As promised last week, I’d like to explain the framework of this ministry to give you a better understanding of who we are, what we do, and where we’re going in order for you to get the most out of this.

Two visions came together as I stared at the business card in my hand. One was for a blog with the main purpose to encourage people going through a variety of trials not often talked about, to help point them to sustaining hope in Christ. The other vision was “planted” long beforehand.

A shift is happening here and we’re excited to share with you what’s coming! Hear what God’s been up to and get a snapshot of the changes about to take place in today’s post!

Something wasn’t completely right with my body a few weeks ago. After waiting a week to see if the symptom would subside, I booked an appointment with my doctor who then scheduled me for an ultrasound. Thankfully, the receptionist phoned the day after the test, but her response left me more questions than answers as “nothing acute showed…”

Though stereotypes can be annoying and inaccurate at times, I must confess that the one about redheads is not far off; we’re a feisty bunch! Every strength has its “ceilings and its basements.” The “ceiling” of feistiness can be very beneficial. It’s a personality trait God’s given some to help endure in hard times. It gives an extra dose of courage in daring to try new things. It even can bring out a spunky edge of fun in someone, creating exciting opportunities. However, feistiness also has another side to it. The “basement” of feistiness is stubbornness and anger.

Michael and I began praying about selling our house a couple years ago. It was an idea we sat on for a while. There was still much work to be done and I was not yet in a physical state to help him. As we continued to pray and wait, the feeling grew, as well as the plans. There were many possibilities brought to the table, all interconnected with other plans/dreams we’ve had.

Find out where I took Michael for our tenth anniversary, and some of the highlights of our trip.

Ten years of marriage with Michael. It feels like a lifetime; like the rest of my life was in a whole other existence, and yet it has only been just shy of a quarter of my life.

It’s Hope Through Hard Times’ fourth birthday! Celebrate with us by discovering the exciting things in store this year. To find out what’s coming, look for all the green highlighted sections in this post!

The wonder of Christmas was beautiful to me as a child. A special annual concert at church, both for kids and adult choirs. Meals around the tables of my relatives while us grandkids ran around oblivious to any weight of the holiday. There was the excitement of presents under the tree, of a special neighbour who kindly dressed up as Santa Claus every year and blessed my brother and I with gifts on Christmas Eve (a special stop on his way around the world, of course). Then there was the pinnacle of it all: the awe of Jesus’ birth.