Choosing Joy in the Midst of Hard Things

Have you noticed how hard things tend to happen in clusters, some say in threes? The dishwasher breaks, the garage door won’t open, and of course, you get a flat tire. But those are just minor annoyances. Perhaps, you are in the midst of a challenging season of parenting when a dear friend finds out…

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How to Embrace Cozy in Winter.

Have you heard of the small Norwegian island called Tromso? Jennifer Dukes Lee (Growing Slow) I come from a Scandinavian and Norweigan bloodline, my maiden name Tromsness. Troms, a county in Norway. “Ness” the name given for someone who lived on a highland, an elevated point in the water. So while the average reader might…

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Why I’ve decided not to make new years resolutions until spring?

Have you ever wondered why in the heart of winter, we feel the need to make resolutions? In all my reading and reflection on living in rhythm with seasons, winter seems like a season that invites us into rest and preparation. So why do we expect ourselves to begin new things in a season of…

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The Best Gatherings Happen Around a Table.

The word gathering is defined by Merriam-Webster as assembly, abscess, collecting of food or raw materials from the wild, collection, or compilation.  While technically correct, this definition does not express the depth of what gathering has the potential to achieve.  And while the word gathering does not require a collection of people or food, I’ve…

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Generosity a Function of the Heart.

Generosity

For years, I found myself frustrated, even sometimes angry, when unexpected expenses came in and messed with my neatly laid out plans. As a planner (and former banker), I wanted to pride myself on being financially responsible, but medical bills, rising costs of everyday necessities, and raising kids kept throwing the budget out of alignment….

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Focused on all that is Good, Beautiful, and True.

The brave who focus on all things good and all things beautiful and all things true, even in the small, who give thanks for it and discover joy even in the here and now, they are the change agents who bring fullest Light to all the world. Ann Voskamp Are we brave enough to travel…

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