in between:)

Friends,

I have decided to step back from writing weekly for FredParent. I just need to take some time to discern what God wants for me and to listen to where He is leading me. I will continue to write, for sure, just not on a weekly basis.

Christmas has just passed and, incredible, another new year is upon us. One day, I'll stop being so surprised at how fast time flies... maybe. I'm always amazed by this, so who knows? Tommy may very well have me convinced of a time continuum. Crazy, I know.

I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas. I felt overwhelmingly blessed by friends and family. I so enjoy celebrating the birth of Jesus. My Savior. My King.

have a happy day!

Looks like

             

     

Sometimes, love looks like two ten plus hour drives in one month:) each way, mind you. Love is doing. It is an action. 

                      

    

Sometimes, love is physical. I have three, well, arguably four physical touch peeps in my family. That's their love language so, sometimes love is holding, and petting, and hugging, and back scratching.

                         

   

Sometimes, love is just sitting, listening, and watching. 

                        

         

Sometimes, love means stopping what I am doing and joining in- whatever that may be.

I am thankful. I am grateful. Love is patient, kind, and brave.

Breathe

                                        

I know this about myself: November and December always spike my anxiety levels. I'm guessing this has to do with the desire to please, the added expenses of fancy food and gift giving, and the extra organizational challenges of decorating and keeping secrets (gifts and such). 

This is my favorite season, and the most stressful. It's kind of like having a newborn- it's the most precious time, it goes by so fast, and it's so exhausting.

So, I breathe. I pray instead of meditating (in the traditional sense), because the value of quiet time and meditating- on Christ, for me- are immeasurable. 

Breathe, pray, and focus on being mindful on the moments happening right now. This season I am trying very hard to be mindful and present and to not be so distracted by the stress side of things. Stress is a hard hurdle to get around, I know. I'll keep trying, though.

                         

Another... Another, I know... catch up post to link all my musings together:)

http://bit.ly/2ygzkFr

http://bit.ly/2gJ85Zj

http://bit.ly/2xrRROB

http://bit.ly/2xpPkDz

http://bit.ly/2x6kRu7

Love deeply, Kristen:)

catch ups again...

A few catch up posts from my writing over at FredParent. I love writing, and I'm really trying to discern if I should write more formally. I'm always wondering what if... what if... what if...


http://fredericksburgparent.net/blogs/we-re-all-a-little-mad-here/3838-present-moments

http://fredericksburgparent.net/blogs/we-re-all-a-little-mad-here

http://fredericksburgparent.net/blogs/we-re-all-a-little-mad-here/4207-what-s-old-is-new-again

http://fredericksburgparent.net/blogs/we-re-all-a-little-mad-here/4183-bucket-lists

It's not over, and I know the ending❤️🙏🏻🌎

Rainy days and Mondays...

                        

      

In a world where we have so much to be thankful for, there remains depression and hurt and spiritual warfare. And before I get any eye rolls, or "she's a quack" whispers, let me assure you that spiritual warfare is alive and well in this present day and age. I know dear, wonderful, put together people that have recently been dealing with unthinkable things... like suicide, major depression- the kind that you don't shower or get out of bed for weeks kind- and these people are all wonderful, intelligent and put together. Only spiritual warfare could wreak such havoc.

Join me in prayer against the enemy that comes to lie, steal and destroy. Remember who you are fighting. Remember who you are. I declare it over us all:

I am a precious child of God. The enemy can't have me, because I am spoken for by the great I AM❤️

                       

     

rainy days...

Rain, rain, go away! Three days is long enough, thank you!

I know April showers bring May flowers and all that... but, I'm sure the flowers are good, now. We have a good sized creek in our back yard, that shouldn't be there. Also, the moods of all of us at this time are becoming irritable, at best. April showers don't bring good moods after day three.

It goes without saying that it could be worse. I think last April it rained every day. Not kidding, and true story.

So... again... I actually have much to be thankful for in the grand scheme of things.