You Had Me at Flags

I took several photos tonight revealing the complete destruction (better yet, deconstruction) of our current house. The final 24 hours of packing are always the hardest. A million little bits of our life that seem to have no home. I end up throwing them all into one big box and forgetting them for 6 months. Only this time, it seems like that is every box. Each one packed with the words "are we done yet?!" ringing in the air. 

And so, I'm not posting those photos. Because honestly...I never want to see them again! Eyes forward. Onward. 

Instead, I'm sharing a perfectly timed happy mail gem that my girl Em sent me. In the midst of feeling like we will never finish, like the day will never end...Matt hands me a pile of mail from our PO Box. 

Right on top is a delicately watercolored envelope with sewn edges. And after reading her note, my heart started racing. 

FLAGS?!  Eeeeeep!!

They are the sweetest little flags you've ever seen! I went through each one, feeling the different textures, imagining where I might hang them in our new home. Art room? Above my sink?  So fun to decorate in my head.

Thank you friend for thinking of me!! xo

New Things

This man. Hard-working. Faithful to his core. Hero to three little girls. When I am frazzled and stressed, he is my rock. He never falters. When the boxes pile high and I can't find Emma's socks for the 49th time this week, he pulls me close and whispers reassurances. 

Every day when I arrive, he has fun new developments to show me. I am starting to see how it's going to come together. Oh how thankful I am to call him my love and to be working side-by-side with him on our new home.

Our living room is grand central...the hub for tools of transformation! We'll move into the basement on Thursday and will create a mini-kitchen/living area there while we finish the upstairs. I can hardly wait for this great room to be completed...it's so hard to wait! This process is growing me in so many ways. Patience patience patience!

A picnic in the exact spot where our table will sit. I anticipate the laughter of friends and family and delicious aromas to rise from this place...

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness..." *Isaiah 43:19

Yes! I do see new things! So many new things. I breathe deeply of the wild mountain air every time I walk out the door. The snow is still glittering down on a regular basis and there are bright shiny stars overhead.  Lots of things are changing. This is a good life. 

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Side note: I have started a renovation timeline here and a renovation gallery here. I'll try to update those daily as we are creating our new space! 

Finding Truth

In the morning hours, I love to sit and soak up scripture...and I will often share photos on Instagram of my morning table. Recently, I have had several requests for more details on exactly HOW I go about this. Here are a few thoughts on how you can incorporate more spirit & truth into your daily life: 

READ SCRIPTURE

• Read one Psalm a day. These gems are so full of encouragement. My favorites are 18, 63, 71, and 103, and 119.

• Read the Proverb that corresponds with the day of the month (there are 31 Proverbs)

• Use the One Year Bible (one Old Testament passage, one New Testament passage, Psalms and Proverbs). This is a great option if you really like a structured reading schedule (later edited to add: I now use The Bible Recap)!

• Pick a smaller book (I recommend James, John, or Philippians) and read it every day for a month.

• Pick one scripture a week to memorize. Meditate on it often.

• I also look to devotionals for inspiration and use them as a spring board in my reading. I love New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp.

For the past 14 years, I have used the Life Application Study Bible. I love the commentary and the biographies. I've made it a practice to write dates and events in the margins of my Bible...to remind me of His faithfulness. It's so encouraging to go back through and see evidence of His presence in my life over and over. I look back and say...

"Whoa. I did not think I would survive that. But I did. He has never failed me."

JOURNAL AND LISTEN

Now that you know WHAT to read...JOURNAL it! This looks different for everyone and my prayer journals have changed a lot over the years. I currently write out any scripture that "pops" for me in my reading. There isn't a rigid structure to it. Some days I discover many things...other days, not so many. I do know that the more I dive into God's word DAILY, the more I "HEAR" Him speak to my heart.

It's just like spending time with a dear friend. If you and I meet for coffee every single morning...I would start to know your mannerisms, your personality....your VOICE. I would recognize you easily. And so it is with God. So many times, I will be reading and I will KNOW that a certain scripture was meant for me on that day. 

TURN UP THE MUSIC

There is so much inspiration to be found in music. Like little sonnets of truth, music AWAKENS ME to possibility, makes me happy, and releases stress.  I'm somewhat obsessed with Josh Garrels. He's my fave. But my musical tastes span a wide range.

FIND COMMUNITY

Find a community of like-minded lovelies who will encourage you along the way. This might be church for you. Or a house church. It might be a small group of people gathering to talk and eat together. Or maybe it's an online community like She Reads Truth. There is no one perfect way...although lots of people would have you believe that. I do believe that we are MADE to interact with others on a spiritual level. Finding truth is way more fun when you're surrounded by people you love!

OPEN YOUR EYES

And lastly...seek for truth in all things. I don't restrict myself only to traditional "christian" readings and music. I find truth in graffiti words on a passing train. In a bathroom stall. In a book by Mary Oliver.

I have many friends who follow the path of Jesus. And I have an equal number of friends who are on other paths. And that’s ok. Having friends with different spiritual stories pushes me to refine my own truth with Jesus and understand their truth more fully.

With that said, I'd love to hear from everyone...not just my Jesus-loving friends. Let's have a conversation about growing spiritually. Have you found a quote, song, book, or practice that is affecting you deeply?

Where are YOU finding truth today?