Living a Blessed Life

The sunrise was absolutely stunning this morning! I initially took a picture through the window, but that did not do justice to the colors in the sky, so I braved the 24-degree temperature and stepped outside. I think it was worth it! By the time the kids and I left for school the sun was much higher in the sky and the colors had faded. Each morning that I am met with the beauty of the sunrise I can’t help but stop and thank God. I have learned the practice of intentional gratitude which has become a habit. It is easy to get wrapped up in our thoughts and busy lives and miss the simple yet profound messages of peace surrounding us. You may be in a difficult season, but I promise your perspective will change when gratitude becomes a habit. We are entering the season of intentional family time coupled with busy, hurried schedules. Grief feels heavier this time of year. The memories we had have morphed and we are now creating new memories, all the while holding t...

This morning I woke up at 4:30 to let our beagle, Maple, outside and the temperature was 45 degrees!!! What?!?!?! Too soon, Minnesota! Too soon! I do love the change of seasons, and I even enjoy the crisp mornings and cool evenings, as long as it warms up during the day. This has not been the case, however. Our weather did not get the message that Autumn should last at least a month (or two during a good year), and we already feel early winter vibes. The leaves are desperately trying to turn into the beautiful canvas that is Fall, but it seems that few have fully turned, and many are just falling instead. Fall colors are possibly the most enjoyable part of the season, so I am hopeful it warms up just a smidge, and the trees with leaves intact get their act together. Haha! Enough about the weather! Thankfully, we will be enjoying a week in Florida soon and that should bring warmth to our bones and souls. Sunshine has an amazing effect on our psyche and our bodies, and I know we are ...

“ Sorrow may last for the night, but Joy comes with the morning! ” — Psalm 30:5 I am sad. I have been meaning to write this post for over a week but every time I tried to establish a train of thought I felt stuck. I have many things on my mind that I feel led to share with you and my brain is at a tipping point. This afternoon my phone rang. I noticed it on my watch first, as I was in the middle of making supper for Darek and the kids. When I saw the name on the phone I felt a sudden sense of panic and concern. This call was in some ways anticipated, but not yet. I scrambled to find my phone in the kitchen, hoping it was nearby and I would not miss the call before my voicemail picked up. I quickly located my phone and after briefly fumbling it nervously in my hand, I answered it. The voice on the other end of the phone was calm, and with long pauses, I heard the news that a friend of ours had passed away. My eyes welled with tears and my voice quivered as...

Everybody has a story and each story holds a unique value. It is easy to fall into the trap of believing we have nothing to offer because we are not on a stage in front of thousands of people, or we have not been through a life circumstance that in our minds sets us apart from anyone else. I would argue that you DO have a unique story, and it DOES matter . The method you recently found to keep your family fed might just be the thing your neighbor is struggling with. The book you found fascinating might be exactly what your friend needs to help them through a similar situation. The routine you find simple at home could free up time in someone's schedule if they knew enough to try something different. We are good at getting caught up in our day with what we hold as important in the moment and we often fail to step back and see the world around us. I am not sure if it is fear of rejection that keeps us from stepping out and believing that our story is important, or if it is just s...

There is a special sort of excitement that comes with opening a hand-addressed envelope fresh from the mailbox.  I don’t know about you, but now that we receive so much of our communication digitally, I always feel extra special when I open the mailbox to find a card or letter from a friend. There is something in knowing that it took extra time and thought on behalf of the sender. Snail mail is really a simple gesture; an act of kindness with a great reward for both the recipient and the sender. It feels good to do nice things for others. Last year while I was going through all of my surgeries and treatments I received a handful of random cards such as these, from an unknown sender. I have to say that each time I received one of these cards my spirits lifted, and I was once again reminded that I am loved and cared for more deeply than I know. It has been nearly a year now since one of these cards has come my way, but I am still moved by the kindness in th...

Again, and Again, and Again! Empty rooms, undefined spaces, and a garage filled with cardboard boxes quickly enveloped our lives just over a week ago. We moved from a home we loved into a new home that we will love as well, with a great deal of mixed emotions. I am not even sure reality has fully set it in yet. There are moments that I feel like I am on vacation, staying in an AirBnb, with my own furniture and belongings. It is a fun, yet strange feeling. The home we purchased is really a gift to our family and friends. A place we call home, but share with others. We want our home to feel warm, welcoming, and comfortable, and be the place you don't want to leave (or at least do want to return to soon).  Last Saturday we had a generous crew of family and friends swoop in and help us clear out our "old" house, load our lives into a U Haul and other vehicles, and proceed to gently plant us in our new location. During the hust...

Sometimes I feel like a circus act, trying desperately to juggle way too many things at one time. That, my friends, is the current season of life we are in. If you have not heard yet, consider this your formal announcement that we have sold our home and are moving to a new home at the end of this month. Why? Great question! Darek said for many, many years that we would stay in our current home forever. We love our current home. I waited patiently for 12 years before having Cambria Quartz countertops installed in our kitchen. The kitchen remodel is one of my favorite changes that we made to this house. The location and yard are great, but we have finally agreed that we could use more space. Our kids are growing, and as they grow and have friends over it will be nice to have some larger spaces for them all to hang out. We were very intentional in purchasing a home that offered multiple "hang-out" spaces. Like many parents, we want our home to be one that all of the kids a...