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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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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For Mothers: A Few Goodbyes

For Mothers: A Few Goodbyes

Faith, Personal Testimonies
Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there, moms-to-be, and never forgetting the moms who have gone ahead of us on to glory. It is promising that we still have a day set aside for celebration and hopefully REFLECTION of our own moms, ourselves, and the legacy we are ultimately leaving behind. As I sit here writing when I want to clean the house and prep for an upcoming garage sale, I am reminded I need this MORE. Need what? I NEED times of reflection, of internal mental, emotional, and spiritual REST for my soul. My children are a wonderful blessing, and as of yesterday we now have our first teenager! As I love to watch them bloom and grow there is another part of me that fears the…
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HE LIVES! This is my testimony!

HE LIVES! This is my testimony!

Faith, Personal Testimonies
This Easter is one in which our hearts rejoice as a family for the countless blessings God has bestowed upon us. This post will be short but sweet as we list a few testimonies of HIS faithfulness! 1.We are currently living a dream right now in Ecuador, having just received a mission's trip team from our church to come and support our Ecuadorian brothers and sisters. For us this is truly a MIRACLE and an answer to years and years of prayer. 2.Two people we know recently gave their lives to CHRIST! Both were ones we had the privilege to pray for and influence; our hearts are so full to the brim for their decisions to dedicate themselves to JESUS! 3.JESUS is ALIVE and well...How do I know? I spoke…
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