Something Beautiful Is Waiting For You On the Other Side of the Storm

Recently I was driving to see some girlfriends. The drive was about three hours. An hour in a storm rolled through and I could barely see in front of me. My anxiety ramped up and I thought how it would be easier to just turn around and go home where I felt safe and secure.

Yet I was driving to see four of my soul sisters, two of whom no longer live nearby, and one of them I hadn’t seen in two years.

As my heart pounded I knew turning around was safe and comfortable, but if I didn’t drive through the storm, I wouldn’t get to visit with my friends for the day.

So I prayed to try and release my angst as I white knuckled it through the storm.

Eventually the sky cleared up and the sun shined through. I got to have an amazing day with my dear friends.

I am sharing this with you today because this story parallels with so many of our lives. If you can relate with wanting to avoid the storm and retreat to what is safe and comfortable, I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

Whatever storm we may be facing, if God hasn’t directed us to stay in our comfort zone, than it must be a storm we need to move through. May we pray to let go of what is comfortable and secure and trust that God will be with us through the storm. And although we don’t know how long we will have to endure the storm, may we trust that in time the sky will clear and there will be something beautiful waiting for us on the other side.

With love and hope,

Shawn

…you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. - James 1:3-4

Pause to Listen

Yesterday I was with Gavin and Matt and I asked them a question. Before they responded to my initial question I asked them another one, and then another one.

After the third question I just stopped speaking because I recognized that I was talking at them, not with them. I asked them questions but didn’t give space for them to reply and listen to what they had to say.

I share this with you today because my prayer life can be a lot like this moment I had with my kids. Often I will talk to God but I don’t always give room to listen to God.

Can you relate in any of your relationships?

If so, I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

In our relationships, including ours with God, may we remember a productive conversation requires us to talk and listen to one another. May we be quick to listen and slow to speak, so we can deepen our relationships by giving room to hear what others have to say, especially God.

With love and hope,

Shawn

“Be quick to listen and slow to speak…” - James 1:19

Box of Sunshine

Four years ago a couple of dear friends showed up at my door with this box of sunshine for me. It was filled with letters and well wishes from them, and others.

One of the people who gifted this to me is needing a box of sunshine her way today. If you would say a prayer, and/or write an encouraging note below to wish this person well, I’d sincerely appreciate it. Although you don’t know who it is, God does and He will hear every prayer and encouraging word you send their way. And if you choose to send a written prayer/well wish, I will pass those along her way.

Thank you

I am a Hypocrite

I am a hypocrite.

If your first response is to tell me I am not, just pause to hear me out.

A couple of years ago God started showing me that as soon as I pass judgement on someone, within 24 hours or so He shows me how I am doing the same thing in a different way.

For example, a couple of years ago I told Matt to clean his room. Later on when I went to check on how he was doing his room was still messy but he had two cardboard rectangles he was using as skis. I was upset & told him to stop playing & to clean his room. As soon as I walked downstairs my eyes were opened to see the space I was working in was a mess, but I was sitting there writing, my form of “playing.”

This happens over & over again including this weekend. Yesterday I was with my family & my sister was getting frustrated with our kids for leaving half opened seltzer cans. I told her it wasn’t a big deal & to not get so frustrated about it. Well, when I arrived home last night we were eating in the kitchen & I glanced over at the coffee pot & saw a bunch of coffee left over. I asked Stephen why he makes so much if he isn’t going to drink it all. As soon as I the words flowed from my mouth I laughed & said, “oh my gosh I am my sister!” Gavin nodded in agreement.

I share this with you today because we all at times can pass judgement on someone else, yet as God is showing me, we often do something similar in a different way.

I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

May we take the log out of our own eye before pointing out the speck in someone else’s (Luke 6:42). I will say it’s not easy to start seeing ourselves in this light yet it gives us more grace and compassion for others which ends up bridging hearts more than dividing them.

So in both these situations, & in the many others I have experienced, I have humbled myself to go back to apologize and let the people know, including Matt and my sister, how we are more similar than different - as we all are.

With love and hope,

Shawn

The Best Moments

Recently I was in the kitchen with Stephen and the sunrise out our window was stunning. I caught myself going to grab my phone to take a picture of it to use for a post at some point.

In that moment I paused.

I realized I had a choice before me, to take the picture for a future post, or to put my phone down and watch the sunrise with my husband.

I chose the latter.

I share this with you today because I am imperfect at this practice, yet I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

May we continue to take pictures to capture moments in our lives. Yet may we recognize that sometimes the best moments we can capture, is a memory made with a loved one that no one else ever sees but the two of you.

With love and hope,

Shawn

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time.”

- Ephesians 5:15

Matt is 9!

Today is Matt’s 9th bday!

We are so grateful for this fun, loving, creative, caring guy who reminds us there is joy and adventure to be had every day.

He’s an outside the box kid, who will take the box and make something out of it.

Today I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

and celebrate Matt and all the outside the box kids for the gift from God they are. May we give thanks for how they experience life with a fresh perspective that brings a vibrance to life we so need. May we pray to be the person God needs us to be in their life, so they can grow into the person God made them to be.

With love and joy,

Shawn

Lend A Hand

It has been pouring a lot here in Connecticut recently. The other day I went to the store to grab some things and when I got outside it was a torrential downpour. Most of the stuff I had purchased could get wet but one item, a piñata, wasn’t going to fair so well. Naturally I tried to tuck in under my sweatshirt but surprisingly that didn’t work. The next thing I knew there was a gentleman who came by my said with an umbrella in hand and said, “can I walk you to your car?” I was touched by this act of love and said yes to his offer.

I share this with you today as a reminder today to…

pause. breathe. pray.

Sometimes when we are in a bind and someone extends a hand, it’s okay to receive help. Also, if we have something that can bless and benefit someone around us, may we not wait and expect someone else to step in. May we be an extension of God’s love towards others and lend a hand their way, like this gentleman did for me that day

With love and hope,

Shawn

PS If there had been a pic of my attempt to hide the piñata under my shirt, I would have used it! Lol

Serve one another humbly in love. - Galatians 5:13

Love Quietly

Last night we went out to celebrate our 17 year anniversary! We laughed about how we had no idea what life was about that day, just two young people in love, hoping for the best.

I am forever grateful to Stephen for loving me & our kids so well. He loves quietly, listens intently, cares deeply, has the patience of a saint & his laugh is contagious.

One of the many things I love about Stephen is how he loves quietly. We were dating for about 10 months before he enlisted in the Navy for 6 years. During those 6 years he went out for two 6 month deployments. Our dating anniversary was on the 15th of the month & when he went out to sea, he prescheduled flowers to be delivered every 15th of the month to me.

I share this because the way he loves me reminds me to love him & others, in those small, unexpected ways, to let the person know you care. For me it was never about the flowers, it was about the heart behind them. To this day he will randomly bring me flowers when I am having a hard day or to celebrate something.

I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

May we remember what it says in 1 Corinthians about love. Love is patient, kind, slow to anger, humble, honoring, selfless, forgiving, truthful, protects, hopes & perseveres. These words so often spoken at weddings, including ours, I’ve learned through experience are best to be lived out during the marriage rather than leaving them behind as words spoken on your wedding day. This truth about love isn’t just for marriages, but it’s for any relationship we are in. No relationship is perfect, including ours, yet this is the perfect truth to lean into & practice to strengthen our relationships.

So today, & every day, may we pray to live out love towards our spouse & loved ones. May we also choose to do a quiet, unexpected act of love that will remind them how much we care about them and celebrate the people we love in our life.

With love & hope,

Shawn

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

"Be Where Your Feet Are"

“Be where your feet are.”

- Scott O’Neil

The other day I heard these words and it truly shifted my perspective. This week was the first week of our summer where we don’t have camps or a lot planned so every day is looking a little different. I thrive with routine so the start of this week was messy. Wherever I was I wasn’t fully present. I was thinking of what else needed to be done or where I else I thought I was suppose to be. I was busy - in mind and body - yet not getting much accomplished.

After talking with Stephen about my messiness, in his calming way he helped me sift through the clutter in my mind where I was able to recall these words I had heard just days before.

“Be where your feet are.”

I love wise words yet have learned that wisdom isn’t as powerful or transformative unless it is put into practice.

So yesterday and today I have been praying as I try and practice these words of wisdom to be where my feet are. I pray to be present with who I am with and not look to what else I have to do or where else I think I need to be. Instead I pray to use my time wisely by living in the moment and not missing who and what is in front of me.

I share this with you in case you can relate. I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

Yes, we have a written on our to do lists and have many desires on our hearts of things we want to accomplish. Yet no matter our plans, may we let God direct our steps. May we choose to be where our feet are, being present with God and with those we are with so we don’t miss the moment in front of us.

I can share from experience, having imperfectly put these words into practice the past couple of days, it has still helped transform my mind and I am less messy and more joyful. I pray this practice does the same for you too.

With love and hope,

Shawn

“Teach me to number my days so I may gain a heart of wisdom.” - Psalm 90:12

“Be Where Your Feet Are” is a book by Scott M. O’Neil. I haven’t read it yet but love the title.

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

Renew in Solitude

This morning as I was walking with Georgia, I went to put on music or a podcast but instead I paused. I remembered something I read recently. The concept is about how we don’t spend enough time in solitude these days. What the book, Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport, spoke about was that many of us are experiencing solitude deprivation.

“Solitude deprivation: a state in which you spend zero time alone with your own thoughts and free from the input from other minds.”

Reflecting on this, instead of putting music or a podcast on, I walked in silence with Georgia, with my thoughts and with God; and it was a renewing experience.

I share this with you in case you too find yourself filling what would could be empty space with your music, podcasts, phones, etc. I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

May we choose to give ourselves the gift of solitude during our days. May we not fill the empty spaces but leave them open, even if for a brief time, to be with God. May this time in silence renew our minds and remind us that the God is not shouting at us through the noise. Instead he often is whispering wisdom our way, if we only are quiet enough to hear it.

With love and hope,

Shawn

“Be transformed by the renewing of the mind.” - Romans 12:2

LET'S STAY CONNECTED