Smithfield, Virginia, is a quaint town filled with surprises and beauty! We have walked the Windsor Castle trail several times. We discovered the Park-to-Park Trail and Nike Park for our E-bikes. We visited the town of Smithfield first to stop by Yummaries Bakery and purchase holiday treats for upcoming parties. We brought a cooler to…
Trusting God Through Uncertainty: An Advent Reflection
To my precious daughters, Merry Christmas! As we gather to celebrate this joyous season, I pray you will trust in God’s promises for your lives and believe in His love for you and your family. Remember that in every challenge you face, He is there guiding you with wisdom and grace. Embrace the opportunities that…
His love is like a soft rain
The God winks are so evident. This morning, I awoke before sunrise, and the soft rain created a lovely backdrop for my Advent morning, which was focused on patience and endurance. The emphasis was on waiting on the Lord and appreciating the beauty that emerges during that wait. Just like a farmer who patiently awaits…
Finding Strength Through Faith at Christmas
December 10, Wednesday, Advent: Isaiah 40: 25-31 There is so much wonderfulness in this passage. Christmas is a beautiful time of the year that brings excitement, togetherness, celebration, and travel. It is a time of reflection and gratitude, as well as a time of joy. Within this joy, there is the pain of loss and…
Embracing a Garment of Praise in Difficult Times
What does it mean to trade our sorrows for a garment of praise? “To grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit” (Isaiah 61:3, ESV) In ancient times, garments often reflected a person’s emotional…
Grow Old Along With Me
We often hear two seemingly contradictory calls in our quest for a meaningful life: “Learn from your past!” and “Live in the present moment!” It’s easy to feel caught in a tension between looking backward and looking forward, between reflection and pure presence. But what if these weren’t opposing forces, but rather two indispensable currents…
Believing Without Seeing: A Journey of Faith and Love
Advent continues, and Parish and I had time to listen together and discuss. The passage is from Matthew 9:27-31. Jesus heals blind men who cry out to him. They follow him into the house, and Jesus heals them. The question we discussed was how to relate our lives to that of the blind man. We…
Moments of Grace: Finding God in Daily Life
My husband and I decided to do Advent together using the Pray as You Go App. It’s such a wonderful experience with worship music, a passage, and reflection questions. The nice thing about the app is that we can listen at our own time and schedule, then chat later by text or in person. I’m…
Lessons from Advent: Embracing Life’s Transitions
Today is the first day of Advent. Advent is the anticipation and waiting for the coming of Christmas and the coming of Jesus. The word “Advent” originates from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming,” “approach,” or “arrival.” It is derived from the Latin verb advenire, meaning “to come to.” In Church Latin, adventus specifically referred to…
Memorable Thanksgiving Moments: Food, Fun, and Family
What a magical Thanksgiving it was! This year, the gathering took place at Anna and Parish’s house, and it felt extra special because we had so much fun preparing for it. Everything just seemed to fall into place with cleaning, yard work, crafting, and friends and family being available to celebrate together. Although the weather…
ARRESTED BY GRACE 