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...]

Happy Valentines Day! We've made it to February 14th in 2018 and I'm just hopping on here to wish you the best one yet! Maybe some of y'all are thinking "OK, this girl has some nerve." and wishing you could stay asleep for the next 48 hours of heart-shaped cookies and cheesy hallmarks. I know it can all be a lot and when you're not exactly in a relationship it's easy to become a little hardened to the holiday. I know a few weeks ago the thought of Valentines hit me like a ton of bricks. Ya know what though? Valentines Day is about celebrating love. Love. It's not specifically for couples. It can be a love you share with your parents, siblings, grandparents, and friends. Last year my sweet dad surprised me with the flowers and a special Italian dinner. This year I am spending Valentines at home and plan on taking my adorable grandma out for tea. We might even get crazy and wear big hats and order extra scones. I totally understand the stereotypes that come with this day but don't give them a second thought. Don't wish for something to happen before it's time. God has you. His timing is perfect and His promises are faithful. In Song of Solomon 8 verse 4B it gives us some wisdom in this area. It says "don't excite love, don't stir it up, until the time is ripe--and you're ready." God knows when the perfect moment is for the perfect moment, if you know what i mean. Those thoughts of a fairy tale valentines day can be fun to think about, just don't let them get past your head. … [Read more...]

It was cold, it was snowy, and sleet came down next. We made it through the first day, happy to be inside, together, and warm. As evening came closer the lights blinked a little. We wondered . . . For just a moment, but went on with keeping ourselves and our children “entertained.” Then . . . It happened! We were all gathered in the basement, watching a family movie. Literally, just as it ended, the lights went out! The only heat left came from our wood stove. Up the stairs we went . . . Searching for light. Candles found, each of us were figuring out what to do about sleeping arrangements. After all, the woodstove is in the basement! It wasn’t long until our youngest boy headed back down the stairs, but he did have a way to see. Quickly his childish voice called to me, “Mommy, I can’t see, bring a candle.” It didn’t take me long to reach him. I certainly identified with his need for light.     . There’s something comforting about knowing someone empathizes with the need, the circumstance, the pain, the temptation you are facing. Even better when they bring a “light” to our darkness! When Christ came to this earth He didn’t come in royal robes, and splendor. He didn’t need these to “prove His identity.” He came as King of Kings, but in human form, humbly, as a baby. Here on earth, he was “tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin.” He knew our darkness — yet He brought the Light! In a fast food restaurant, somewhere along the side of the road, the worker … [Read more...]

More than a just a few years ago my family piled in a minivan and left the ocean for the mountains. We were going to experience seasons and views we had never encountered before. My nine year old heart was maybe confused but excited at the idea of something new. One of the first things we had to do when we arrived in the star city was to go see the Roanoke Star. Constructed in 1949 and still shinning bright in the midst of the Blue Ridge Mountains. I loved it, every time. It was so big, 88.5 feet to be exact and I remember as a little girl just gazing at it like there was no clock to watch.   I am just shy of 22 years now and I still love that old star. On a whim a couple a weeks ago my younger brothers and I along with our grandma decided to make the trip up the mountain to see it before we left for our three month tour. My one brother particularly had not seen it in years and when we arrived the bitter wind caught our excitement off guard. It wasn’t chilly, it was cold. Insanely cold, the kind of coldness that eskimos love but we ventured on. My fingers were numb but my soul could breathe as I exhaled into the Roanoke valley. I wonder if sometimes we miss out on the blessings God has for us because of the inconvenience to receive them. It was cold, the wind wished to take me hostage and the trek up the mountain was long but it was worth everything. What if I had slipped one foot out the door and said “Aint nobody got time for that” and drove off…I would have … [Read more...]

She had a smile that brightened her entire face when she used it . . . and she used it often. When I was a year and a half old, my parents moved in to the parsonage of her church. Dad, being the pastor was quite chagrined when I toddled over and began getting into her purse. She smiled – even as mom got after me. Sometimes friends are friends for only as long as you are affiliated with that place of service. Then, there are those that become life time friends. Mrs. Greathouse was one of those. After her husband went home to glory, she came to my parent’s new place of ministry, serving faithfully in her position. Her homespun wisdom and kindness made a great impact on my childhood. A few days ago, life was extremely busy. I found myself in greater need to make sure I took time to meet with Jesus before my hectic day began. One morning, God brought to mind this little exchange that had happened when I was young. Mrs. Greathouse and I were “chatting” – most of it coming from my heart and out my mouth. “I just LOVE plants,” I was going on and on. Then I said, “I just can’t remember to water them!” Her smile turned into a beautiful chuckle as she replied, “you don’t really love them, then.” How true! Love is much more than “spouting off” the familiar words, “I love you.” It shows up in our lives by what our heart prioritizes. “I love you, Lord,” is much more than words, it’s a lifestyle. A beautiful love relationship given to us by the Hand of the Father so we may KNOW … [Read more...]