived back home at the beginning of this month (we escape every year to the south to miss the snow) but we were still greeted with the worlds prettiest and wet white stuff. I find myself relating to the weather this year. While waiting on the cherry blossoms to bloom and the sun to appear for good, I'm in another waiting season. Waiting on so many things that God has promised, things I expected to be hear by now and I find myself wondering if I'll always be right here in this season. If I will always claim the promises but not see them. (just calling it like It seems y'all) My soul rests in the truth though even when my human heart is restless. You see, in my soul I know. I know that His ways are higher and only He can see the bigger picture. I know that He wants for me, his beloved, the best of all and maybe that can only come through waiting. Maybe I couldn't appreciate the blessings if they showed up when I demanded. We traveled from January- March through many beautiful states and all of them had flowers. Then we came home to brown brown and more brown. We got the taste of it all, but then it disappeared as we got into the northern states, and as lovely as it was, its so good to be home. Safe and sound, a place I know. Just like my physical home, God is becoming home to my … [Read more...]

A blank, white sheet of paper. A wonderful smelling, clean kitchen. A smiling bride dressed in lovely white. Beauty.   Beauty is all around us. Our Creator made it so. Yet, nothing is as beautiful as WHO our God, the Creator of all, really IS! Our God is love. He is good. He is kind. He is just. He is faithful. Yet, there is an attribute of our God that sets Him apart from all created beings. It is His Holiness. “And one cried to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.’” Isaiah 6:3   No sin, no evil thought to mar the beauty of our God. In majestic, moral purity He stands infinite, defining by His very existence all that is righteous and pure in the universe. Reflecting and praising Him for Who He is this morning, I found myself reveling in the beauty of His purity. It was then the verse from Psalms came back to me. “Worship the Lord in the beauty of Holiness.” Psalm 96:9   How beautiful is the Purity, the Sinlessness, the Holiness of our God!!! What a beautiful contrast of hope for hopelessness, light for darkness, purity for impurity! The God Who is Holy commands us to “Be Holy as He is Holy.” “But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.” I Peter 1:15-16   And, He gives us a Way – knowing the impossibility of us to be Holy on our own. Our righteousness is as filthy rags. “Christ in you – the … [Read more...]