SIMPLE LOVE

SIMPLE LOVE

Faith, Teaching Your Children
As this love month of February comes to a close, I want to make a challenge to everyone reading this blog: LOVE SOMEONE in a NEW way today. It may be "our duty" to buy the chocolates, the flowers, the card, etc. for Valentine's Day or even a birthday. Let's start the tradition of loving others when they least expect it or even when we don't desire to. Ouch! One of my favorite daily podcasts is by Chip Ingram with "Living on the Edge." His insights are practical, Biblically based, and incredibly candid. Even though he has been a Pastor for many years, he doesn't hold back in telling you the current and past struggles along life's way. One definition he gives for LOVE is this: "Giving others what they…
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NEW YEAR, NEW ME!

NEW YEAR, NEW ME!

Faith, Personal Testimonies
Tomorrow is officially turning the corner to 2026! Let's reflect together on our year in review and ask a pointed question: Did last year alter or change ME? Boba date with my youngest son I believe that is NOT always what is on our mind each day. Sure, we want positive shifts FOR us like more money saved up, some personal goals achieved, and maybe even fulfilled aspirations for our children or loved ones. But how about US inside? Am I being molded in the midst of it all? Same day Bubble tea with my middle son I was recollecting about this past year, and I learned one large lesson about myself: I usually operate in FAST MODE. I see a need and I try to meet it, but there…
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A Tale of Two Aldi’s

A Tale of Two Aldi’s

Faith, Personal Testimonies, Teaching Your Children
It's cold, a bit dreary out, and that is the perfect time to tell a good story! This happens to be based on my actual life events in the SAME Aldi’s store, but on two different days. Both experiences were vastly diverse in nature and expectations. Grab a cup of your favorite cozy, hot beverage and let me explain... In late winter/early spring I visited my local Aldi’s for a few items with my daughter. As we were being checked out by a friendly cashier, a girl behind me piped in, “Hello!” WOW, I recognized her and it was someone I hadn’t seen since high school! She was actually a few years younger than me, and what I most markedly remember about her was the fire she had in her…
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Birthday Blog!

Birthday Blog!

Faith, Personal Testimonies
Yes, today is my birthday! "43 and feeling free" is my motto for the year! I have gotten away from writing on the blog, but I hope to aim for doing a blog a month. So, God has been doing something NEW this year in my life: He's inspiring me to write and compose songs with Him! I feel like Moses when he told God he wasn't quite good enough for the task (of speaking to Pharaoh as God's representative and getting the Israelites out of slavery). The excuses are there, the self-justification is tempting, but He has done too many miracles and holy nudges for me to doubt Him now. I tried saying "Why me" but then I sensed more of His presence and confirmation. Sometimes our own inadequacy…
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EMPTY – Not a Bad Thing

EMPTY – Not a Bad Thing

Faith, Personal Testimonies, Teaching Your Children
Empty is a word that usually has a bad connotation for most kids. Last Saturday I will admit: I had a grandiose "mom fail!" We had signed up for the community Easter egg hunt and in my mind I was certain it started at 12noon. To my dismay we realized through a few text messages that morning that it had already started at 10am! My kids were rightly disappointed, and we almost didn't go, but I convinced them maybe we could find a few of the hidden golden eggs. By the time we got there at 11am many people had left, but around 30 golden eggs were still to be found; I was extremely hopeful! We frantically foraged through the large park for the next hour to no avail. My…
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Don’t Pray Away the PURPOSE

Don’t Pray Away the PURPOSE

Faith
Dear ones, life can be gloomy. Yesterday was bright, cheery skies and it seemed to uplift my mood and energize my spirit. Today it's gray with stratus clouds blocking any vision of our sun, though we know it's there.... somewhere. I was chatting with some beautiful ladies over tea/prayer time this week at my house. We prayed for some of the neighborhood women, for God to intervene in their situations: cancer, marital strife, depression, etc. The prayer to "heal all their pain and take it away" is one many of us have prayed for ourselves or others. However, I have been learning not to pray quite that way anymore. Let me clarify: God's spiritual healing in our lives is truly what matters in the light of eternity; I have found…
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LOST is LOST

LOST is LOST

Faith, Personal Testimonies
On a 34-degree sunny winter morning a few weeks ago, I couldn’t resist the urge to go for a jog! As I passed many familiar homes and neighboring streets, I noticed a house that was covered with Halloween décor, though at the time it was almost the end of December! As I looked closer, I spotted a "sigil of Baphomet" (Satanist star) flag that said “Blessed” amidst the disheveled front yard. To be candid, I felt a twinge of fear and shock run through my body. Instantly I began to pray over that place as I continued my run, for any children and adults who live there, and for the surrounding neighbors. My concern was sincere and justifiable; Satan IS real, and His lies and schemes are all around us.…
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Drowning in FEAR but COVERED with GRACE!

Drowning in FEAR but COVERED with GRACE!

Faith, Personal Testimonies
Happy Thanksgiving, dear ones! ‘Tis a season of gratitude and reflection! Usually, we like to list easy and good things to be thankful for. God has taught me this week to even be grateful to feel overwhelmed, defeated, and fearful. Strong, ugly, unsettling emotions like these can crush us. They empty us of ourselves and any “strength” we thought to possess on our own. Yep, that is right where God wants us! In that state we are READY for HIM. Do not fear; what beauty and joy He can produce from such pain and misery! At age 42 I am still getting to know who I am, especially my weaknesses. It’s ironic how “put together” we can seem in one moment and in another so broken and lost. This has…
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Friday the 13th…A Day to Remember

Friday the 13th…A Day to Remember

Faith, Personal Testimonies
A week ago it was Friday the 13th. September 13th. I was driving all day with my four sweet children. We met some wonderful homeschooling families at Genesee Country Village and enjoyed a lovely time together with friends. It was a reflective day for me because it was the 5-year anniversary since my car accident. If you want to read more about that, you can by clicking below: These homeschooling moms and I at Genessee Country Village...women after God's heart that greatly inspire me. https://treesofhope.net/2019/09/the-gift-of-immobility.html A post 5 years ago that I read from time to time...Always remember your trials and tribulations Driving by vast, lush greenery all around, the emotions and thoughts that rolled through my mind were of utter gratitude for being here to experience life and live…
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BUSY or AVAILABLE…what are YOU?

BUSY or AVAILABLE…what are YOU?

Faith, Personal Testimonies
Today is another milestone: 42 years of life on this earth! It has had me thinking what one word would define me? The word BUSY is perhaps the adjective that best describes the average person these days. I would much rather have someone say I’m kind, peaceful or hard-working, but NOT just “busy.” Go, go, go, do, do, do…. what happened to getting off that treadmill after our global pandemic? How quickly we forget to SLOW DOWN and stop just being “busy!” Now, I want to tell you a true tale of this word BUSY being used by someone in my life in an offensive way. When we use the word "busy" to decline an invitation it carries a certain message with it: I AM BUSY, but YOU must not…
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