Wow- only one week into the New Year and I already feel like I’m running to catch up! I didn’t plan to take such an extended blogging break, but I also didn’t plan to be sick for most of the last two months. The rotten cold symptoms started on Halloween and persisted through much of December. I also had an infection in each of my eyes. In short, I was a mess! My youngest daughter was also sick, although she recovered more quickly than I did. My husband had strep throat and bronchitis in December, so we were miserable together.
Author: Laurel
Welcome! I am a wife, proud mama of two adult daughters, writer, teacher, and a follower of Jesus who finds joy in mentoring and encouraging others to live passionate lives full of hope and purpose. A graduate of Idaho State University, I currently teach music at a private elementary school. I also lead a bible study group for moms of all ages, in all seasons of life.
Come join me in simply embracing this amazing gift called life!
I haven’t done a Monday Musings post for a long time, so I thought it might be a fun way to move on from my “31 Days of Letting Go” series. Out in my yard today… a chilly 40 degrees! A right proper blustery November day. Most of the trees have lost their leaves. The elms are always the last. This mulberry fascinates me. It usually drops all of it’s leaves within a day. I like to sit and watch them all fall. It’s as if I can see the branches actually releasing their leaves. The tree lets go
“With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson Planning ahead. We’ve all been told that this is a very responsible way to manage our lives. Five-year plans, ten-year plans, education plans, retirement plans- these are all good things. I am certainly not opposed to good planning. However, we can get so caught up in thinking about the future that we forget to enjoy the present. We start anticipating the next season before the current season has even ended. Sometimes all of this looking ahead can cause us great anxiety. We
We live in a fallen world where pain and loss are a part of the human condition. Whether it is the loss of a job, a home, a beloved pet, a close relationship, or the death of a loved one, all of us have or will eventually have occasion to grieve. It is a natural part of life, and yet most people have no idea how to deal with it. Much has been written on this topic, but I do have a few thoughts that I would like to share with you based on my own experiences with loss. Grieving
The term “control freak” is widely used in our culture. Some even wear it as a badge of honor. While self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, the control I’m referring to definitely is not. This desire to be in charge of every little thing can quickly become a stronghold in our lives. Soon we begin to try and manipulate others to get our own way. What we thought would bring us peace actually causes anxiety and chaos. I believe that this desire to be in control is actually rooted in fear. We like our ducks to be in a