ThinMint

Thank you so very much for all the inspiring words over the last couple of days. I hope to share more later… In the meantime, I just wanted to hop on real quick to point out that we are consistently surrounded by the wondrous. Most of the time, it’s not necessarily something we or someone else makes happen. After all, this is God’s creation, His beauty, He’s the Great Artist. Felix took me out this evening and we stopped by the Town Square. The trees still displaying their autumn dress of leaves with golden-orange hues, while the soft glow of lights encircled its boughs fascinated me. What a great illustration of transitioning from one season to the next! (The pictures below don’t do it justice.) God’s sunset was simply splendid: peach, pink, lavender, and light blue blending seamlessly, complementing one another as the colors danced across His sky. We might decorate to achieve the Merry and Bright, but it’s His touch that truly delights and gratifies. I encourage you to find His affection for creation often. The good it does us is immeasurable.

- 3 - I’m hurting today. However, because of your steadiness in praying for me, for our family, the memories that wound aren’t seeping in like they have before. I am eternally grateful for your friendship. Even though we never met, you are my be there. We don’t know what hearts are crumbling, what wars are raging in the minds or what battles others are facing. Be the kind word, be the smile a passerby sees, be the reassuring touch. You never know who is blessed by your be there.

- 2 - We were never meant to face our battles alone. We are called to help our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Sometimes that means bringing over a casserole. Or some cookies. Sometimes that means we give them a reassuring hug. Sometimes that means we simply listen. And sometimes that means we pray for them even though we never met. Even though… Be there.

- 1 - Felix was whisked away from us December 2nd, 2021. Sometimes remembering the terror of that day, and the days that followed cripples my heart. I can’t speak, I can barely move and I want to hide away from all. But, like He’s done a million times before, God rescues me from myself, from the melancholy undercurrent threatening to pull me down. There are times I keenly feel God wrap Himself around me, His love providing nurturing warmth. Just imagining touching His hem is a balm. When we allow Him to comfort us, He literally becomes our shelter, hiding us while taking the brunt of the enemy’s attacks, listening to the taunts so we don’t have to, calling down His angels to battle, clearing the path for us to walk with Him. He is there. Even when you don’t feel Him. Even when you don’t hear Him. Even when you’re feeling all kinds of swirly frustration, fear and forlornness. Even when… He is there.

- 3 - This winter season I am firm in my resolve: I choose Hope over fear. I choose to trust God. I choose to praise. And I choose to administer the authority given to those of us who claim Jesus as their Savior. I choose life, goodness, wholesomeness, home, family, friends. I choose kindness, generosity and extending grace. I choose patience: with myself, with others, with the Lord. I choose laugh more, read more, enjoy more. I choose to be a lighthouse for the frightened, a comfort for the hurting, a safe harbor for those adrift. With the power of Christ flowing through us, we all can do this. Happy Winter, friends ❄️

- 2 - Last fall was tainted with a sickness that besieged our home. As this fall season approached, the memory was thick, poking, prodding at our conscience in a very discernable way. So for this Thanksgiving, we didn’t overcompensate. We were content to just be. To just be us: doing our us thing, with our us children, in our us home. It was exactly what we needed to do. This fall season, I am okay with putting away the pumpkin-y stuff, and I am looking forward to creating new, wondrous winter memories for my family 🤍 I just know there will be a special place in Heaven where it will be autumn all the time. And to be fair, I assume there will be unique places to enjoy the other seasons, too.

- 1 - Typically, it feels sad to say goodbye to my favorite season, the feeling similar to waving goodbye to those you love most –and don’t see often enough– as they leave your home after a short visit. One reason autumn is my favorite time of year is because it’s my mom’s as well. It connects me to her which something I need now more than ever as hundreds of miles keeps us from enjoying one another’s company. Spring is often talked about in terms of “new beginnings,” but I’ve long thought that way about fall. The season reminds me of starting a new school year, how it was so exciting to meet your teacher, reunite with old friends and daydream about all the possibilities for that school year. It was a new start. I find autumn to be simply charming.

🍁 Autumn reminds me of home, of all the people, the things and the comforts that make life delightful. The sights and smells this time of year are welcome. The air feels particularly electrified with wistfulness and festivity. At this season winds down, nature gets ready to take its nap. We’re gifted a small window to enjoy special autumn treats and outings; this bends my heart to gratefulness 🧡

By Man In America

So here I am minding my own business, getting all excited because I’m about to clock out of Internet World™ and head to bed to snuggle with a book. But, some social media bait dangles before my curious eyes and next thing you know I am watching a video that you should totally watch, too. The video is a Trump Video™ and though I find him interesting at times, I like it more when he highlights the awesomeness of America. Like this one does. There was something in particular that really jumped out to me, something that made me fell all giddy because it embodies what I have been thinking for quite awhile now: we do not have to accept what the evil doers want to inflict. My words. Here is what Trump said: “To embrace the possibilities of tomorrow we must reject the perennial prophets of doom and their predictions of the apocalypse. These alarmists always demand the same thing: absolute power to dominate, transform and control every aspect of our lives.” Live free, friends. Live free.

Oh to have Noah's trust, David's heart, Esther's courage and Daniel's deportment... Thanks @CallToBattle

Thanks @CallToBattle

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God - Philippians 4:6

Word of the Year 2022 Gaslighting "2022 saw a 1740% increase in lookups for gaslighting, with high interest throughout the year." Hat tip: Rebecca B https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/word-of-the-year/gaslighting

Friends- if you want to understand what's happened, you must listen to Loy Brunson's interview. It'll knock your socks off! Please consider praying for this family.

There has been a lot of buzz surrounding SCOTUS perhaps taking up Raland Brunson’s case. I gathered some information about it and posted inside the comments…

I hope everyone had a delightful Thanksgiving holiday and that all your pumpkin wishes came true! Felix and I were pretty chill for this one. And it felt great! We did what we wanted, when we wanted, not worrying about traditions like having a turkey, watching parades, putting up outdoor lights –or getting out of our Pjs. (To be fair, this really only applied to me.) After such a relaxing Thanksgiving, I’ve come to a resolution: I am going to wear pajamas as much as possible this winter. Maybe we should have such noble goals. What new thing can you do to make your life a lot more fun… starting now?