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Rooted in Faith, Focused on Truth, Loving Others Well

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October and a Messenger
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Daughter, Wife, Mom, Friend creating a soft place to land in my home and heart. #TruthBeautyGood Seeker.
Family, Faith, Hope, Love Word Weaver.

A few weeks ago, I shared about a messenger that J

A few weeks ago, I shared about a messenger that Jon and I met on that walk. Wisdom came from seeing the creature, a Blue Heron, God sent our way.

These words came from that post:
"Some will ask if my faith is shaken. Hardly.
It has only been strengthened in the miracles I have seen on this journey.
My faith has been strengthened in small milestones, in the gift of many hearts we've encountered, and in how God is sustaining and delivering me."

I am constantly in awe of how God orders our day and encounters with beautiful souls even amid stormy seasons. It's no wonder I hear my kids often say they love storms. Stormy seasons contain their own beauty as much as the gloriously sunny perfect days like today.

We just need to adjust our eyes to see the beauty in stormy conditions/moments.

Lately, I am preserving my time and am conserving my energy. I hold space for healing, rest, reconciling, surrendering to hard yet beautiful new things.

For the moment, life does not afford me the time and space to share words that are brewing, percolating like a perfect pot of coffee or even a perfect storm. It's time to rest and heal and stay focused.

I do find myself in a season where people often speak to me of praying for miracles and graces.

Miracles are not always what we think they ought to be. (God’s Will.) Yes, we pray for specific things like healing and wholeness. There is more to it-if you could know the gifts that arrive at the doorstep to both my home and heart, you would know miracles can come wrapped in small brown paper packages.

Miracles can be the immense peace, grace, and joy we find even in hard seasons.

Tonight I watched a sunset as I held the hand of my favorite guy. I noticed my wrist and the gift made for me by the lovely/generous @sundaybeadco, Devon wanted to encourage me-One day at a Time.

Since I shared the Messenger blog post, many Blue Herons have been sent my way. Then a Blue Heron mug and a message land at my door to remind me I am seen, known, loved, and not alone. @everylittlejot knows my walk.

"And when your legs are tired walk with your heart." St JP II

"Wait for the LORD, take courage;
yes, wait for the LORD!" Ps 27:14

What a spectacle the setting sun and rising moon d

What a spectacle the setting sun and rising moon displayed last evening after a long, tough week.

Aside from Jon's recovery, our Frenchie is keeping us awake at obscene hours—a mere reminder of sleepless nights with newborns.

Sleep deprivation causes the mind to wander the dark tunnels of my meandering thoughts.

Like the rest of us, I'm certain the dogs are keen to the uncertainty of things as our world changes in ways hard to articulate.

I wait patiently—or not so much—for the pup to finish his business and reason I wake from my slumber. I lean against the open door staring at a night sky, moon, and twinkling stars as the dog wanders out into the dimly lit early hours.

They can navigate the dark.

I'm reminded even in the slightest, distant twinkle, there is light in the sky.

Even in these unknown days, I do know, the sun still rises, and it sets. The moon rises as stars light the night sky.

The sun shines each new morning —we are made new. I'd like to be made fresh with more sleep, but we'll keep working on that.

While things are ever-changing, unpredictable, there are constants like the sun and moon rising even if the days are not always bright or the hazy sky and clouds block the light.

We cling to faith and hope.

We look for where God is showing us His face or a glimpse into his heart— through a beautiful encounter, as the sun or moon rises, and when He paints a splash of pink across a sky after a very grey week.

Through this beauty, we see the truth and know it is GOoD.

Our feet are firmly planted when we let God guide our cautious and hesitant steps. He knows the way, even if we can't see in the dark.

We can overcome hard things. We always hope for a sunnier day to things make new, forgive, reconcile—accept things as they are.

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer." Rom 12:12

Then a radiant setting sun and rising moon suspend us in time as we inhale the breath of God.

"You give life, You are love
You bring light to the darkness
You give hope, You restore
Every heart that is broken
Great are You, Lord
It's Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise
We pour out our praise..."All the Sons and Daughters

A trusted confidante asked me earlier this week, h

A trusted confidante asked me earlier this week, how do I get up in the morning?

Between a long exhale and a warm embrace, I answer "God and Faith. What choice do I have?"

Autumn morning musings of truth swirling in my head.

God is in control of all of it.

I am still finding joy and peace. And yes, there are waves of grief.

I am fully aware of the truth and magnitude of the journey Jon and I are walking—both Jon's as a warrior and mine as a caregiver and wife. Being a caregiver and advocate for many people and things is no joke.

I know God is doing beautiful things through this hardship and agony in our garden. I am grateful God has given me eyes to see we do not suffer alone. Questions arise about how there could be miracles in this; I wish you could see things from where we sit. Trust me, God continues to take care of all of it; it's in the details.

I'm convinced time is measured time One Day at a Time. Truth is the Here and Now is all we have—appropriate, my girl @sophialebano named her podcast @hearandnowpodcast . Looking too far ahead or holding onto the past (beyond informing our present) steals our joy and our Divine purpose.

I also know what weighs on the hearts of my kids. We talk a lot, and I'm sure I only know the half of it. Mostly I listen and pour unconditional love, understanding, and support into them as they navigate this journey and continue to discover how they are uniquely created.

While I commit daily to draw closer to the heart of the Father, I fall short by uttering some choice words. I'm grateful for confession to place me in grace.

We navigate hard days with grace and mercy, reminding ourselves to surrender entirely as we lay our worries at Jesus' feet. The feet of a Savior, Friend, Healer, Paraclete. We're not alone.

The mind is powerful even when "broken" by brain cancer, the effects of surgery, deep wounds, terrible loss, or unmet expectations. Infusing your mind with truth, beauty, and good while allowing unconditional love and joy to pour in can do remarkable things for healing.

We may not always have a choice in our circumstances; we can choose how we fill our minds and hearts and where we fix our eyes-God & Faith.

🍁🍁🍁 October is always a favorite month. I

🍁🍁🍁
October is always a favorite month.
It is especially a favorite month to get outside.

I love the start of this glorious season, where we peel back layers as we prepare for holidays and hunkering down.

The crisp mornings followed by warm afternoons.
Backdrops of emerald greens changing to warm hues of browns and golds as trees float to the ground creating slippery paths of a gathering of deciduous leaves.

Though with life lately, I find myself unable to embrace the start to this autumn season that I love so much. I wonder how did I get here, again...another season flying by as we handle big things.

I am in a season of waiting once again, holding many words, having few to share, not knowing what to share, wondering what is next, choosing first things first.

Last Monday night, Jon and I squeezed in a walk as we prepared our hearts and minds for a big day the next day.

We had some work to do that night as Jon was bowing down on one knee to finish a house project he desperately wanted to complete. And I was bowing down on two knees at the altar to beg God to carry us through, to give us courage and strength, and to keep Jon whole and to keep him safe.

Today, I come to you to ask for your prayers and meanwhile we will be up offering up our journey for you.
I'd be grateful if you would offer prayers of comfort, peace, rest, strength, healing, and restoration for the moments we find ourselves standing on one leg waiting patiently, just like that Blue Heron.

I invite you to read more of October and a Messenger at the link in my bio.

⛪️⛪️⛪️ When searching for words, somet

⛪️⛪️⛪️
When searching for words, sometimes others say it best.

True, beautiful and good words of beloved saints is a place where I like to start.

Since St Francis of Assisi is one of our favorites and today is his feast day, I’ll start with him.

Since two kiddos attend @franciscanuniversity and a hubs whose middle name Francis, I’d say St Francis ranks up there as a favorite for our family.

He very well may be our family patron, well, at least for today.

“Lord, help me to live this day, quietly, easily, to lean upon thy great strength, trustfully, restfully to wait for the unfolding of Thy will, patiently, serenely, to meet others, peacefully, joyously, to face tomorrow, confidently courageously.”

“Start by doing what is necessary; then do what’s possible; suddenly you are doing the impossible.”

“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved, as to love.”

“Do all you can to preach the gospel and if necessary use words.”

“Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received-only what you have given; a full heart, enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice and courage.”

“All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.”

“We should seek not so much to pray, but to become prayer.”

“Be patient in trials, watchful in prayer, and never cease working.”

Holding tight to the words of this beloved saint.

May we all be instruments of Peace.

May we rebuild like Francis.

☀️☀️☀️ “Rejoice in hope, be patient

☀️☀️☀️
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.” Romans 12:12

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