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Out of the Blue :: Just the Facts

I have a strong autopilot default. The routines in our day provide necessary security for which I’m grateful, but they also bring a predictability that masquerades as mundane. Really, there’s only so many ways to make emptying the dishwasher or folding the laundry inspiring. And when 8 or 9 pm rolls around and I’m checking kids’ math homework and English papers, I have to fight this lie that threatens to steal my joy. Because hello?

Real life can feel like a string of just-get-it-done moments and here-we-go-again same ol’ same ol’.

That’s why I love this little out of the blue shindig. It’s a place for you to open the door – and your eyes – to a fun, poignant, relatable, delightful, or even restful surprise God arranges just for *you*. And in doing so, you see how God’s tailor-designed blessings are anything but mundane. Maybe it’s a brand new surprise or the memory of a long cherished one. Either way, opening our eyes to God’s out of the blue surprises shows us how much God adores us and how much we have to be thankful for.

[badge]Some Questions You May Have:

What should I write about to take part in the Out of the Blue link-up?

The idea is to write about something that *surprised* you in a post. You can write about a big surprise, a tiny surprise, or in-between one. Show us with words how God used something right out of the blue to build your faith, give you joy, or encourage your heart in the midst of your day.

Can I link up a post I’ve already written or published?

Sure can!

How does one link-up?

Go to the inlinkz at the end of the post and add your name with the permalink to your out of the blue post. Then choose a photo to go with your link. In your own post, be sure to link back to Chasing Blue Skies so your readers can join in the fun. That way, we can all easily find each other.

What if I don’t have a blog but want to participate?

No worries! Blog or no blog, you are always welcome to share your surprises with us in the comments.

What is a permalink?

{I borrowed this answer straight from Emily’s because her description is perfection. And because she said I could.} A permalink is the URL to a specific blog post. In other words, each blog post has an address and the permalink is the street number and the avenue. My blog address is www.chasingblueskies.net. But the permalink to this page right here is https://kristenstrong.com/?page_id=6118. To get the permalink, I simply clicked on the post title and it popped up in the address bar. Then, I cut and paste it into the appropriate spot.

Other important things:

Since we all dig surprises, kindly leave a comment, facebook post or tweet touting another person’s post. When tweeting, use the hashtag #outoftheblue. Also, if you are hunting for your blog post but found it deleted, it’s probably because you linked up your blog address rather than your permalink. When you do this, it makes it hard for folks who peruse the posts weeks or months later to find the one you wrote for that specific week.

I look forward to reading how God is showing up for you right out of the blue!

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On Instagram

The sun sets on a downright delightful month of ha The sun sets on a downright delightful month of having all the chicks back in the nest. We puzzled, Uno’d, and played a new game called Knope for President. (So fun!) We watched Mandalorian all together, and David and I started a Netflix show called Turn. We had tea (and coffee!) at 4:30 each afternoon like some kind of Brit wanna-be’s. I cooked like a crazy person because cooking is the most predictable Enneagram 2 thing I do. Pot roast, spaghetti, and baked casseroles, oh my! Plus, 21 year olds who’ve had a semester of fending for themselves on the food front are mighty appreciative when dinner magically comes out of the oven. 

Said 21 year olds are back at college now, but I’m thankful for the good memories that stay with the rest of us Strongs after they’ve left. This last month held hard stuff for many of us, I know, but I hope it left you with some good memories as well. 💛
If your life looks anything like mine, difficult c If your life looks anything like mine, difficult change that started in 2020 didn't give one whit about the new year and walked right with you into 2021. Your change could be more broadly felt like fallout from a lingering pandemic, or it could be more individual —marital, parenting, job, or relational struggles that refuse to let go. 

Or  it could be both, one worsening the other.

If you’re weary from the loneliness that change can bring OR tired of resenting change altogether (and seeing it only through a lens of anxiety and frustration), consider giving #GirlMeetsChange and #BackRoadstoBelonging a look.

Our difficult change may not be going anywhere, but our outlook on it can. 

With both books holding 200-ish reviews on Amazon and a 4.8 star rating, I still get the loveliest messages about how they’ve helped folks welcome a hopeful view of change and where they belong. 

Visit my profile for links to both! 
#fromthebookstack
#whereIbelong
#changemanagement
#anxietyreducer
#fearmanagement
#livingfaithfully
My daughter read that this past Christmas season, My daughter read that this past Christmas season, Christmas light sales were up 300% compared to years past. We may leave ours up for another week or two, and I’m 300% okay with that. 

In the wise words of @iamtabithabrown, it’s my business. 

It’s also my business how I choose to respond to something—indeed, it is a choice. Will I be thoughtful or defensive? Will I be someone who displays or douses the light of Christ? 

In our work to love our neighbor as ourselves, may we be a people who persevere and refuse to stop using our own unique God-given light to dispel the dark. People are desperate for it, and this work matters.
Looking forward with hope in what is to come while Looking forward with hope in what is to come while staying thankful for what is left behind. 

Or, as Shania Twain would say, “Let’s go girls.” 🎶 👊🏻

Happy 7th day of Christmas, and Happy New Year, dear one! 

#GirlMeetsChange
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