Gathered thoughts

Happy Friday


Happy Friday 🍂

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We have a day off from our normal routine today and so I am soaking in the lazy morning ,enjoying coffee in one of my fav coffee mugs,cozied up in a favorite wool throw 🍂 

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Whatever you have happening this weekend , take time to enjoy a warm cup of your favorite drink and soak in the moments that will most likely never be repeated ❤️

faith, Gathered thoughts, homemaking

Gather 🍁

Having an inviting table doesn’t have to be super fancy . You can take a few things to make a beautiful setting that is practical and inviting.
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The memories , conversations , plans, school work and sharing of life that happens around a table is immeasurable. It is essentially the hub of a home. A place to gather , cry , work out life and laugh ❤️
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I do wonder if every grain in the wood of this table could contain all of it. Would the grain lines of the wood be darker when there were years scorched by fire or hardships ,would the grain have lines wider in years being well watered and flourishing in love or have thinner lines in years of drought ? Interesting to think about what it would hold.
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What ever season you are in , remember it’s just that a season. Take time to enjoy your family or a friend around your table. Invite them to linger and stay a little bit longer. Savor the grain lines that are forming 🍁

“she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭6:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Family activity, family adventures, Gathered thoughts

Pumpkin Bucket List

Fun way to enjoy more pumpkin❤️

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Fun fact ➡️Did you know that The State of Illinois produces about 90% of the Pumpkins in the US? We are learning about Molly for our American Girl Doll History Class and came across that❤️

faith, Gathered thoughts

Gathered Thoughts

Recently,I have been doing a study on Habakkuk from the #thedailygraceco Let me start by saying that even though I have read through the Bible several times and knew it was a book of the Bible , I really had no idea what it was about. 

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It’s a super short book but there is so much in there. Habakkuk is living in a time between kingdoms . The Babylonians are ruling the roost and Habakkuk is overwhelmed at what he sees and doesn’t understand why God is allowing all of these things. He starts with telling God all of this and asking why haven’t you done anything and where are you in this. And guess what? Does God stay silent? No.  He answers him .And in his response , you see no condemnation .. you see love and gentleness. Again Habakkuk responds with more complaints   His heart and soul are so overwhelmed and he is grieving not really knowing how to continue and to keep going. Guess what? God responds again, not in a fussy way of oh come on get it together attitude, but in a loving gentle way . The book ends with Habakkuk praising God . 

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There are seasons where the mud we are treading turns to concrete and you feel so stuck that you can’t move. Trust me, I have been there. In those moments,It’s so easy to complain, want to give up and lose hope. What if we looked at that concrete filtered through what God says and what his word says? Maybe the mud turned to concrete to keep us still ? To hold us in place as God works? To keep us from running ahead to fix it in our timing ?

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This verse is one I have claimed being ground in by the concrete around my feet . I will chose to take joy in the God of my Salvation even when I can not see any fruit of what he may be doing. I will trust. 

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I pray that if you are reading this and treading mud or being held still by concrete, that you will keep your eyes on God. He is working even when we cannot see or when we don’t understand. I am praying for you today ❤️

faith, Gathered thoughts, Goals


One of my favorite things this fall season 🍂 

This beautiful journal. It’s been a great addition to my quiet time . It invites me to write scripture, share my thoughts and write out a prayer each time I open it up. 

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Journaling has always been a struggle to me , but there is something freeing when I do. It almost feels as though it empties all my thoughts and allows me to refresh. 

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Ofcourse, the best part is being able to go back and read how God was working and moving in that season . 

faith, Gathered thoughts

Welcome October


Hello October 🍁

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It’s been a bit since I have posted . Life and everything inbetween has happened the last few months and I needed to  just focus on God and my Family.

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One of the things I have learned over the last few months, is it’s ok to not be ok. It’s ok to show I don’t have it together . There were moments of meeting with a friend , that my heart was so heavy I couldn’t help but have tears in my eyes. I’m thankful,so thankful, for those friends who stopped to pray and didn’t push for answers . Sometimes,just sitting with a friend in their mess is exactly what they need. 

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Another thing I learned was that I can only do so much. As much as I would love to be Wonder Woman and have eight arms to do everything ,I am not. Ofcourse , trying to reconcile that with my type A attitude was the hardest.To do what I can do to the fullest each day and let everything else fall away meant there where times the list didn’t get done. The dishes were left in the sink , we had cereal for dinner or the project got put on hold. It was uncomfortable but guess what it was OK. 

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It did help me appreciate each new morning . New day , new opportunities. Appreciate the power of prayer and friends that have walked with my family . 

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No matter where you find yourself on this October day .. I pray that you will be able to live today to the fullest, let go of what needs to be let go of and  connect with a friend. Life is so much better when we share it with others 🍁