As I was praying about and developing the beginnings of Hope Through Hard Times, I thought about the word hope. What were some symbols that best represented that word? As I did some research, a plant coming out of hard ground resonated most with me. I expressed this idea to my sister-in-law who in turn created our beautiful logo. It wasn’t until a little bit later that the Lord showed me the significance of that logo and the idea behind it.

My heart ached and I felt like it was…could it be…an invitation from Jesus? I stood still, tears flowing, heart and mind racing.

There was evidence of the Lord all around us. So many people shared testimonies of God blessing them in various ways. Needed ways. Impactful ways. These met our needs. They warmed our hearts. They gave us a testimony to share of His goodness and faithfulness to us.

How do we honestly have hope when our trials are overwhelming? What does hope even mean?

Why would I choose to live my life for Jesus? Is it really worth it? How do I know it isn’t something somebody made up?

Grief is a strange and uncomfortable thing to go through, no matter how familiar it may be. I liken it to a boat in a storm. No matter how seasoned a sailor you are, there’s always a big wave that can rock the boat. We never expect it. No one can. When it hits, it’s all consuming.

It may not be what you would have expected or wanted. But it is a new adventure to pursue and a treasure awaiting discovery.

We all want to dream of what could be. We want our lives to mean something. How does that change when the unknowns cloud our view?

As I was thinking about what to write I felt that I needed to sit with you in your grief. I needed to be as vulnerable as I can in this moment. So, here I am. Here’s the reality of the grief I have felt in our current loss of fertility…

What does spring cleaning, COVID, and joy all have in common?