Give - A Five Minute Friday Post

Happy Day After Thanksgiving, ya'll!

I may have skipped out on the party last night over on Twitter... I just sort of assumed there wouldn't BE a FMF this week, since the writing happens on Thursday night and Thursday night was Thanksgiving and... well, the Seahawks were dominating the 49ers (#sorrynotsorry) and there was just no way I was going to find myself in front of a (different) screen! However, I was thrilled to see a link up and to see so many still participating in this challege to write unedited and uninterrupted, for five minutes flat and then hit publish and just let it go... let it be whatever it is... and trust that it is enough! (It is... it always is!)

Enough of that... on to our Word Prompt! 

Today's prompt is: GIVE

{GO}

I know, I know... it's that time of year.  We all talk about it.

Giving: Giving thanks, Giving gifts, Giving time and money and hours in our days, oh my goodness, you can almost feel the rush of the season unfolding already!

This time of year also brings to light all the needs... all the ways that we could/should give more.  I think we enter into Thanksgiving looking back at what we've been given so we can fall into Christmas with eyes scanning all around us, finding ways that we can give it away.

Little things (and big things) suddenly come into focus and we realize the state of this world... for better or worse.

This week it has felt worse.

Counting Gifts, Being Thankful, Giving Thanks... in a Blessing Box!

Counting Gifts... Being Thankful... 
Giving Thanks...

It's nothing new and even a few years ago, when I first read Ann Voskamps' lovely words written out in one thousand gifts, writing down the ways God blesses us on a daily basis was not a new practice.  

Still, it was a somewhat forgotten one.  I kept a list running in my mind, but there is just something different - something deeper, maybe - about writing them down! 

And then I remembered this:

A little poem I wrote years ago to go along with Boxes we would deliver around Thanksgiving.

As a family, Counting Gifts is part of our Thankgiving Tradition, yes... but it is so much more than that! We've been marking them down and reading them back for years! 

How To Create An Atmosphere of Gathering In for the Holidays - or any day!

Aaah yeah... if I were a bird - I WOULD fly around seeking out Autumn!  I think one of the things I love most about Autumn is simply just how cozy it is! 

Image by Karrilee Aggett

Even when the temperatures are falling outside, the invitation is open to go out, enjoy that crisp Fall air, and then retreat to some place warm and inviting!  

I think it is easiest in the Fall to create a space that is nourishing and welcoming.  All the lit candles, and yummy scents of the season - maybe it's just me, but there is something special in the atmosphere around this time of year that seems to beg for Community!

That Thing I Do Now - Vol 71

Can you even believe that Thanksgiving is NEXT week? This month is just flying by! I pray you are finding Rest... remembering to carve out a little Sabbath in your days... and reading things that feed your soul! (I am here to help with that one!)

Featured today are posts by NJ Rongner, Kris Camealy, Emily Freeman, Deidra Riggs, Jenn Peterson, and Aliza Latta, a post from right here... and - of course - a video!

Happy Reading! 
(Ya'll know to click on the authors' names to read their whole posts, yes?)

NOTICE - A Five Minute Friday Post

I made it back to the twitter party for Five Minute Friday and oh my goodness how I love this Community! From recipe to prayer requests, we cover it all (in 140 characters or less - with hashtags galore!) and we'd LOVE to have you join us! Thursday nights on Twitter, simply type in #fmfparty and jump right in!

OK... ready to write? Let's go! Tonight's prompt is: NOTICE

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I've mentioned it a few times... this annual get away that My Honey and I take with two other couples... four of our very best friends.  It's a tradition now and one we all look forward to every year.

One of the joys of friendships that run deep and true is that we have found the rhythm of silence and rest.  We trust in the quiet... we have learned that even then, God is at work.

Miracles in the Dark... Let Light Come

The power went out the other night. Like -no warning (as is normal, I suppose!) and suddenly:
thick inky darkness.

No sound. No flicker. Just soft lighting and then suddenly, black endless nothingness.

Until the lights --I mean, ALL of the lights-- go out, you don't really realize how dark darkness actually is.  

We were in the basement watching a movie with only a small lamp on and suddenly the lamp, the clock and lights on the tv and dvd player, the lights on Wii remotes, the hallway light upstairs... even the street lights and traffic lights outside... all of them, gone.

"Hello Darkness, my old friend..."

No, wait... Not that.

Literally, hours before this black out, I wrote this in my journal:

"We are surrounded by

Darkness and Death.

It's no wonder that

we've been called to

Be Light and Life.

That Thing I Do Now - Volume 70

Hey there!  Happy Weekend!  I hope you are all staying warm and cozy (and maybe free of snow?) - at least that is the prayer I am praying for myself here out West!

Featured today are posts by Ann Voskamp, Kelli Woodford, Shauna Niequist, Lisa-Jo Baker, (Lisa-Jo Baker), Mike Donehey... and - of course - a video!

Happy Reading! 
(Ya'll know to click on the authors' names to read their whole posts, yes?)

STILL - A Five Minute Friday post

I skipped Five Minute Friday last week... did anyone (besides me) notice? It was not easy as I LOVE this Community and this challenge to write for five minutes flat on a one word prompt and hit publish before rethinking or rewriting... still, it was the week after 31Days and oh my goodness, I think we all needed a break from me! 

But I am back now and ready(ish) to jump right in!  Let's go!
Tonight's prompt is: STILL

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After a month of writing about Rest... one would think Still would be easy.  

After all, I gave myself a little break. Not completely unplugged (or not typing) but still, I stepped away from the screen for long(er) periods of time and I fought for Stillness, and it was wonderful.  

Dare I say, Wonder filled... 

Let's All Be Brave... honestly, it's just time!

It is... it's time! I'm in my 40s now and I have felt a stirring... an awakening... a gathering of courage and strength from deep down inside for some time now. I have written about it, prayed about it, and tried to live it out loud and I am so excited because I feel a movement coming of so many of us standing up taller into who we are and leaning in to Him, leaning on each other, and walking boldly, bravely, into all He has for us! 

Here's the thing... 
When we talk about being Brave, we so often jump to the idea that we have to say Yes.  Whatever it is... say yes.

But some of the bravest things I have ever done have been to say no.  

When God says your name...

I am a writer.

Writer Print by Kathi Denfeld                     

More than that, though... I am a journaler, a diary-keeper, a list maker, a recorder of all the things. I have stacks and stacks of notebooks filled with notes, things God has spoken to me in prayer, in His Word, in sermons... filled with prayer requests and answered prayers... with memories both heart filled and heart broken. 

My life is in words, scribbled out on pages... visions and dreams, goals and lofty ideas... hopes and fears. 

I am a believer of writing things down, of keeping a record of all He has done.

That Thing I Do Now - Volume 69

I hope today brings with it a bit of a break for you... a pause, a moment to just breathe, to unwind, to relax.  Our weeks can be so hectic and often, our weekends are just as bossy... I pray you have carved out a bit of space and time to Rest and slow and feed your soul.

#iphoneonlyphotography Copyright by ~Karrilee~

November 2014, Leavenworth, WA

Featured today are posts by Lori Harris, Mary Geisen, Kris Camealy, Deidra Riggs, John Pavlovitz, Colleen Mitchell... and - of course - a video!

Happy Reading! 
(Ya'll know to click on the authors' names to read their whole posts, yes?)

I blame/thank The Nester... and now my hubby does, too!

So last year at the Allume Blogging Conference, I attended a workshop with Chad and Myquillyn Smith.  Sure, I had visited her gorgeous blog, Nesting Place and I knew who she was... to be honest, mostly I knew she was Emily Freemans' sister and I am nothing if not the most non-threathening stalker, ...no, fan-girl, ...no, reader of All Things Emily.

No big deal: I got to pray with Myquillyn before the workshop and then I fell in love with her because of her... not because of her sister, or her awesome decorating mojo, or anything else other than the fact that she is awesomely real.  Like, bravely, boldly real. (Maybe shaky-kneed, sure - but nonetheless, honest!)  Included in all the Swag was a teaser for her new book, The Nesting Place and so the wait began.

Enter with Giving Thanks... (Hello November!)

Hello November...
(read: Goodbye October & all your Bossy Posting Every Day!)  

In other words:
Hello Breathing Room...
and Grace... and, you guessed it, Rest!

The decision to participate in The Nesters' #Write31Days Blogger Challenge for the month of October was not made lightly.  After a long drawn out summer of silence, I wasn't so sure that I had words in me for 31 days straight. I didn't know if I could do it.  I had backed off a bit from all the bossy but the thought of not being part of the Community made me a little sad.  So I had a brilliant idea of winging it with a photo a day or counting blessings... something easy and low key... sort of like phoning it in...

But instead, God very clearly (after so much silence) gave me direction and in the writing of the series, I could see hindsight over the past several months! I was having myself some serious Ah Ha moments as I tapped in front of this screen... I pray you had a few while reading it as well!

Part of the hard work of writing on one subject through out October is my lack of posting all about how much I Love Autumn! (I know, right? Oh the sacrifices!)

But I am here, now... along with November! And we welcome you to join us in creating a bit of space... for Rest, yes... (for less posting, Amen!) but also for breathing and grace and giving thanks...

In my love of All Things Fall, one of my favorites is the sense of Warmth and Home that comes with him... Autumn is all flirty and fancy, with glory all around and he nearly begs for fellowship... for gatherings over coffee or tea, for meals around a table... for huddled hushed conversations in cozy corners at home or in a cafe...  

My desire now, is to open my door and invite you in! 

That Thing I Do Now - Vol 68

We made it, ya'll! We made it through the #Write31Days Challenge, and the posting every. single. day. and you stuck with me... or you didn't... but either way, rest assured - we will get back to posting way less often... 2-3 times a week, maybe less even... who can know with nothing bossing me around in November?

Well, all of that to say this: I will write when and what He tells me to write and I can pretty much assure you that it will not be all day, every day. No, I think He wants us all to actually live out what we learned here about Resting in Him... it takes time and intentionality... and grace!

It takes grace!

Featured today are posts by Amber Cadenas, Glennon Melton, Kris Camealy, Jacque Watkins, Logan Wolfram,  and the #Write31Days blogger who is somewhat new to me: Meredith Bernard... and - of course - a video! (Or FIVE... Whatev's!)

Happy Reading! 
(Ya'll know to click on the authors' names to read their whole posts, yes?)

That Thing I Do Now - Vol 67

Hey ya'll!  How are you doing? I pray your week was great, but that your weekend ahead is even better, because - of course!  You know the drill here... I read all sorts of amazing things all week long online and then I hook you up with A Gathering of Awesome, just in case you missed it!

Hello Fall & #iphoneonlyphotography                    

taken on a Family walk down by the river...    

Featured today are posts by Lisa Jo Baker, Deb Wolf, Kelli Woodford, John Pavlovitz, and the #Write31Days blogger who is somewhat new to me: (only not techinically... but she's not been featured here until now!) Erin Salmon... and - of course - a video! (Oh yes... and the Winner of the #WordsMatter Giveaway announced, too!)

Happy Reading! 

(Ya'll know to click on the authors' names to read their whole posts, yes?)

That Thing I Do Now - Vol 66

Happy Weekend, everyone! My Honey and I are celebrating twenty-two years of wedded bliss this weekend! Yes, we got married in glorious October! (#Swoon!)  I hope you are enjoying some Fall celebrating of your own... even if it is just something yummy to drink while enjoying something good to read... oh wait, I can help with that! 

Featured today are posts by Sarah Bessey, Robin Dance, Jennifer Dukes Lee, Lisa Gungor, and the #Write31Days blogger who is somewhat new to me: Renee Ratcliffe... and - of course - a video!

Happy Reading! 

(Ya'll know to click on the authors' names to read their whole posts, yes?)

That Thing I Do Now - Vol 65

So - first off, if you are a subscriber and I forgot to mention earlier that it is October... I apologize!  By "October" I mean #Write31Days and so that means way more posts than usual! I promise it will get back to normal in a few weeks! Until then, I hope you are reading along and diving in to Resting in Him with me!

Last weekend, on a whim - and keeping in line with Resting in Him, my Honey and I took a Sunday Drive.  Like, for real... we headed up to the mountains in search of Autumn!  It's been a hot, long summer and the trees around here are just starting to change... but still - we had to look, real slow-like, because - Hello Sunday Drive(r)!

With all the writing I've been doing (#sorrynotsorry) - I haven't had as much reading time, but I can't bring myself to let you down! So here... the Gathering of Awesome for this week... Enjoy!

Featured today are posts by Kris Camealy, Cara Strickland, Lori Harris, Brian Dolleman, Alia Joy and the #Write31Days blogger who is somewhat new to me: Aliza Latta... and - of course - a video!

Happy Reading! 

(Ya'll know to click on the authors' names to read their whole posts, yes?)

When You Are Two Weeks Overdue and God Tricks You...

...you know, because He loves you!

My friend Sarah is hosting some pretty fun birth stories over at her place for her 31Days series... all part of a brilliant plan to keep her blog active while they welcome a new little one in to their family! She asked me to share my labor and delivery story over at her space today!  Hop on over and reminisce with me! Even now - over nineteen years later, it's still one of my favorite stories! Because, of course! But also because, God... He is so smart and loving and sometimes, in order to get us through things, He has to trick us. (Or maybe that's just me!)

Click on over and read the rest of the story HERE...




If you are visiting today, looking for DAY NINE of 31 Days of Resting in Him, please click HERE for todays post!

That Thing I Do Now - Vol 64

Happy Weekend, ya'll! I hope you are enjoying Autumn in all her slow unfurling!

I had a friend Vox me pictures of the trees on her walk around her neighborhood and they are all already showing off Autumn Glory... here, the leaves are just beginning to change! I did make my first batch of Pumpkin Spice Chocolate chip cookies though - so Fall has arrived... and I am hoping to have all my Harvest decor out by the end of the weekend!  

It is October, and in Blogland that means a plethora of 31Days series to read and so these lists will be a little shorter, but I will also feature a new (to me) Blogger and one of her 31 Days posts each week! With all the busy and reading and writing, I still managed to gather up some great reads for your entertainment! I would hate to have you miss these posts!

Featured today are posts by Sarah Bessey, Jennifer Dukes Lee, Ann Voskamp, Alia Joy, Rachel Haltiwanger (#Write31Days) and - of course - a video!
Happy Reading! 

(Ya'll know to click on the authors' names to read their whole posts, yes?)

31 Days of Resting in Him...

October is where it's AT, ya'll! Along with All Things Autumn (#Swoon!), the month of October brings with it the annual #Write31Days challenge, hosted by The Nester, aka Myquillyn Smith.  This is the third year that I have played along, although by about October 18th, it doesn't feel like playing anymore... at. all. But it's always a great challenge and there are so many amazing series to read along with or bookmark for later!

The Challenge goes out to bloggers everywhere, and the idea is to pick ONE TOPIC and write about that one thing, - Every. Single. Day. - for 31 days (aka October).

My first attempt at this challenge was back in 2012, when I was answering the call to write in this space consistently! And what is more consistent than writing Every. Single. Day. ... you can read that series at your leisure HERE (31 Reasons to Fall for Autumn).

Last year in 2013, I wrote 31 Days of Encountering God, both in ways that I do and that you can!  You can read that series HERE...

But mostly, I am hoping that you will join me this year, 2014, for a series that - to be honest - I was reluctant to dive into.  I was wanting something easy, something fun, something - slackerish?  Instead, I asked God if He had something that He wanted me to write and I heard ever so clearly, this:

That Thing I Do Now - Volume 63

Hey there!  Happy Weekend, my friends! We actually had days of rain and overcast days. For this desert dweller, rain is a welcomed treat... but only for a day or two, and then we need our sunshine again! (Yes, we are quite spoiled!)

I am praying for a long, long Fall - filled with all the bounty of all good things. (and then a short, short winter - because - cold!) But I digress... with the rain, came more reading... so settle in all cozy like and enjoy this spread to feast on!


Happy Reading! Featured today are posts by Sarah Markley, Shauna Neiquist, Emily Freeman, Micah Murray, Andrea Levendusky, Christie Purifoy, Jessica Hoover, and - of course - a video!  Enjoy!

(Ya'll know to click on the authors' names to read their whole posts, yes?)

Because... she asked.

What a fun night over on Twitter for the #fmfparty... lots of great encouragement, fun hashtags, prayers, and of course - talk of food!!!  I love love love this Community of Writers who go all out in a FlashMob frenzy and write for Five Minutes flat on one word... it's so much fun! (Ya'll should join in!)

Anyway - here we go: Five Minute Friday - Our Word Prompt is: BECAUSE

{GO}

I missed out on yesterday.  All day long I was out of it... battling a painful headache and not able to get to anything on my Bossy List of Things To Do.  

That Thing I Do Now - Vol 62

Happy Fall, Ya'll!  (Wait... what? Too soon?)  Our little town hosts a State Fair and this weekend we are kickin' it County Fair style! Small Town Parade? Yep.  Midway rides, and corn dogs, elephant ears, 'concerts'... you betchya!  We even offer up some Deep Fried Prayer! (We rent a booth and offer prayer and blessings through out the fair! This is the second year a group of us is doing it and we have such a blast showing people that God is in a good mood and that He loves loves loves them - no matter what!)

Happy Reading!

Featured today are posts by Jennifer Dukes Lee, Nish Weiseth,  Kelli Woodford, Shannan Martin, Lisa Leonard, Ashley Larkin, plus a book review of Holley Gerth's new book and a video by Steffany Gretzinger!  Enjoy!

(Ya'll know to click on the authors' names to read their whole posts, yes?)

The Anchor Holds... a Five Minute Friday post

I made it, ya'll! I finally made it over to Twitter to party it up with the amazing Five Minute Friday Community of writers. It is always so much fun and I had been hit and miss for way too long! I wasn't sure if I would make it because I was setting up the Prayer Booth that we work at at the Fair, but I snuck in with plenty of time to chat it up! Now... on to the writing part...

Anyway - here we go: Five Minute Friday - Our Word Prompt is: HOLD

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I keep talking about it, I know. Talking of how I have been in this season of Waiting and now, seemingly suddenly, it is starting to feel like it is nearing an end.

It's like I have resisted it for so long... I just recently let go, and let Rest find me like the gentle rocking of a boat on evening waves -a rhythm that ebs and flows without fear, because the Anchor is holding somewhere, tethered down deep.

What Your Heart Needs for the Hard Days - a Book Review

There is this woman... she is amazing, and loving, and just overflows with encouragement, and oozes Jesus in all the best ways. And there is this book that arrived on my doorstep during one of the hardest weeks of Days so far...

That Thing I Do Now - Vol 61

Good morning! I pray you are enjoying a weekend that is filled with just what you need, whether that is rest and peace, or adventure and work... maybe a divine mixture of both!

"Get Ready! Get Ready! Get Ready!" - Five Minute Friday

Once again... I had plans, ya'll! I had cleared my schedule and planned an easy dinner and I was going to be sitting right here in this chair at 5ish to chat and party it up with the #fmfparty crew... but you know how it goes. The day gets away from us and your All Growed Up Girlie stops by and plans are pushed aside to catch up and hang out... I mean, I love you all but come on? You get it, right?  So - it's later now, and I missed most of the party... but here I sit... ready to write!

Anyway - here we go: Five Minute Friday - Our Word Prompt is: READY

{GO}

So, it's no secret really. I have written about it several times over the summer...

God has had me in a season of waiting... a season of silence...
(apparently, until -well, soonish!)

The Mighty Power of a Simple Shift in Perspective

Perspective is powerful.

When it is even just a little bit off everything I see is tilted, off-center... topsy turvy, askew, uncertain.

Uncertainty is powerful too... and it can freeze this planners' heart and stop all forward motion.  I find when I am uncertain, I stop all the things. It's not that I need to know every detail or have a color-coded mapped-out plan (although... ) but I find when I am uncertain, my perspective starts getting all out of line and I can fall for the same old lies.

I can feel small. Insignificant. Unimportant.

I can make excuses or put things off... ignore promptings of the Spirit or hesitate long enough to miss an opportunity. 

I can forget that it's not all about me or that it should always, really, be all about Him.

That Thing I Do Now - Vol 60

Happy Weekend, Everyone! Can you even believe we are in SEPTEMBER already? Gah... every time, I feel old - but still - time is just slipping by so quickly!

Ya'll... you can't even know! Last week into this week was... just hard.  It caused me to be unplugged and MIA a bit more than usual which was both good and necessary! And yet... you know how I love you and how I would never leave you empty handed, with (gasp!) nothing to read! So here ya go:

I Can Find You In the Whisper...

Good morning! What a concept, right? Writing a Five Minute Friday post on a Friday!  I have so missed the routine of jumping in to the party on Thurdsay nights over on Twitter (at #fmfparty) but last night was the NFL season opener and, well, I DO live in #HawksNation and it's a pretty big deal around here so it was a given that we would all be gathered around a different kind of screen, cheering on our team - to victory! #GoHawks

Anyway - here we go: Five Minute Friday - Our Word Prompt is: WHISPER

{GO}

Sometimes, God thinks He is p-r-e-t--t-y funny!

I have been not writing (much) this summer.

He has been calling me to sit... to wait... to be Silent.
(Like - actually Silent.) 

What I Learned in August...er... well, over the Summer.

Here we are, in SEPTEMBER! 

SEPTEMBER, ya'll? For the love... how did that even happen? Honestly?

It is now the beginning of a new month, and a whole new season! With Summer wrapping up and Fall making his glorious appearance just around the corner, it's time for my favorite link-up where I share a random Gathering of Awesome things that I have learned... attempting to once again remember! 

So, here we are: What I Learned in August -well, let's be real... it's been since May!