On the Home Front:
Sometimes, we can look at an entire year like a snapshot. Restoration was a promise I clung to this year. What I didn’t realize until I went through the process, is that the beginning of restoration is usually demolition. For all of 2024, I have seen myself like an antique chair being carefully restored. And so the Lord lovingly took sandpaper to my soul. That’s the first step of restoring a treasure. Sandpaper.
This year, the sandpaper has looked like:
- Losing nearly 4 years of my diligent writing, manuscripts, proposals, etc. After a meltdown, I have since entrusted it to Lord. I’m strangely ok with it. I had so much material that it was overwhelming to discern my next steps. Now, the canvas is blank and me and Holy Spirit are starting the work over. Together. Again.
- Losing my husband’s uniforms in the mail. I finally got the guts to send them out to be made into daddy bears. And they got lost in the mail. After a meltdown, my friend Megan and her friend Amber showed me what it’s like to be fought for. They made calls and made noise for me when I had lost any fight I had left. A couple pieces were found and returned. This is no small thing.
- Losing my mind. Like actually. I felt the call to homeschool the girls this year and the week we decided to take that leap of faith, I hit my head in the night, so hard that I gave myself a concussion. I stuttered and stammered and could not handle the volume at church or the lights at the grocery store. I could not cut vegetables and talk at the same time. It was a rough way to start homeschooling when I already have all hands on deck around here. But God is faithful. I trusted Him with it. He got me through. And then my friend Chris from Omaha prayed for me, and God healed every symptom of the concussion that very day!
We’ve had many other crazy sandpapers this year. Like 3 of my 4 financial accounts getting broken into, yada yada. The list goes on. But here’s what I’ve seen… God is trustworthy. And He will keep His promise. I hope, always hope, that we’re getting closer to the good part of restoration. The part where you sit in a gloriously refinished chair and marvel at the care of the Craftsman who restored it. Restored not to it’s former glory, but to a whole new level. Glory to glory, as we go.
A Few of My Favorite Things:
- Hosting a Hallmark, Pumpkin Pie, and Pajama Party!
- Restore and Reset Tea and Dandelion Carmel Nut Tea
- Our Advent Tradition – Our evenings in December are filled with reading Jesse tree devotionals, covering a few of the ways we see Jesus from creation throughout history. This one is my favorite so far because it’s not wordy. Short and sweet. My trick to not missing an evening… I get a little toy advent set. (This year, we enjoyed this Legos Advent set. Last year, it was Schleich.) Before they can open up the toy of the day, we read the devo. So even if I am tired or forget, my little one is very motivated to read the Christmas story of the day. Then we all guess which toy is in the box for that day. It’s been a fun and creative way to make sure we’re in God’s word in the midst of what can become a full and crazy month.
- Cranberry Christmas Cake – Our Christmas morning tradition. I follow this recipe to a T. I just sub GF flour. Mmmm.
- Snowball fights in airplanes! (Thank you Snowball Express and Gary Sinise Foundation for sending us to Disney!)
- A Quiet Christmas. After a bustley December of Disney and midterms, we warmly welcomed a quiet just-us kind of year. Played Legos, giggled, moved slowly, made fondue. (I will have to tell you more about our Disney trip next month!)
- Baking cookies for neighbors and friends. Dan and I did this for so many years, but this was the first year since losing him that I had it in me to bake enough to give away. It felt good to do that again.
Recent Blog Highlights:
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It’s easy to feel weary when we’re waiting on the promises of God, especially when years have gone by.
But take heart! The promises of God are sweet like the scraps of sugar cookie dough… and can be just as sweet as the promise fulfilled.
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Sometimes, our obedience to the leading, nudges and promptings of the Holy Spirit is like the key that opens the gift box.
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Often, when we lose someone we love in a traumatic way, we often deal with some form of survivor’s guilt.
“Why them and not me?”
If you’re struggling with any level of survivor’s guilt, let me show you the unexpected way I was set free from survivor’s guilt from PTSD.
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Planning Ahead:
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The Priority-Driven Vision Planner
January is such a great reset! We clear up the decorations, make room for our own thoughts and plans, and enjoy the days slowly kindly getting longer.
If you’re trying to reset your intentions for the year and weed out the overwhelm, this is the number one workbook I use every year: The Priority-Driven Vision Planner. 50% OFF now until January 31! No coupon code needed!
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A Little Gift for you:
The Lord has been calling me to blog daily. For years. I wish I obeyed sooner. But I’m trying now! So while I’m having growing pains and while my learning curve is imperfect, I am getting started.
I took a poll last year, and many of you asked to receive each blog post straight to your inbox. I’ve finally found a way to make that an option, and to make it a little more sustainable on my end. At only $5/month, you can receive encouragement and inspiration on a regular basis. You’ll also be chipping in a little for me to keep this ministry going for others who can’t afford it.
A friend recently said, “I love waking up to reading your words.” May these words be the little bit of umph you need to strengthen your faith and fill your life with some meaningful thoughts and silly fun activities.
As a little Christmas gift to you, I’d like you to try out my almost-daily-ish blog post subscription. The first month is on me. Cancel anytime.
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Creative ways to draw near to the Lord
Danita Jenae pours heart and soul into her devotionals online. Her writing is laced in prayer, surrender, and the hope… Read more
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A Verse to Pray Into:
“Think about me and be kind,
just as you are to everyone
who loves your name.”
Psalm 119:132 CEV
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