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When You Just Want to Be In

When You Just Want to Be In

in Confidence· Friendship· out of the blue

She writes me after reading some posts of mine, and I can feel the hurt wrapped in her letters and words. Lonely…
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When You Lament the Loss of Something Little

When You Lament the Loss of Something Little

in out of the blue

So, last Friday night? We had the hailstorm to end all hailstorms. It didn’t give us the biggest hail I’ve…
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The Song Only You Can Sing

The Song Only You Can Sing

in Gratitude Attitude· out of the blue

     Just after dawn, she descends the stairs carrying my copy of Earnest Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast. With sparkling eyes and…
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For the Love of Teenagers

For the Love of Teenagers

in out of the blue· Parenting· Teens

A mess of middle school boys descend on our home to celebrate James and Ethan’s birthday. They are a glorious mix…
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3 Ways to Rob Your Friends and Family

3 Ways to Rob Your Friends and Family

in Encouragement· Family· Friendship· Hope· out of the blue

On a Wednesday afternoon, Allison and I ping-pong texts back and forth. After serving her a bit of fun news…
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One Thing You Need to Hear {and Say} Today

One Thing You Need to Hear {and Say} Today

in Encouragement· out of the blue· Words

 Earlier this week, I met the Most Perky Panera Employee ever. Her name was Anna, and she sported a cute…
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On Instagram

If you're one who is having trouble finding where If you're one who is having trouble finding where and with whom you belong, here's a blessing to take with you into the weekend:⁠⁠
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May you know Jesus goes with you as you step out in courage to find your own back road to belonging. God picked your road for you, and he will lead you to it. ⁠⁠
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May you be strengthened as you wait for your place and people to be revealed. May God speak to your heart and soul as to what action you must take to find it.⁠⁠
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May social media be a place to give first rather than get. ⁠⁠
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May you lean away from isolation--it's harder to do these days but not impossible--and instead consider who you may lean toward. ⁠⁠
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May God bless and keep you as you remember that being seen less is in one way sensing your belonging more. ⁠⁠
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#BackRoadtoBelonging⁠⁠
#BelongBlessing⁠⁠
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(A reminder, too, that right now, the digital version of Back Roads to Belonging is only $1.99.)⁠
$1.99 ebook deal-extraordinaire!🎉💃🏻🎉 R $1.99 ebook deal-extraordinaire!🎉💃🏻🎉 Right now, get the digital version of Back Roads to Belonging for $1.99! ⁠⁠
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This book can be a gift for anyone feeling lost or lonely no matter her life season, but I believe it's an especially timely gift to yourself or a loved one who may be missing her place and people during the lingering pandemic. ⁠⁠
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Tap the link in my profile for links to both Kindle & Nook.☑️☑️⁠⁠
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And if you read this book and found it personally helpful, perhaps consider sharing it 'round your circles, too? ⁠⁠
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#backroadstobelonging⁠⁠
photo credit: @jenlintsphotography
An accomplishment for this week: Taking daily walk An accomplishment for this week: Taking daily walks outside, because outside is where the pretty lives even if it's also where the cold lives, too. ⁠⁠
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Another accomplishment this week included introducing my daughter to an '80's staple of pop culture: Dirty Dancing.💃🏻🕺🏻 My inner 8th grader still knows all the songs, and my daughter was able to understand the origins of "Nobody puts Baby in a corner." and that it *doesn't* refer to an actual baby. What can I say? I've found one homeschooling subject I feel qualified to teach. ⁠⁠✅
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Happy Friday, dear hearts!⁠⁠💛
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Trusting God with the ones you love ~ I found this Trusting God with the ones you love ~ I found this easier to do when the ones I love lived in my house full time. It turns out that having them move out from under my roof is a real lesson in seeing the holes of my trust.⁠⁠⁠
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You might say learning this has been A WHOLE THING. ⁠⁠⁠
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I first saw this book on @annvoskamp's instagram feed, and since Ann never steers me wrong, I promptly bought it and am now halfway through it. ⁠I skip some chapters as they don't (yet if ever) apply, but those that *do* apply have been a real help and comfort. ⁠⁠⁠
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In short, author @jodie_berndt's prayer prompts and stories reflecting an array of circumstances and outcomes has been a real gift to my mama heart. ⁠⁠⁠
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⁠Being a parent is hard no matter the age of our kids, but I'm so thankful for books like this that ease our trials and deepen our trust along the way.⁠⁠⁠
#fromthebookstack
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