A New Season.

Posted on by Mary

Hey friends! Long time no see. I’m so glad you are here. The last year has been full of new things. We graduated our first kiddo. (The second is over 10 days away from finishing her senior year.)

As a mom I have spent the last 19 (3 weeks shy of 20) years cheering on my kids and their passions. I’ve loved almost every minute of it AND I don’t plan on changing a bit of it!

But as we begin to grow into this new season of launching kids it’s been interesting to see how God has opened new doors for me. I stepped back from here for quite some time and now as we enter this new phase I’m excited to jump back into my little piece of the internet.

So let me introduce myself. I’m Mary. Wife to my pastor husband for nearly 22 years. We had 4 kids in 5 years and they are currently 19, 18, 17, and 15.

My favorite picture of us to date!

Our journey hasn’t been easy. There have been mountain top experiences and the darkest of valleys. But in the end God has used every experience to bring Him glory and we feel blessed he saw fit to use us!

So since it’s been a while I thought we could have a bit of fun. Here’s 35 fun things about me (not my family because that’s protected info around here).

  1. I enjoy rainy spring and summer days. I love the sound on our roof, and when Ron and I were in college we would love to take long walks in the rain.
  2. I do NOT like my feat to be wet.
  3. I’m NOT a Fan of Sand.
  4. Frogs (specifically poison dart frogs ) are my favorite.
  5. I LOVE SLOTHS!!!!
  6. I have directed roughly 13 plays.
  7. I love to work with teenagers.
  8. I have my certificate in biblical counseling and I’m almost finished with another set of classes.
  9. I enjoy leading games as in large group games for our Launch program (aka Youth group).
  10. I enjoy reading though I have to force myself to read fiction.
  11. I taught myself to paint.
  12. We have homeschooled kids for the last 4 years.
  13. I used to be afraid of silence but now I love it.
  14. We have 2 dogs and 3 cats.
  15. I have been to China and Japan.
  16. My favorite food is Pizza.
  17. My favorite Old Testament character is Esther. (though I’m connecting with David now on a different level).
  18. Favorite New Testament character is Paul.
  19. Top 3 songs on my playlist right now a) That’s Who I Praise by Brandon Lake b) What an Awesome God by Phil Wickham c) Up+Up by Colton Dixon
  20. I am a planner girl -if ya know you know!
  21. I have this thing for mugs!!!!
  22. Spring and summer are my favorite seasons.
  23. I have owned a blog for 18 years 😳
  24. I’m not afraid of snakes….I actually like holding them (poisonous snakes are a different story).
  25. In college I only wore 3 colors…black, navy, and gray. Today I enjoywearing other colors and my favorites are purple and green.
  26. My favorite flowers…..ok I like them all but I have to go with my wedding flowers tulips and lilacs.
  27. I’ve been visually impaired since I was 13. And with that I can’t drive.
  28. Uncle Tom’s Cabin tops my favorites reading list.
  29. Ron and I enjoy history and visiting Presidents homes.
  30. I enjoy movies made about authors.
  31. Heath bars are my favorite.
  32. #1 on the bucket list…..cuddle a sloth!!!!
  33. Favorite place I’ve visited is Nashville TN.
  34. I prefer the mountains.
  35. Hairy cows (aka miniature highlands) have been discussed.

So what can you expect while visiting my little corner?

A little bit of everything. The reality is it was once called Walking The Walk and then it changed to Walking By Faith but its still the same premise. This little space of mine is about my faith journey. Past, Present And Future. It’s not always pretty but it’s not really supposed to be. Jesus takes our mess and makes it his Message, but we have to let him. All of it, work, ministry, family, friends, writing, book reviews…….its all wrapped into my faith journey. I can’t separate Jesus from any of it!

I’m so glad you are joining me on this jouney. I’m excited to see where this new season takes us.

Blessings,

Mary

Dear Weary Mom: They Grow Up Far Too Fast 2.0

Posted on by Mary

I wrote this Dear Weary Mom post in January 2014. We had 4 kids ranging from almost 4 to 8 years old. I BLINKED!!!!! It’s been 10 years!!!

10 SUPER FAST YEARS!

In that original post I talked about them overcoming some hard things in 2013. To be honest I have NO IDEA what those hard things were because what I didn’t know when I penned those words was nothing held a candle to what was going to happen in September of 2014.

Hindsight is always 2020. As I look back over that post and I see the realization that “God has taught me to love my little sinners for who they are…not who I want them to become” Was the groundwork that was being laid to help my children through the mess that would consume us some 9 months later.

It’s good for us to document these things. So we can see how God led us or carried us through the sometimes thick muck of life. It’s why God instructed the Israelites to set up stones of remembrance. So they didn’t forget where they had come from…..and what God had brought them through.

Now my kids are 14 through 18. We are entering new phases of life almost everyday now it seems. Today I find myself weary not from hard things at the moment but busyness that 4 active teenagers bring. Sports, worship team practice, friendships, acts of service, jobs and all the things that come from a graduating senior life speeds by. The realizations that I will have a graduating senior every year for the next three years is not lost on me and that makes me feel WEARY.

I’m so incredibly thankful for that lesson 10 years ago to meet them where they are. It’s something I try to hold onto each and everyday.

Even in my weariness of all the busyness and happy chaos. (and sometimes the not so happy chaos) I know that Jesus is the hope that gets me through.

You can check out all my Dear Weary Mom posts here.

This post series is based on a book called Hope for the Weary Mom. This book literally saved me from myself. It’s words of hope and truth from God’s word helped me to be the mom I am today!

2023 Books List

Posted on by Mary

Hey friends. I hope you are having a great week. I’ve been wrapping up my 2023 planner and I was counting up the books I read in 2023.

I was impressed considering the year we had and as I looked back over the books I read in 2023 they really did symbolize a whole lot of personal growth. Some of which I fought tooth and nail because it went against how my brain works.

This year I also started my book review journey again. Which I really hope to continue this year as well. Later this week I will share my plan for books in 2024!

Here are the books I completed in 2023

  • Perfectionism
  • Winnie the Pooh
  • Resilient (Review book)
  • Who stole my cheese?
  • Becoming Elisabeth Elliot
  • On Getting out of Bed (Review book)
  • The Great Divorce
  • Book Girl
  • The House at Pooh Corner
  • On Cleaning House While Drowning
  • Tips to Romance Your Husband
  • Tips to Romance your Wife
  • Dwell (Review book)
  • Becoming Free Indeed
  • Find your People
  • The 6 Working Geniuses
  • Shepherding a Child’s Heart
  • The Pray Better Devotional (Review Book)
  • Courageous Creative
  • Untapped church
  • Share Your Story

The Romancing your husband and wife books hubby and I read together when we attended a Marriage conference back in March of 2023. We alternated pages and commented on the ideas given in the book.s. It was a great communication moment to share what we liked and didn’t like!

My to 2 favorite books of 2023 was

1) Share Your Story

2) Becoming Elisabeth Elliot (Not gonna lie I’m super excited for reading the sequel to this book later this year)

I can’t wait to share with you the goals and plan for 2024!

What were your favorite reads from 2023?

Patient Endurance

Posted on by Mary

Every year I pick a word (or words ) for the year. Then in the weeks after the new year starts I write a blog post that starts like this, “Well that’s not what I intended” This year is no different. Except for one thing.. After June of this year I lost sight of my words. PATIENT ENDURANCE! Or at least I thought I did. Over the last few weeks I have beat myself up because I hadn’t’t made any progress in Patient Endurance…or at least so I thought.

I have these two amazing women in my life who have supported me on my writing journey for a number of years now, but it’s not just my writing journey really it’s life!! It’s not just one sided either. We lift each other up. Sometimes they ask hard questions to push me into next steps.

Well back in June my amazing friends asked me if I heard anything about “our case”. Our case was just a few short months shy of 9 years long. It’s had been a roller coaster ride of “soon but not yet” answers.

I told them no because Hubby.s phone had been stolen a year earlier and that was the only contact with the U.S. Attorney we had. Periodically we would do a google search for the guys name to See if the trial had happened. It was the same old news articles so over time I just gave up checking. For whatever reason that day when Beth asked- I felt drawn to search again .

This time was different…i stumbled on an FBI posting I had never come across before. I OPENED THE ARTICLE…it was pretty much just like the others BUT THIS TIME it had a U.S.Attorney.s name AND phone number. I closed my phone I got up from my bed. I was shaking. In my head and heart echoed CALL. I went to leave my room. I glanced back to my bed and the phone that laid in the middle of it. I walked back, hands shaking, I picked up the phone and I clicked on the link My phone dialed than rang.

My chest was pounding all I was looking for was a simple answer…..yes or no. That’s it. I got more than I bargained for. The answer was NO the trial hadn’t happened yet. I got transferred to a really nice lady. . D basically told me that if the attorney wanted to talk to us she would call us by the end of the week. I hung up…..shaing worse than when I started this. At least we had a date…END OF AUGUST.

Can you guess what happened at the end of the week? A big fat NOTHING! We let it go like all the other times and we just kept doing the everyday. Until two weeks later. I was at church after a day of ministry and meetings and I can’t remember where hubby was off to but I was sitting fat his desk using a charger when my phone rang. It was a blocked number. I almost didn’t answer, but something said Pick up. So I did.

The U.S. Attorney introduced herself and I nearly fell off the chair in shock. The details I learned from that phone call made me ill. I felt like I could throw up. I also learned more about the FBI and Federal Court system that I never wanted to know. At the end of the phone call she asked how I felt about the kids testifying? We may need them to. By this time I was outside of our church and I had just walked inside and two staff members had joined me…but they had no idea shat I was about to tell them.

I was in shock. The ball was in motion…..we would be involved and I had major regrets for ever making that call. We didn’t change our plans. We didn’t tell the kids yet. We ended our homeschool year, 3 kids went to work at Camp, hubby and I had phone meetings and even went to a meeting in the Federal building where our phones were confiscated. We went with a friend who had walked a similar path. Her words to and from were soothing to hubby and I. The laughter was healing. There would only be a sentencing…..no trial. (there will be another post on that subject) Sentencing was moved (as expected) . It moved from the end of August til the end of September. We started school. We went on vacation with friends. Ron and I left for a Pastors and Wives retreat. We left one week to the day before we were to appear in court.

Everyone else was having a great time…..we on the other hand had a job to do. Four victim impact statements had to be written. Hubby and I would take breaks and hike the trails around the retreat center. There is one trail I didn’t think I could do. It was steep….so very steep and I had killed my ankle and knee in June and I had not fully healed and the rocks that cover those Pennsylvania mountains were brutal.

Upon the encouragement of our teaching pastor who was also at the retreat we decided to hike the yellow trail Thursday morning. It was tough. I was in pain, it was a hard climb because for 3 months had babied my left leg. BUT IM INCREDIBLY STUBBORN AND I DONT GIVE UP EASILY. It took us way longer than it should have but as we reached the summit in the middle of the Poconos my phone rang. It shouldn’t have…..i shouldn’t have had reception. It was D. Our advocate. She informed us that our kids didn’t need to come and that none of us had to testify. None of us would have to stare at him in the face. Hubby and I could read our victim impact statements and that would be it.

We hugged and cried and cried and hugged. That climb was so very symbolic of those last nine years (we passed the anniversary the grinning of September) it was rocky, tricky and sometimes straight up. We had each others backs Then coming back down the very steep side I literally had to lean on hubby.

I look back on that time in September and yes in the months surrounding those events I may have dropped some balls. I may have lost track of some things and forgotten stuff but in the middle of all that we came out the other side maybe a little ruffled but we had our faith and our family intact and we had this amazing group of people who really acted as our Aaron and Hur. They held up our arms in some of the craziest times. Some of them even went to court with us. They sat with us, held our hands rubbed our backs and sobbed with us our words…..our testimonies of Gods grace and forgiveness were heard not only by the man who hurt us but also a judge, attorneys, and US Marshalls who sat in that court room.

As for the patient endurance I look back on The last year and from July through the end of the year I may have fallen short and dropped the ball in some areas but in hindsight we patiently endured 9 years. Waiting. There were lots of “Soon but not yet” Moments. The waiting is over. It was hard but the idea of endurance eludes to hard work. As much as I felt like I was failing I wasn’t. We ran that 9 year marathon. We kept our eyes on Jesus and we served with all of our hearts. We could have hid and licked our wounds. We could have protected ourselves and not let anyone in. We could have lived in fear. We could have said no to the Attorney. B. Instead we didn’t run that race for ourselves but for Jesus. We let Jesus shine through.gh the pain. That’s who we kept our eyes on. Patient Endurance isn’t always pretty it will sometimes be messy. That’s where Jesus comes in. He makes the messy beautiful!

Next week I will share my word for this year.

Bits and Pieces

Posted on by Mary

I know it’s been a long time and very sporatic at bestl

I’ve opened the app and the site sat and stared not knowing where to begin. I want my writing to be impactful and full of purpose but in the same respect I have just lost the joy of writing in this space like when I started writing here nearly 17 years ago.

A few weeks ago I really started contemplating why this was. it came down to a few things. Those things are:

l. When I started blogging it was simple. It was just me and my thoughts and a computer. Now when I write l create an image l fill out SEO stuff and I get lost in the tiny details. It’s all necessary and important but those details drastically suck the joy out of the writing process for me.

2. The expectations of my own writing and the perceived expectations of others. Over time as my writing has changed and growsn I seem to think that every writing piece needs to resemble some big work of spiritual art. The reality is that can’t always happen. Some days are yucky and Hard. I have nothing profound to say just the realness of my heart. THAT has been criticized in the past. There are people who didn’t like my being real with where I was. (That’s about to change). Keeping up of appearances is one of the things that needs to change, especially amongst Christians. God writes our story. He helps us through it and yet we don’t tell the how. We just put on a smile and say “Im all good” and no one is any the wiser, and the work of God in our hearts, minds and lives goes unused to help that person who may be having sleepless nights, falling tears and loneliness.

3. Criticism. I’ve said it before and I will say it again. I struggle with people pleasing and I have done a whole lot of recovering from that over the last two years. This past September I had to write a victim impact statement which got turned in to a federal court judge. A few days later I found myself sitting in a Federal Court before that same judge next to one of the most obnoxious defense attorneys. I read my statement. What happened next was…..frustrating to say the least. More criticism. I’m going to write more about this in the coming months. Walking away from that day I said well if I can face that nothing will phase me. Still……I chose silence.

I’m sure if I sat here I could think of a bunch more things. But those are the Bigs ones. I gave up on the things that I loved and that made me feel the most alive and connected to God. So now what?

For now Im going back to what worked at the very beginning. Bits and pieces of my life shared. Thoughts, questions fun pictures. Some days I won’t use SEO. Some days I will just write to heal, write to breathe, write to process. I’m not writing for you the reader. If along the way you like what Ive written….GREAT! If along the way God uses what I have written to impact you in some way…..AMHAZING. IF GOD USES MY WRITING TO HELP YOU GROW CLOSER TO HIM…..PRAISE HIM. In the meantime I will be sitting over here sipping my coffee, praying, reading and enjoying the process

Thanks for joining me on my journey of faith.