Where to Turn

 When Grandparents receive the unthinkable phone call…

Our call came on Monday morning, “Mom, we think E.C. has leukemia.”  Within 24 hours their diagnosis was confirmed.  And so began another family journey that we are praying will build our faith, draw us closer to Christ and make us more like Him!

So, where do we turn when the unthinkable happens?  It’s the time to reach deep, into the Word and even song.  This morning these words kept running through my head…

Have thine own way, Lord,

Have thine own way,

Hold or my being absolute sway.

Fill with Thy Spirit,

Till all shall see,

Christ only, always, living in me.

And my prayer for E.C...

I will exalt you, my God the King;
    I will praise your name for ever and ever.
 Every day I will praise you
    and extol your name for ever and ever.

 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    his greatness no one can fathom.
 One generation commends your works to another;
    they tell of your mighty acts.
 They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
 They tell of the power of your awesome works—
    and I will proclaim your great deeds.
 They celebrate your abundant goodness
    and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

 The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
    slow to anger and rich in love.

 The Lord is good to all;
    he has compassion on all he has made.

 All your works praise you, Lord;
    your faithful people extol you.
 They tell of the glory of your kingdom
    and speak of your might,
 so that all people may know of your mighty acts
    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
    and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises
    and faithful in all he does.
 The Lord upholds all who fall
    and lifts up all who are bowed down.  
The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food at the proper time.
 You open your hand
    and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

 The Lord is righteous in all his ways
    and faithful in all he does.
 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth.
 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
    he hears their cry and saves them.  
The Lord watches over all who love him,
    but all the wicked he will destroy. 

My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.
    Let every creature praise his holy name
    for ever and ever.    Psalms 145

Happy 9th Birthday, Dear E.C!  Grandpa and Grandma love you!  XO XO

Smaller Barns

“This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain.  And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”  Romans 12:18-19

These verses, part of an excellent sermon this morning from our pulpit, prompted me to reflect on our own 2010 adventure in downsizing. 

My Viking and I agreed long ago, before our children were out of the house, that our retirement years would not include a permanent house in the south, living each day only to bowl, golf, play cribbage, shop or hunt for shells.  Neither could we see ourselves dusting off our hands from childrearing.  We were excitedly anticipating years as grandparents, helping to train the next generation.

Viking man is an orderly man!  When our children were very young he established weekly family meetings which continued for years.  From those early meetings the planning part morphed into a yearly get-away weekend for the two of us, spent casting a vision for five years ahead.  Eventually, those evolved into the development of 10 year goals. 

Our 30’s, 40’s and 50’s included many family, spiritual, career, and life enriching goals.  However, for years we just couldn’t envision our 60’s, not until they were upon us!  Then it became clear to us, our 60’s would be years of downsizing, letting go and instead of setting goals we would listen more to the Spirit about direction for our lives.  Loud and clear to us was a vision to live simply, in preparation for whatever lay ahead.

Moving into a smaller, more manageable house was one big item on this list and we assumed it would be in our later 60’s rather than earlier.  But, when a cute little ranch went on the market we knew it was meant for us, and so began the process of downsizing from our turn-of-the-century Four Square, into a two bedroom with no basement and a little patch of grass to mow.

God's provision of a new, smaller home!

Downsizing was not easy!  I never foresaw this move as one of the most difficult times in our 40 years of marriage.  But, once we began to give things away and hire an estate sale planner, the excitement grew with thoughts of living with less stuff and less responsibility for our things.

During this change in our life, one Sunday God brought a guest preacher to stand in our pulpit, a missionary to Egypt.  His topic was living with less.  I still remember one point so clearly, “All the stuff we have now is ‘kindling’, and it will be here today and eventually burned up.”  From that moment on, when stumped on deciding what to let go of, we would ask each other, “This is ‘kindling’, and can we let it go now or later?”

Living with less feels so good!  But God had another lesson for us yesterday.  We invited a couple over for breakfast; their life story caused us to wonder how much less we could really live on!  These new friends, our age, had given up their house and almost all earthly possessions.  Their story is one of truly living by Faith, moment by moment.  The hours spent with them were an encouragement to seek God and “soak” in His love.  They were a picture of faith-filled contentment found in Christ alone, not trusting in the things of this world. 

What a blessing to see this brother and sister ‘rich toward God’, not storing up things for themselves.  

 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:20-21

Comatose Intentionality

"Each of us, every day, is standing under a Niagra of blessings...."

~Doug Wilson

One emerging buzz word these days is Intentionality!  I hear it especially from mothers raising young children who have dedicated their lives to avoid “chance" philosophies, “momentary" lapses in quality time and "lack" of character training.  They want to be intentional in their mothering, not haphazardly raising the next generation…right on Girls! 

Intentionality!  It’s a fabulous word, used to set a standard for those in the trenches of any complex stage of life.  The word connotes being awake, aware and attentive.

Even at my stage of life, over 60, intentionality can be used to spur me on to being a better me, better wife, friend, mother, more godly and Christ like.  Contemplating how to apply intentionality into my life, I thought back to a conversation with my dear Viking.  For some reason we were on the subject of sleep, those hours when we are completely unintentional and comatose.  

He was amazed at how out of control we are every night as we lay in bed, sleeping away, unaware of our surroundings and lost in dream land.  I’m reminded him how often I find him passed out in a chair on the weekends, in his office kingsize lazyboy, in front of a golf game on TV or outside on the porch…Viking man is comatose frequently.   We came to the conclusion that much of our life is spent being unaware of all the wonderful blessings, full protection and invisible defense hovering over us at all times. 

I wonder if at times we appear comatose to God, even in our intentionality.  Even when we are wide awake and trying to be intentional in our life, are we really blinded and in a sleepy state, unaware of God’s grace and mercy being poured out on us.  I pray not. 

Thankfully, the Lord is intentional even when we are comatose.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?

 My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

 He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
 indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

 The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
 the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

 The Lord will keep you from all harm —
    he will watch over your life;
 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.

Psalm 121

Partners on the Way Down

Lessons from my husband

I married a Viking!  Arne Paulsen, my gentle, giant Viking.  He is a man with Norwegian blood running through his veins, like men who long ago advanced and conquered much of the northern hemisphere. 

Similar to his ancestors, Arne’s pursuit of adventure overcomes him every so often.  His 50^th birthday was celebrated with a drive of a lifetime in a Winston Cup car; his 60th took him to Mount Antero, in Colorado, and this year for number 61 he returned to tackle Mt. Missouri.  

These Colorado trips are taken with a group of men from church and while driving home each shares what they learned on the climb.  Arne arrived home last Sunday night just after eleven O’clock and was so pumped that we stayed up until two! He did all the talking and I just listened, with burst of unrestrained laughter.

There was no laughter though as he told of the two things he learned on the mountain this year, I sat and soaked in his wisdom.

First, Arne learned that, “We all need a partner!”  Last year he climbed alone and the “big” bear paws he discovered brought a quick end to the adventure.  This year he had a partner, Rich, who walked with Arne and “had fellowship, one with another.”  I John 1:7  We need each other, none of us is meant to do life alone.  We are a body who function together and when one is cut off it brings death in many ways.

Rich and Arne, Mt. Missouri, 7-21-12

Second, Arne learned that, “It’s almost as hard coming down as it is going up!”  He told the guys, “I’m on the downside of life and in my younger days I assumed life would be easier with the kids gone, with retirement around the corner and my youthful ‘stupid ambition’ under more control of the Holy Spirit…but I was wrong.” 

So true in both of these lessons!  And when both are combined…

We all need Partners on the Way Down!

Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Raggedy Hair, Raggedy Heart

The Gray Haired Lady

Chapter 2

Has something like this ever happened to you?  I had waited way too long, until my hair was at that I-need-a-cut-NOW stage.  Thinking I could get an appointment in a few days, I called Hair Illusions only to find out Janice was booked for over a week!  Reluctantly, I took the first appointment that worked for us both and resigned myself to just looking raggedy! 

With a few days to go before my haircut the phone rang…it was my daughter.  “Mom, I called Janice to see if I could get in for a cut before our “date-night” on Friday and she’s booked!”  I fell right into her thoughts…”Oh”, I said, “I have an appointment on Thursday, you can have it.”  “Well, that’s what I was wondering”, she replied.  “And, since you won’t be going and I will, I could use a sitter…” 

Our plans, man’s plans, women’s plans…they’re fragile, ever changing with every whiff and whim!   However, when God has a plan and sets a date…it happens, it’s written in ink and every detail to accomplish His plan is perfect!

It was a Divine Appointment for the Gray Haired Lady and I to cross paths that day and I’m ever so thankful.

As we left off in chapter one, the Gray Haired Lady and I had exchanged smiles in the parking lot at Revive Our Hearts and I told my friend, Debbie, that I had to meet that woman. 

Debbie and I found our way into the recording studio and picked up our name badges.  Earlier that morning, we decided to sit near the middle section to avoid going away with sore necks from looking either right or left the whole day.  Debbie grabbed my book bag and plopped our stuff on two chairs in the middle, perfect, no stiff neck tomorrow I thought to myself.

These recording days are now like a little reunion as we meet and chat with women who are becoming new friends.  Like most women, there is always much catching up needed as events in our lives are ever changing.  Ellie, from New York and another Nancy and I connected quickly and chatted a bit…then I found my saved seat.

 

Heading for my chair I knew what God’s plans were for my day.  In front of me and over one seat sat the Gray Haired Lady…all by herself!  Eagerly, I seated myself and began telling the story!  “……I knew when our eyes met in the parking lot, and even told my friend that, ‘Today I have to meet that gray haired lady right there!’” 

The gracious, aged woman responded with a soft voice and strikingly peaceful blue eyes, “Well aren’t you sweet.”  At that moment I thanked God for His Divine Appointments in my life!  This was perfectly arranged and on His calendar, not one minute late or one minute early!  The Gray Haired Lady was about to minister to my raggedy heart, just when it was needed.

…and my haircut is tomorrow.

"I'm going to see Jesus soon!"

Back in the Day

Club night at our house was special!  My sister, Donna, and I would lay in bed giggling along with the group of mother’s precious lifelong friends in our living room.  We loved these events and our excitement grew as family specialties were prepared, the house was polished and the elegant tablecloths and dishes were brought out from their hiding places. 

One of our chores was to fetch the box of small glass plates.  These plates were fanciful, used only a few times each year.  Some were square with ridges on the bottom, others a swirling oval shape with etched sprigs of flowers on the underside.  No matter the shape, each had a spot for holding a dainty clear tea cup.  As we listened from our upstairs sanctuary at the laughing, chatting and clinking cups on trays, we wondered what would be leftover in the morning for us to have our own private “Club” and practice at becoming gracious, chatting women one day.

It’s fun to reminisce; just as it was enjoyable listening in as a child on my Grandmother and mother do the same when they were with family and friends.  So many family stories and so much laughter as the olden days were recalled. 

This morning I read Psalms 143:5-6 and it got me thinking about enjoyable memories.  I thank God for family history recounted and recollections of superb fellowship with friends, but foremost I’m grateful for the works of His hand in my life.

I remember the days of old;

I meditate on all that You have done;

I ponder the work of your hands.

I stretch out my hands to you;

My soul thirsts for You like a parched land.  Selah

My Grandmother, in the green dress, and her "Club" using similar glass plates and cups.

The Perfect Way to Love

“Whenever we cannot love in the old, human way . . . God can give us the perfect way.” 

Corrie Ten Boom, The Hiding Place

After eight days just spent with five of our grandchildren in our downsized two bedroom home, sadly to say my old human love was running short.  Tonight, with an empty and quiet house, I'm so thankful to our gracious and merciful Father who is faithful to direct when needed in the perfect way.

Looking out my window

Observing older women, or as this blog title states, “LEARNING FROM AGED WOMEN THE SECRETS OF REVERENT LIVING” has become a favorite quest since passing the 60 year old mark myself.

God has blessed me with a fantastic neighbor, Doris.  In fact, all I need to do is look out my window to observe her reverent living in action.  Doris and her husband, Larry, both in their mid 70’s, are always busy and active.  You can catch one or both of this couple working in the yard, on their way to serve others or at church in one of many ways, off to help their son and family with projects, giving grandchildren and others rides on their zip-line, walking, biking, visiting with neighbors and more.

What I admire most about Doris is her loyalty.   By looking out the window I have observed her devotion to her husband, loyalty to her home, her family, to her friends, her neighbors and their church. 

Doris and Larry serving at a Valentine Dinner for couples with large families!

Living in the Midwest, it’s common to lose many of our retired residents to warmer climates, some for many months.  Doris and her husband stick around throughout our frigid winter and annually attend the Moody Conference in February, have been seen shoveling out neighbors after a large snowfall, arrive early at the Wednesday 7a.m. prayer group even when it’s below zero and in the midst of chemo treatments!   

I have observed Doris in social, neighborhood and church functions and the one action I admire highly is her daily walk.  It’s not far, down the street and back, over and over for twenty to thirty minutes.  In her hand is an index card which is referred to now and then.  Looking out the window I catch that quick card glance now and then, along with ever so slightly moving lips…Doris is memorizing scripture!  Doris is loyal to God!

Thank you, God, for giving me a picture of a reverent woman, demonstrating her secret by living it out right in front of me!

Pool Attire Du Jour

Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, 

so says Proverbs 17:6

Swimming classes with Miller boys

Grandpa and grandsons at a water park

Who wouldn't love swimming with Hazel?

Today I will be sporting a visor as I romp in the pool with the “crown” of my old age!

Marmee

Grandma, Nana and Nina! 

Those are my names depending on which set of my grandchildren I happen to be with at any one time.  It's when we mix and mingle our eleven grandkids that the name calling begins!

This scenario happens over and over.  For instance, Miles says something like, "Hey, Nana, come watch me play Wii", and little Caleb who overheard his cousin replies, "That's not Nana, that's Nina!"  We laugh every time and wait to watch the children's facial expressions.  Priceless!

Right now our Iowa grands are visiting for the week so for the most part I will be known as Grandma.  However, today while playing with their Illinois cousins a couple times I overheard one child correcting the other, "That's not Grandma, she's Nana", and vice versa.  I chuckled and imagined all the confusion going on in their little heads.  

I imagine one day in the future, when they are all grown up and too big for cute names, our ten grandsons and one Haze-girl will call me Grandma, or maybe Granny, as I addressed my own Grandma while in my teen years.  They will never know my heart’s desire was to be called "Marmee" by my grandchildren, but our daughters let the children call me whatever came out first.  And now, I love being called Grandma, Nana and Nina!

But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.

Isaiah 43:1

The Gray Haired Lady

Leaving home was not my desire.  Our daughter and family would be moving thousands of miles away in a few short days, our previous house, on the market for two years appeared to have a buyer, we would be leaving in three days for our 11^th grandchild’s dedication, our daughter and five children were coming for a week and parts of my life seemed to be caving in around me.  Nevertheless, a road trip celebrating my dear friend’s 60th birthday seemed the ideal diversion!

For months, since Debbie’s birthday in March, we had planned to visit Revive Our Hearts in Niles, Michigan.  This was Debbie’s first time to sit in on a day-long session of radio recordings of Nancy Leigh DeMoss and nothing would hamper this road trip!

After a good night’s sleep we woke to a lovely day!  Debbie drew the curtains revealing the dawn and led us in a creaky, morning voice rendition of , “This is the Day That the Lord Hath Made”, then read the day’s devotion in her new favorite book, Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young.  Speedy showers, a half eaten breakfast, quick check-out at the hotel and off we went to the long awaited day of teaching and fellowship.

As Debbie parked her large, green SUV in front of Life Action Ministry headquarters I glanced at the cute little red crossover and the gray haired lady pulling up two spots away.   The gray haired lady smiled at me and in an instant I knew we would meet that day.  I turned to Deb and said, “That gray haired lady right there…I must meet her today!”

Chapter 1

Retire?

Don't retire...


Retread for the years ahead!


I heard this the other day and thought it was a wonderful way of viewing our elder years!

Youthful Grace

There has never been a time when I didn’t like my name.  Julie Ann, I love my name! 

Back in 1951, the year I was born, mothers stayed in the hospital for one whole week.  As the day arrived for me to finally go home my parents still hadn’t picked out a name!   If it wasn’t for an ice skater on television that afternoon, named Julie Ann, I wonder who I would have been; Linda, Mary, Patricia, Deborah, Barbara, Susan and Nancy were the top names, Julie was way down the list at 99.  It wasn’t until True Woman ’10 that I discovered the true meaning of my name.

My friend, Debbie, and I found our seats early, in anticipation, with all the seats around us unoccupied.  Two women finally sat down right behind us and before long we were chatting, laughing and getting to know each other.  What were the odds of those two women having the names Julie and Debbie?  I’m not sure, but we were all surprised!  Soon I discovered God put them there for a reason.

Julie, I always knew the name meant “Youthful”, and I loved that meaning.  But when my new friend, Julie, shared with me the meaning of our mutual middle name, Ann, that’s the moment I fell in love with my name.  Youthful Grace!  The beauty of my name caused me to let out a sigh as I sank into my chair.  It took a few moments to take it in, Youthful Grace, Youthful Grace, it went swirling through my mind and then past my lips.  I love my name!  Thank you, Lord!  I love my name!

               But now thus says the LORD,

               he who created you, O Jacob,

               he who formed you, O Israel:

               “Fear not, for I have redeemed you,

  I have called you by NAME, you are mine.    Isaiah 43:1

Turning 60 years old in 2011, I shared on my Facebook page that this birthday was, “exhilarating!”  I had no fear of the days ahead, of being “Over the Hill” or put out to pasture, for I have been named by God Himself and I am His.  Youthful Grace!

This promise is not made to me alone, but to everyone who comes to Christ!  We all have the opportunity to be new creations, perpetual youthful grace, from now until our final breath.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The

old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Debbie and I at True Woman '10.  We will both be at True Woman '12, Lord willing!

Magnificent Promise

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;  
planted in the house of the Lord,
they will flourish in the courts of our God.  They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him. ”    Psalm 92: 12 - 15

Erlene

1974 was the year Arne took me off to a foreign country, Alabama!  We arrived in June, just after Alabama and much of the south had experienced the worst tornado outbreaks in U.S. history.  What were we thinking?  Two Yankees, with two little Yankee Doodle dandies, Colleen at 22 months, Lesli at 10 months and another baby due in four months! 

There I was, far, far away from friends and family, young and impetuous, toting two little girls, very pregnant, everyone seemed to speak another language, it was HOT and we didn’t drink sweet tea or eat grits!   Feeling stuck, frightened of another rash of devastating tornadoes and missing familiar faces, God brought into my life Erlene, a precious gift, right at the time He knew she was needed most.  Erlene; even her name sounded foreign to me!

From the very first day we met at church, Erlene took me under her wing by simply talking to me!  In her sweet voice that seemed to serenade as she spoke, I was introduced to other women and invited to a bible study.  There were days Erlene called on the phone to just talk and nights when she would invite me over to exercise along with frequent meals around their family table!  When the time came for Heather’s birth I didn’t worry about the older girls and where they would stay, she stepped in to help until my mother arrived. 

Our time as southerners was a short three years but Erlene has frequently been remembered at our table through the years when her Oatmeal Buttermilk Pancakes are served.  We have not been together since 1977 but we spoke to Erlene and her husband a few years back.  They are in their 80’s now, faithfully serving the Lord and their family together. 

Thank you, Erlene, for using your gifts to serve a young, out of place mother and her family!  You blessed me and all who watch your life reflect our gracious and loving God.

1 Peter 4:10-11
As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Oatmeal Buttermilk Pancakes

2 C quick oats, uncooked, 1/2 tsp. soda, 2 1/2 C buttermilk, 1C plain flour, 2 tsp. baking powder, 1 tsp. salt, 2 T sugar, 1/3C oil, 2 eggs, beaten.

Combine oats, soda and buttermilk, let stand 5 minutes.

Combine flour, baking powder, salt and sugar, add to oat mixture along with oil and eggs.  Stir until blended.

For each pancake, pour about 1/4C batter on hot, lightly greased griddle.  Bake to a golden brown turning only once.  Serve with hot butter and syrup.  Yield 14 to 16.

Early Birds

I am an Early Bird and always have been; never been a sleepy-head!   As our grandchildren are growing it’s been fun to see which ones like to sleep in and who wakes up at dawn.  The early birds are finding out that Grandma occasionally pops in unexpectedly for an Early Bird Breakfast!  Whoever is up catches the worm, well, more like pancakes!

This morning, while taking my husband, Arne, to the train at 6:00 we heard an octogenarian speak on Moody Radio.  His sparkling voice, which crackled with age now and then, grabbed our attention as he told of his life and views on the topic of ending life well.  He shared that as he lay in the hospital at 20 years old and facing cancer, he made the life-defining decision to let God have his whole life, every part of every day. 

Early Bird Luke

 
Arne looked at me and asked, “Did you hear what he said we need to do to end life well?”  Not knowing what Arne was thinking, and still groggy from just waking up, all I could come up with was, “What??”  “He told us to end life well we need to start life well; the earlier in life we choose Christ gets us off to a life-long course set to end well!” 

Is God an Early Bird?  I like to think He is!  He’s up every morning before us, but He still waits patiently throughout each day for us to desire Him and welcomes all who come to Him at any time.  But, to me, God is an Early Bird!  Choose Him early in life and early each day for a life well lived and a life well ended.

O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.    Psalms 63:1

05/16/12 - Welcome

Dear friends,


Blogging is new to me but talking to friends is not!  The last few years have brought circumstances into my life that blindsided me. Thankfully, a few dear friends encouraged me by just listening. Many of us “empty nesters”, “sandwich generation”, experiencing “boomerang kids” and more are wondering how to do life. We ask each other how to end well without wearing out! This blog is to encourage us by looking into the lives of aged women who have walked through these years with numerous harrowing experiences, yet they are lovely examples of women reflecting the grace and mercy of God.

Eventually I realized that these women ought to be shared with others. In my own personal struggles, people who I love and respect as believers in Christ chose to walk away from God and His ways. Waves of sadness and grief at times brought me so low that looking to God was my only way out. During all of these periods of wave after wave of melancholy, God brought some amazing older women into my life. One woman over 80 I met while swimming every morning before 7:00; others I had known for some time. All of these precious women encouraged me by sharing how they walked with God throughout their life; especially during some very dark days.

You are someone I would love to sit and chat with about your life and how God is working to show Himself through you. If you are experiencing doubt, sadness, and questions or are ready to give up entirely, perhaps these examples from older women and how they drew near to God for strength, wisdom and comfort will inspire as you see strength of character alive and active! I know for myself, as these women pointed me to Christ, they brought hope, dispelled my fears of walking away from my Lord and saved me from wallowing in self-pity and doubts.

I invite you to, “Laughing at Winter”, a blog for anyone searching for godly examples of women who have been in your shoes and never quit! I pray you will be blessed as I share what is on my heart and some of the best conversations I benefited from with encouraging and wise aged women of God who learned through living that we can fearlessly laugh at the winter years ahead!


Julie