In November I felt a calling to be home. My heart wanted to be in the same community as my kids on a more regular basis. 

In May I accepted a role leading staff in three branches, this decision rarely brought me peace and never felt quite right. I had prayed for God to open and close doors as he sees fit, but did not pray for peace in this decision. I always felt like I took the role because those around me said go for it, we want you in this role. What I didn't know is if God wanted me in this role. Fast forward to November and I just knew that I couldn't keep leaving the house early and being out of town on a consistent basis. My heart wasn't on the road. 

This is when I shifted my prayers. Praying for clear direction and peace. These prayers for peace in my decision turned into thanksgiving several weeks ago as I accepted a position that brings me home, less traveling. I can volunteer at school, bring kids to appointments and have supper on the table without being exhausted. 

A position where I can use the wonderfully creative and visionary brain that God gave to me. How I rejoice in his goodness, knowing this was in his timing. If I hadn't accepted the prior role and traveled for 8 months I may have been overlooked for my current role. The hard has brought forth peace and made me grow, this is exactly what God wants. 

He wants to break us down to make us fully reliant on him. He will do it over and over again. What a good and faithful father we have. 

In prayer - 
​Lisa

I have become complacent to the Lord's desires in my life. I have drifted from prayer. I seek what Lisa wants rather than what He wants. I have left no space for him to speak. As I prepare for Christmas and the New Year I want to declutter my heart, mind, and home to leave space for him. I want to seek him first in all situations.

At supper with a friend last week I was reminded that no situation is too big or small to ask for God's guidance.

Kids ask to do something that makes me uneasy - pray.
A possible career change at work - pray.
Needing reassurance as I wash a sink of dishes - pray.
Discerning how we should spend Christmas - pray.
Working through the loss of a loved one - pray.
Tired - pray.
​
Lord,
When I am at my wits end or filled with joy help me to remember that You are all knowing and loving. You will provide me with what is needed for the day if I seek you first and me last. Make room, Lord.

​Amen.

With love and prayer,
Lisa

Do you ever get a text message from someone and immediately start writing a narrative in your head of what the person must be thinking, feeling or doing? It sends you into a spiral or writing a narrative about your future and maybe theirs that does not exist.

This has been one of the largest struggles for me as I have moved into a life with more anxiety and far less depression. I read into situations more than I need to. I am very harsh on myself (hello Enneagram 1!). I usually somehow convince myself that I was the one who caused an issue, an issue I just created off a narrative I made up in my own mind. 

As I type this I'm thinking how silly is it that I put some much weight on a story I created that has no real weight. Now that I recognize I have this tendency I try to pause before I keep writing this fiction book in my head. What do I know to be true and factual? What am I making up? A reminder that my feelings are mine and yours are yours. I do not need to carry anyone else's feelings or continue writing that great fiction novel.  

This is usually easier said than done, I am just glad I recognize the tendency to press pause, stop the typewriter and move from fiction to non fiction. God does not want us to have anxiety now or in the future. The fiction story is only that, fiction, it is not the story God has already written. The story of glorification he has for each of us if we lay down our anxieties and worry, if we give it all to him. 

To more non fiction and less fiction,
Lisa

 Is there a book of the bible that is your favorite?

Now don't make assumptions here that I have read all of them, because I haven't. That continues to be a work in progress. :)

If I had to pick at this time mine would be Romans. This is a book that I have relied heavily on in the past two to three years. My wonderful counselor Shannon referred directly to Romans 5 as I worked through postpartum depression.

"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame..."  Romans 5:3-5 ESV

As of late I have been reading Romans 8 on repeat. 

"So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."   Romans 8:12-13 ESV

What I am enjoying about Romans is the focus on how sin is looked at, how it is judged, and ultimately the saving mercies of God. The saving mercy that only God can provide. Resting in Romans for this season seems right. 

In prayer,
​Lisa

Rest.

That seems like a hard task to achieve but I am so excited to see what the Lord has in store for me in 2021. This word was laid on my heart a little over a week ago and in typical fashion I didn't want to believe it. The word then appeared in reading one evening. The next day a coworker also asked if I had picked out my word yet and REST was what I wanted to say but I believe my response was "I needed to pray about it a little bit more."

Maybe I needed to rest in the word more before I shared it. I needed time to digest it. I am just so excited for this word. 

When I think rest there are so many ways this could go. I usually like a plan but I am resting in the idea that God has the plan. 

Rest could be physical rest (I do love 8 hours of sleep a night)
Rest could be and I am guessing will be in God's plan
Rest could be being content in the season
Rest could be time away
Rest could be a snuggle on the couch with someone you love
Rest could be letting your daughter braid your hair
Rest could be doing something that recharges your soul
Rest could be baking
Rest could be writing
Rest is going to be where God leads me. 

Do you see why I am excited?! I don't know what he has in store, but I can feel the goodness that surrounds all that he does. There may be pain and tiredness in this season of rest, but with this will come growth and an increased focus on God. 

Goosebumps, guys. I have goosebumps over rest. Who knew!

In prayer,
Lisa

I've missed writing but I just don't know where to start. I don't want to be ridiculed for not sharing the views of other, I don't want to deal with the negative comments but I am to the point where I do know one thing, God did not intend for us to live in fear. 

He did not want us to stray from his path as a result of  what we are hearing on the news or what is shared on social media. He is the one to follow. The only one to follow. In a world full of darkness and despair let us remember that. We were placed here on earth to serve out His mission, to be His disciples. His plan is greater than mine or yours will ever be. A plan filled with grace and understanding. Grace sufficient enough to help us move on from sin and into the light. "For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace." John 1:16 ESV

What a reminder to not live in fear, to let his plan be our plan and to know there is plenty of grace to go around. The song below speaks so well into this. Knowing when to lean in to the Father. Matt Maher has done such a wonderful job with the lyrics in "Run to the Father.'" The band Cain did a cover of the song and it is stellar. The first time I heard it I had goosebumps.  Take few minutes to listen to the lyrics. They. Are. Powerful.

-Lisa

I don't want to be crabby or a debby downer but quite frankly I am tired of this stuff going on. I am annoyed with the media, crabby with my kids and fed up with the new school teacher. 

There are posts on how to be positive, cherish these quieter times and to take the time to just be. To learn and grow. I understand the point of these messages and surely I will come out of this season knowing more than when the season started, but can I just wallow in a bowl of ice cream for a minute? Can we talk about how mentally draining this all is? How physically exhausting it is? This season will carry similarities and differences for each one of us.  

What I know is that the uncertainty of daily life causes me more stress than the threat of the virus. I know that there is a high probability that every time I enter the grocery store or fill up with gas I am likely exposed. That doesn't scare me. What gives me anxiety is feeling like we still have to do all of the things in this season. Nothing can go by the wayside. School has expectations, work hasn't stopped and the kids need 3,500 snacks per day. We don't know when we will be able to hug our family or celebrate special people or shake hands at church. The uncertainty and waiting is daunting. What's a lady to do expect have a few breakdowns?

So what's the point of this post, I'm not really sure other than saying if you are having a tough time know that I am too. It's ok to have crappy days in this season. It's ok to feel like it is never going to end, it has to...at some point. Eat the ice cream. Take a walk. Play a game with your kids and if you have to lock yourself in the bathroom for a hot minute, do it. 

You're not in this alone,
​Lisa

We looked at each other both exhausted from the last three weeks. I said first "I need time alone, I hope you understand. My mind and body need time to recharge." Without hesitation his response was, "The introvert in me needs to be introverted also."

Phew, so glad to hear those words. I don't know if either of us have really taken the time to process the last several weeks. In the middle of March we traveled to Florida for six days, the kiddos split time between each of our families. When we were there the pandemic situation was changing. At one point we started to wonder if we would be driving home. The day we flew home the Governor announced plans for distance education, my employer started to throw around different work from home/rotation plans. Lots of unknowns. 

Now two full weeks into having our home office become my office we both clearly needed a break. A chance to veg and regroup. I still don't know if I have let my body and mind process all that is going on, to do that regroup. What I do know is parenting, working and teaching simultaneously throughout the day is exhausting on us and our kids. A different routine and schedule then we are all used to. 

Today I am reminded of the gifts God has given Don and I through marriage. There has been continued growth and understanding of who each other is in every season. The fact that we both knew we needed a break today was pretty incredible. A large part of this for us is knowing God and another part is knowing ourselves. What a season we are in friends.  What a journey we are all one, what a journey God has laid out for us. 

With hope,
Lisa

A little delayed, but none the less my word of 2020 is important and part of the reason this post is just now getting put to print. (inserts drumroll)