Category: purposeful


Jan
2024

[2024]

categories: change, faith, oneword365, purposeful

Blogging for me has taken a hiatus for a few years. I haven’t really been able to make it what I wanted it to be. I’m a perfectionist by nature and if I can’t do something to my expectations then I tend to not do anything. So here I am picking up the “pen” to try again.

Life looks different now with 3 adult children and we have settled into the life of empty nesters, although one is still at home after just graduating from college. I also made a huge career change this year that has taken me out of my comfort zone but in a really good way.

I don’t have many expectations or resolutions for 2024 but I did settle on my word for this year.

Peace

Gotquestions.org says that the primary word for peace in the Old Testament is shalom and “refers to relationships between people, nations and God with men.”

It goes on to say that the primary Greek word for “peace” in the New Testament is eirene. It refers to rest and tranquility. That is my prayer and hope for this year. I know that that hope comes only from my relationship with Jesus.

I am starting the year off heading to West Africa for a missions trip. I will share more on that when I return but for now I am ready to see what God has in store for me and the team as well as the people we are going to visit and serve.


Mar
2021

[savor]

categories: five minute fridays, intentional, purposeful, steady

I always like to look up the definition of each week’s word to help me center on what I want to say.  Merriam-Webster had numerous definitions and my favorite is “to delight in, enjoy.”  That is how I want to live my life. I fail more times than I succeed but it’s the goal. 

Ever since my babies were born, I tried really hard to savor the seasons I was in at the time. It was hard when they were little because the days were long but it didn’t take long to realize that the years were short. 

Now that they are young adults (my baby graduates from high school in two months) I want to savor this season as well. I want to remember their baby and toddler years, but I don’t want to dwell there. I want to be present in their lives now as they make their way in this big world. 

I tell my young mommy friends not to wish for the next season. It will come soon enough. Sooner than they can imagine. Savor everyday that you have in this season. Seasons will change, a lot of times without our even noticing it. 

In the words of Jim Elliott, “wherever you are, be all there.”  Savor it with all of your heart. 


Feb
2021

[design]

categories: five minute fridays, purposeful

The word “design” brought many things to mind…all those creative people on HGTV who can turn homes into beautiful masterpieces, those who create clothes that most of us would never wear, etc. But as I thought about it more I thought about how God designed each of us before we were in our mother’s womb.

With all of the dissension and frankly the hate that we are seeing in our country right now, it hurts my heart. We were designed to love, not to hate. That doesn’t mean we all have to agree. What a boring world this would be, but we should be able to have conversations and still love each other afterwards. I lament relationships where I know that it’s better not to engage online or even in person because it is divisive. How did we get here and how do we overcome?

For me, I look to THE “Designer” and try to see others as He sees them; praying for others, including our leaders, and our country as a whole.

“…with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,”Ephesians 4:2 CSB


Jan
2021

[one word 2021]

categories: new normal, oneword365, purposeful

The last few years I have prayed about what one word I would focus on for a year. To be honest I have failed miserably at keeping it in front of me during the year. If I had to guess it’s because I stopped praying about it once the word was chosen. 

I have great ambitions at the beginning of a new year as I suppose many do.  And like many, after a week or two they fade with the day to day minutiae that we call life. 

After 2020 caused us to slow down and change our everyday lives, it’s time to settle into some kind of new normal. You would think that after 9 months I would already be in a new routine, but in reality, I’m not. I haven’t mastered working from home, the new way my kids do school or keeping my house clean (I doubt I’ll ever master that!).

I’m not sure what 2021 will look like, or if a new normal will ever really exist, but my word for this year is “steady.”  Continuing in the habits I was able to get better with, like reading my Bible, engaging in Bible study, investing in others, daily quiet times, walking/running regularly, serving in Youth Ministry, and deepening relationships with my husband and kids. Treasuring up in my heart the moments that turn into years very quickly. 


Apr
2020

[another]

categories: covid-19, five minute fridays, intentional, new normal, purposeful

Today ends another week of quarantine…5 to be exact.  In some ways I haven’t seen any major changes.  As an extreme introvert, staying home for days on end doesn’t bother me one bit, but my kids and husband not so much.

The first few weeks were tough as we tried to get into a rhythm of working from home full-time, 3 college kids trying to finish out the semester online and one high schooler trying to do the same. No homeschooling for me as I know some parents of smaller children are having to do, but let me tell you no matter how old they are they can still be high maintenance 😊

As we adjust to another week of not leaving the house, all using the wi-fi at the same time, Zoom meetings, conference calls, etc., there have been some positives.  We are all healthy and we still love each other (for now).  I have made dinner more over the last 5 weeks than I have over the last year.  I have spent more intentional, purposeful time in my Bible and I have actually finished one book and am partially through another.  

I know all of this will pass and to quote a sister in Christ, let’s not waste this quarantine.  So that’s what I am trying to do, not waste it, as we head into another week of this new normal.