It's been a hard day

What do hard days look like for you? For me, it's usually kids fighting, me snapping, to-do lists being ignored. It's being too busy, or not busy enough. It's everything and nothing and ALL.THE.THINGS. But it usually comes down to one thing. My attitude, my perspective, my response. (see even when I don't want it to be all about me, it is)


And on one of those particularly hard days, this book showed up in my mailbox... What Your Heart Needs for the Hard Days by Holley Gerth.


And I wanted to just ignore the dish pile in the sink, ignore the kids and the dear husband, ignore the laundry that was washed four days ago and still isn't folded, and lock myself in my room with Holley's encouraging words, my gratitude journal, and the Psalms, and not come out for a week.


Well it didn't happen quite like that, but it was close. I've been spending lots of my quiet time in the Psalms these days, so I was delighted to crack open this book and find that each devotional was based on a Psalm. I love the way she describes the Psalms, "The book of Psalms is like a table covered with God's goodness." It's true, and He has set the table for me... and His goodness can satisfy, will satisfy, does satisfy.

And after a day of stuffing myself with unhealthy, unnecessary foods and reading these words in the introduction, "We need to find a way to quiet the hunger pains in our hearts." I knew that this was going to reach my heart. Holley gives us 52 encouraging truths... and man, there are some good ones in there!

God wants to lift you up when life lets you down
God says you're a delight, not a disappointment
God doesn't want you to try so hard
God is your protector
God will ease your anxiety
God's ways are best for you
God will use you to help others

and so many more that spoke to my heart before I even began reading the devotional. Each truth is paired with a verse from Psalms, along with a reading of 3 Psalms a day (or week, or however you choose to break it up).

We all have hard days and sometimes on the hard days, it is difficult to remember truth, to focus on truth, to meditate on what is true, and right, and pure. But a few days in the Psalms, along with these encouraging words that Holley shares with us, and your perspective can change, just like mine does! Psalms is my lifeline and this devotional book has added a strand of strength to that lifeline!

Pick one up today!  

PS... she's doing a little book club on her website right now... Check it out, go like her facebook page and sign up for the updates! You won't be disappointed!

(also, I attempted Amazon affiliate links, so if you purchase the book through the links on this page, I get a percentage or something like that... I really don't know how it all works) :) thanks

Coffee equals Encouragement

I wasn't always a coffee drinker. It was my third pregnancy, at it's peak in the heat of summer that turned me on to iced coffee, full of sugar, full of flavorings. And it just grew from there. I began to look forward to my specialty drinks... sometimes more chocolate and cream than coffee, but little by little, I lessened the amount of sugar in an effort to be "more healthy" so much so that a friend of mine made me some coffee this summer and she went a little heavy on the sugar... I couldn't even drink it! :)

To make a long story short, I gave up coffee twice in the last year in an effort to see how caffeine affected my mood swings. I'm still not sure it's made a difference, but I am currently avoiding caffeine again.  But there is still something to be said about a cup of coffee with a friend--encouragment before we even say a word.

My friend, Holley Gerth, is starting something new this year called "Coffee for Your Heart."  It is all about encouraging your readers, so when I am actually blogging, come back here on Wednesdays for a little bit of love and encouragement.

Today, it's the reminder that when you are feeling down in the dumps, the best thing you can do is encourage someone else. Instead of sitting around thinking "oh, woe is me," Look around, see who needs a bit of encouragement themselves.  Make a phone call, Bake something for someone... make some eggnog for your family, or Send a handwritten note, maybe even written on a handmade notecard. But most of all, start with prayer.

Ask God to help you see  the needs of others, look outside yourself and your wants/needs, and be aware of what you can do for someone else.

And when all else fails and you can't shake your doldrums... go get some sleep!!

Happy New Year! Let's make it a year of love and encouragement!

Are you an encourager? If you have a blog, join us on Wednesdays at Holley Gerth's blog for a linkup to spread the love? Not a blogger? --find someone to encourage today and make it a priority to share the love this year!

God-sized Dreams continued

In 2013, I was blessed to be a part of Holley Gerth's God-sized Dreams Team. What was intended to be a 6-month encouragement, accountability, and resources has turned in to so much more... Lifelong friends, an amazing prayer team, and continued encouragement. While I'm still floundering in my dreams and whether now is the right time or not, I have a few friends that are reaching for the stars and following God's leading and launching some awesome dreams come true.



One dream I'm excited to see launching is a way for all of you to get a glimpse of the community that began just a year ago... and to join this community and dream with us! Today, we are linking up a blog post about our dreams, so be sure to check it out and subscribe to this fantastic resource for dreaming God-sized Dreams!!!


When I look back at my dreams a year ago, I sometimes get a little discouraged. I wonder why I'm still floundering and I often fail to see the little successes and the baby steps that have happened in the last year. But I know that there have been successes and there have been steps in the right direction and for that I am thankful.

I think about how I always have good ideas and I'm great at starting stuff... but the executing and the finishing just doesn't happen. But then I remember that God is still working on me and as long as I am still on this earth-- I am NOT finished. So me and God and my Dream-Team Sisters are just gonna keep working on this together.

Here's what I started with last year.

I believe God has created and called me to serve and support my family through encouraging, serving, cooking, and listening. (Not that these are my strongest skills, but the ones I need to grow for the sake of my family)

I also believe God has created and called me to encourage and support other women through writing my stories, creating handmade cards, and connecting through both cards and stories.


And here is where I feel I am right now...

Being a good wife and mom seems so relative. This is one area where I really struggle to see the little successes. Instead I see every little failure and blow it up into something way bigger than it is--- which in reality shows a little bit of pride. Truth is, overall I am making good meals for my family (and lots of good Christmas cookies, too). I've been improving on my listening and encouraging and celebrating the little successes with them. I'm making an effort to "catch my kids doing good" and praising them. ... and I am listening... maybe still not as well as I could, but improving over the past. And when I have a bad day and I don't do these things well, I focus on truth, these moments do not define me!

In the area of writing, I just wore myself out. Taking some college courses where I had to write challenged me something awful... and awesome. I loved some of the writings I worked on during my classes, but I was too chicken to share them here... or submit them somewhere else.  FEAR keeps creeping in.

And in the area of cardmaking, I launched an etsy shop!! And even had some sales!!! Christmas was a discouraging time for me, so the fear is creeping in again and I wonder if I have what it takes to be successful in the handmade world. But when I focus on truth, I see that I did step out in faith and in all things there is an ebb and flow...

I am so excited to keep dreaming with the friends that God has given me... they rock and are such an encouragement!

A Note to You, Dreamer Friend

As part of our dreaming this week, we are supposed to "write a post entitled “A Letter to the God-sized Dreamers” telling your sisters why what they’re doing and who they’re becoming through this process is worth it–even on the hard days."  I just want to skip this week and tell you all to just go read Holley Gerth's post today... or better yet, just go get her book, You're Made for a God-Sized Dream.  She says it so much better than I can.  But sometimes you just need to give or receive a pep talk, so this letter might be more to me than it is to you. But hopefully you can find encouragement in it!


Dear God-sized Dreamer,

What's that? You have a dream? You have a desire, a longing for something more? It's not your imagination. It was placed there by God. And He is the one that is going to help you each step of the way, because He knows what's best for you. He wants what is best for you. He is calling you to something more... more of Him.

Don't ignore it, don't silence it, don't let it fade away. Feed the desire through the truth in God's Word. Find encouragement from other God-sized Dreamers--they are out there, you know. Pray, pray, pray every day.

Step outside your comfort zone... DO IT!! You will be amazed at how God will be right there, holding your hand! Don't let fear live your life!

Maybe you are confused as to what exactly the longing is for... writing? crafting? being a better wife and mom? taking a missions trip? changing the world? being more like Christ?  Just keep pursuing, following God's Light along the path. He will show you. He will direct you. You just have to follow... and keep dreaming!

Holley is right when she says it's "more of Jesus, more of what he’s created you to be, more of what he’s called you to do."   Who doesn't want that?!??!!

Memorizing Scripture can help keep you on track when the voice of doubts and discouragement starts creeping in... Combat it with the Voice of Truth!!

Psalms 37:4 - Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Proverbs 16:9 - A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

2 Corinthians 12:9 - And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

These are just a few good ones!
Do you have one you can share with me in the comments?
Your Dreaming verse?

and maybe, just maybe, it would help to have some visual reminders. Check out the Dream items on sale this month with this code 25% off Holley Gerth Collection with code HOLLEYG25!

There are some fantastic items.  I already have this marvelous bag


How about it? are you dreaming God-Sized Dreams? Don't give up. 
Dare to make that difference. Take that step!! Follow that dream!


*this post contains affiliate links.

Do What You Can

This week's step in our God-sized Dreams journey is to share a "do what you can" step. Just one small thing to move forward in your God-sized Dream.



What did I do this week to move forward in my God-sized Dreams?
I look back on my God-sized dream statements.



I believe God has created and called me to serve and support my family through encouraging, serving, cooking, and listening. 

I also believe God has created and called me to encourage and support other women through writing my stories, creating handmade cards, and connecting through both cards and stories.

And I think about my week and opportunities that God gave me and I know He is directing in my God-sized Dreams. I didn't even realizing how I was taking small steps, but here are some things that happened for me this week.

PART 1: my family

• I actually READ out loud to one of my daughters... more than once. It's a grace thing because reading out loud isn't one of my favorite things to do.
• I successfully meal-planned one week, thanks to a handy meal-planning assistant made for me by my sister-in-law.

• I continue with a mini-minute with my kids before bed, just asking them one of their favorite things in the day.

PART 2: others

• I successfully completed one week of my Creative Writing class in an effort to improve my writing techniques to better minister to others
• I spent Saturday creating handmade notecards for a special order and for future opportunities

• I SOLD a card on my Artfire shop (this happens about once a year, so I'm losing money on my shop, but haven't figured out how I should be doing this)
• I signed up to help co-host an (in)RL meetup, although the details still need to be worked out.

Just a few small things, but more than enough to get me started.


Connect with me:
What dreams do you have? and what One Small Step can you take today toward pursuing that dream? How can I pray for you in this area?

What's in a Dream?

If you have been reading my blog any length of time, you might have seen me mention my hopes and dreams a few times. It mostly involves card making... and maybe making some money off my cardmaking hobby.  I don't spend as much time in my craft room as I would like. I have no discipline, no schedule, no motivation for being there daily. But I wonder, what I could do with it if I did...

(I just re-read that last paragraph and almost died... It is NOT about making money, although that's what it sounds like. I love to craft and create and it fills my soul when I do. I know how much a hand-written note can mean and want to encourage others to send them more. I would love to supplement our home's income to help with the kids' schooling {they are presently in a private school, but it's not cheap with 4 kids} and I would also like to continue to donate my cards to ministries, charity auctions, fundraisers, etc. ) ... does that make sense?

My dreams are "evolving." Up until last March and the Write it, Girl series, I didn't even know I could be a writer... or that I wanted to be a writer. And then suddenly I wrote a few pieces and I got some praise and encouragement in comments on the blog and also from people close to me (Namely my dad and my husband... funny how that works) and I took the plunge and took a writing class fall 2012... and I LOVED IT!! Now I'm signed up for TWO classes this semester to work toward my Communications/Writing degree.

In truth, I'm not even sure anymore what my God-sized Dream is. But I want to pursue it this year and really look for what God desires for me. Is it writing? Is it cardmaking? Is it blogging? Is it a combination of 2 or 3 of those things?  I want to "do-it-all" but I also can't ignore my husband, my house, my kids, my local church in order to make these dreams come true.

In all honesty, I STRUGGLE with my dreams. Are they God's dreams for me? or are they distractions? How do they fit into the urgent (raising 4 kids to turn out half decent before they are 18 and out of my house)?

Some quotes from a recent post by Holley Gerth that I really want to remember over the next 6 months, so I'm sharing them here...

God-sized Dream = a desire in your heart for more of what God has for you.You see, God-sized dreams aren’t about being perfect. Or getting what we want. Or things working out the way we plan.

But I can also tell you, on your God-sized dreams journey…

You will become more courageous.

You will have victories you never through possible.

And you will be filled up with what you really need, which is less of you and more of Jesus in your life.

So I wonder, what DOES God have for me in all of this? How does writing and creating and card-making fit into parenting, and "wife-ing," and homemaking? And being more courageous... and having victories... and more of Jesus!!?  I want that, so I will keep dreaming!

I will be sharing a LOT from Holley Gerth on here over the next few months, after all she's helping me dream and encouraging me in my dreams... but there is so much goodness on her site and you can benefit from it too! So go subscribe to her encouraging posts!!

Last week's task for our dreaming journey was to make a Mad Libs mission statement based on our strengths and skills (which you can read more about in Holley's book You're Already Amazing).  I struggle most with the "who" these days! God has given me four young children that need me to serve them, but I also have a strong desire to connect with other women... So I did two.

I believe God has created and called me to serve and support my family through encouraging, serving, cooking, and listening. (Not that these are my strongest skills, but the ones I need to grow for the sake of my family)

I also believe God has created and called me to encourage and support other women through writing my stories, creating handmade cards, and connecting through both cards and stories.

There, I said it...  
Now, What has God created you to do?
What are your dreams?

Share it here in the comments and with Holley on her blog!

Dreams --Are they mine or God's?

People talk a lot about dreams these days ... dreams for the future, dreams for great success, dreams for their kids, dreams for themselves ... God-sized dreams, small dreams, impossible dreams, selfish dreams, others focused dreams, ministry dreams, financial dreams. the list goes on and on.

Dreams are also desires and I think of Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.

I always thought I had a God-sized Dream. This is a phrase I picked up from  Holley Gerth, Squee Inc. and Write it, Girl link up back in March. (ps. doesn't this make you wanna sing with Tangled... I've Got a Dream)




I have this hobby of making handmade, hand-stamped notecards. It ebbs and flows. Back when I lived in a two-bedroom trailer with four young children, there wasn't much space (or time) for crafting. I made cards here and there, enough to give them as gifts for my family, for baby showers, for teacher gifts.

Then we moved into this home on the mountain, with my red door, and I got my own little space with a large desk, some shelves, and an opportunity to work whenever I could find the time.  And for the last two years my dream has been a little stagnant. I've had no direction, no accountability, no self-discipline, no start up cost, to turn this hobby into a business.

Recently, I started wondering... Is this my dream, or God's dream for me? Has He planted this seed or is it my selfish desires? Is it about making money, or could I use this for ministry, for God's glory, to bless others?

I don't know where it's going, what I want the end result to be, but I want to find out. I want to hold my dream with an open hand.

Maybe it will just stay a hobby, maybe I will use it to bless friends and families, or missionaries. Or maybe it will become something more. But whatever happens, I pray that it will always be about bringing glory to His Name.

I'm also super excited to be a part of Holley Gerth's God-sized Dreams Team.  You can learn all about it here and join us on Tuesdays at her blog!!

just this ... "Ignoring them means ignoring a core part of your purpose. And when we do that, we feel restless and empty."

I would love to know! What are some of your dreams? Did you know they might be "God-sized"?  Share with me in the comments!!


PS... God gave me my OneWord365... during Thanksgiving, actually. I think it ties in to my dream, quite nicely... CREATE!