The streets are full and the schedule is fuller. Traffic is backed up as shoppers are rushing to pick up all the necessities for Christmas breakfast, Christmas dinner, and let us not forget the baking supplies for all the yummy Christmas cookies! Gifts are being carefully selected and thoughtfully wrapped. Decorations are hung with all the Christmas cheer. There are parties and banquets and so many things to keep us busy this time of year.

It’s that time of year again for warm, cozy drinks and fuzzy, cuddly blankets. Snow has fallen and the winter chill is in the air. The wonder of winter is upon us!

Winter is a season to remind us to slow down and be still. However, if you’ve been out and about recently, the heavy traffic and crowded stores scream the complete opposite. The rush to check off Christmas lists, parties and holiday activities is real, not to mention the demands of everyday living like laundry, grocery shopping, and work.

Long ago, we had the crankiest, scariest neighbor in the whole wide world.  And, I’m not joking.  My sweet, dear husband decided to invite Mr. Angry Pants to dinner over the Christmas season, and I found myself piling my four toddlers into the van to go shopping to buy him a gift. 

It was a God moment.

Occurring during a simple conversation, no fireworks or miracles present, and yet, it was pivotal for us both.

On a long overdue lunch date with my sweet sister friend, we let down our walls, opened up about our real-life struggles, and spoke from our hearts.

Nicole F. Roberts wrote an article in Forbes Magazine entitled, Strong Father-Daughter Relationships Lead to Healthier, Happier Women. Roberts wrote that “extensive research has shown that fathers make a world of difference in the lives of little girls.

Pivots and shifts and all the unexpected things all on the way to “becoming.”

Becoming something or someone - to fill some role or some need or some dream. But maybe, I’ve looked at “becoming” wrong all these years.

Our personal social media platforms and phone data will unearth photos from a time called “THEN.” Seeing the memories played to music often guides me down memory lane with great nostalgia. As we are just days away from our annual conference, time seemed to stand still, as I had a THEN moment.

Each morning, my alarm sounds at exactly 5:35 AM.  I realize that might make me sound like an early bird, but let me tell you a little secret:  I don’t actually wake up at 5:35 each morning.

The snooze button is one of the best inventions ever. When you press this button, the alarm will delay for 9 minutes, giving you more time to catch those precious zzz’s. It is absolutely glorious.

We have had family from England visiting for the last couple of weeks. The last few times they visited it was always summer, which was great for them as our summers here are much hotter than English summers! We were taking a drive down from Erie to Pittsburgh one day, and we were all admiring the colours of the trees and commenting on how they had become so vibrant in a matter of days.

To be still can feel like a pause. It can be sitting in silence for a few minutes, going on a walk, having a cup of tea, or taking a nap (because naps are necessary sometimes). These can all be ways we process what “being still” looks like in our everyday lives.

I think that there is something quite powerful about a pause.

When my sister was young - maybe 4 or so, I remember her telling me once that she wanted to be a garbage man(person) when she grew up. When I asked her why, she said it was because then she would only have to work one day a week.

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers!” - Anne of Green Gables was a favorite story of mine as a young girl.  I read the trilogy many times over summer breaks and watched all eight hours of the PBS movie special until I could quote every line.  I somehow could identify with the young character who found herself in silly situations,

A dear friend recently left America to visit a country I can hardly pronounce in the middle of the Arab World. She is compelled to give her retirement years greater purpose than her leisure or comfort. Give. According to GOOGLE, the word can mean "freely transfer the possession of (something) to (someone); hand over."

What does the word, exchange, make you think of? Many things come to mind when I think of this word and what it means.

The first thing that comes to mind is the world of retail. I can recall several times when I needed to exchange a shirt for a different color or size. As long as it was the same price, a simple exchange was made.

Sometimes life happens. One minute you’re living your best life, and the next, one thing after another seems to get to you. All the sudden something is happening with the family, with your health, with your job or school, with your friendships, with your finances….you name it - at some point something will be coming for it. Occasionally, we, or even someone we know appears to walk under a raincloud.

Long ago, Kurt and I sent each of our littles off to their first days of preschool.  Their backpacks were almost as big as their small frames!  There were many emotions and excitements entangled in the heart, and stepping past the threshold of the unknown tickled the nerves and the tummy! Even for this mommy, the brink of change was welcomed, yet it held a delicate, tender point of navigation. 

Unpopular opinion:  Pumpkin Spice Season begins on September 22nd – and not one minute sooner.

School is starting up again, Starbucks has released its pumpkin flavors, and to many, summer seems to be coming to a close. But, in defiance, I refuse to celebrate fall until the calendar officially instructs me to do so.

This summer, my friend graciously gifted me several tomato plants. She described each plant by name. “Here’s a Goliath tomato plant,” she said, “The tomatoes are very large.” “This one is a Rainbow tomato plant…and that one over there is a yellow tomato plant.” I knew right away that I just had to have that Goliath tomato plant!