Have you ever been in conversation with someone where you shared what God was asking you to do? Once you finished sharing, they looked at you with unbelief. Like they couldn't understand why God would ask you to do that? This happened to me recently. I was talking with a friend a few weeks ago and shared what God had told my family to do. She looked at me like it was the most outlandish thing for God to say. I know in her heart she didn’t mean anything by it. But in that moment, the enemy started to work and plant little seeds of doubt in my mind. I started to question if I really heard God right. Did he really tell me what I thought he was telling me? I wasn't so sure anymore. So I went to God in prayer and asked him to bring clarity to this situation. To show me that I heard him correctly. My prayer was answered as I read 1 Kings 13. In this chapter, God gives a man of the Lord a word to share with King Jeroboam. After he shares the Word from the Lord and a few other things happen, which you should definitely read, the king asks the man to eat and drink with him. The man of the Lord basically tells the king that God told him not to eat bread, drink water, or go back the way he came. The man of the Lord left, and later a prophet saw him under a tree and told him to go with him to eat. The man of the Lord told him what the Lord had told him about not eating or drinking or returning the way that he came. The prophet tells the man that an angel said to him by way of the Lord to take him back to his house to eat and drink. This prophet was lying to the man. No angel appeared to him and told him these things. The man of the Lord trusted the prophet, believed what he said, and ultimately died because of it. It sounds harsh, but I think God is showing us how important His word is and how important it is to obey what He says. This was just the clarity I needed. I know what God told me to do. I know it doesn't make sense to some people, but I am learning that the words that God speaks to us matter more than any words that others can say to us. That includes the looks they give us. God's Word trumps all. What God tells us in His word is true, and we shouldn't go against it. God also speaks to his people through the Holy Spirit. When God tells us to do something despite what someone else says, we should ALWAYS do it. What God tells us will never contradict the Bible. God may be telling you to do something that seems crazy to those around you. They may try to talk you out of it, but stand firm because they don't have the whole story as God does. God knows the plans he has for you; others don't. Now I do want to say that I believe that God can speak to us through someone else. He does want us to listen to wisdom and discernment from others; that is why He gives us community. But what others say should never replace what God told us. This may also remind you of Adam and Eve. The enemy started to cause doubt in Eve's mind about what God truly said. Instead of listening to God and what He told her, she was influenced and stopped trusting Him. Because of her lack of trust, she would end up dying. I want to encourage you to trust God and what He has told you to do. He won't steer you wrong. He knows exactly where you are going. It might seem like a wild thing to do, but God has a reason for you going on that crazy journey. Trust Him!

There I am—riding along with giant headphones, dirt bike goggles, and worship music in my ears—mowing row after row in our yard. I’m the grass cutter in our family. Yes, it's me. Most days I love it…unless it’s summer, when Florida heat makes it a little less bearable. I love the smell of fresh-cut grass. I love the quiet rhythm of it. Mowing gives me space to be alone with my thoughts—to reflect, to pray, and to feel that satisfying sense of accomplishment when the yard goes from wild jungle to clean and orderly oasis. One day, I was mowing the grass during love bug season. If you are from Florida, you know that love bug season is not as fun as it may sound. The love bugs will be everywhere. They especially seem to be drawn to cars —the cars don't love them back. This past season, the love bugs seemed to have multiplied. As I mowed, they were all around me. In this one section, they were swarming around me in a thick cloud of bugs that seemed to follow me down each row. I got this picture of who God is. He is always with us—surrounding us with His love and protection. We are never fully alone. Even when we can’t physically see Him, He is there, fighting for us and shielding us from harm. That's why I loved this visual so much: it felt like I could actually see His presence through this representation of love bugs. We can't see His presence like the love bugs, but knowing that He is always there gives me peace. It reassures me that no matter what, I can trust Him to be with me, making the scariest moments less overwhelming. As I kept mowing, the love bugs started flying into my face and my arms, and it honestly felt like an attack. That reminded me of something else: just as God surrounds us, the enemy also likes to attack us. The enemy will come and try to attack us, but this is a beautiful reminder that even when we are under spiritual attack, when we are in the valley, we are never alone. We are never fighting the battle alone. God is right there. He is surrounding us. He is protecting us. The bugs did fly into my face and on my arms, but they didn't make it to where I had to stop mowing the row of grass I was on. Did they make it more challenging to see as I mowed? Yes! I could still see the path I was on and keep moving forward. The enemy may try to blur our vision and throw us off the path God has for us, but God is there with us through every attempt. He will help us to continue to see the path He set before us. We have to keep moving forward and trusting in Him. I can't think of anything that brings me more comfort or peace than knowing my Heavenly Father is always fighting for me. I pray that you experience this comfort and peace in your life this week, especially if you have felt under attack. " I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Psalm 91:2 Blessings, Stephanie

Have you ever walked on a familiar trail and, at one point, the path seemed unfamiliar? Like you took a wrong turn. It looked completely different from what you remembered or expected. Only you knew you took the right path. This happened to me recently while I was on a walk with my dogs. I decided to walk my dogs on the trail in the opposite direction. It felt unfamiliar at first. As we kept walking and passed some of the known landmarks, like the tree in the middle of the path, I realized — I wasn't lost. The plants were facing a new way. The path even seemed to wind in a way that felt like I was on a new trail. Not because it was a new trail, but because the path looked completely different coming from the opposite way. It's interesting because it is the same trail, but coming at it from a different direction made the path seem a bit unknown. Like I was somewhere I hadn't been before. It was a new experience. God revealed to me on this walk that this is how life can be at times. Sometimes the path we are on can look a little different than we expected. We can get frustrated and disappointed with what is going on in our lives. We don't always understand why something blocks the way, or why the next turn isn't the one we expected. God knows why our path is going the direction it is. If we knew what the whole journey would look like, we'd walk it differently. But we don't, and so our perspective changes as we go. I believe God intentionally uses these moments to develop our character, grow our faith, and teach us to trust Him. We are given the opportunity to change our perspective on how our journey is changing. I think sometimes our perspective has to change with where we are, and that can't happen if we know what the journey will look like. Part of our spiritual growth comes through the maturity that develops as we encounter different twists and turns, trusting God's plan every step of the way. While walking that same trail, I realized something. When our path changes, has curves, obstacles, delays- it's easy to fall into a negative mindset. We can be discouraged by not understanding or being able to see the entire way. I've been reading the book of Acts recently. In Acts 23 God tells Paul that he would testify about Him in Rome. Paul isn't told exactly what that journey would look like to get there. We find out in Acts 27 that Paul sails to Rome as a prisoner. After reading that chapter, I looked over at my notes and saw that I wrote, "Sometimes the route to get to where God wants us to go is different than what we expected. Paul didn't expect to get to Rome as a prisoner." We can see that Paul just continues on the journey, trusting that God would get him to Rome. Our path can look unexpected like Paul's did. Sometimes God gives us little pieces of information about our path and sometimes he doesn't. We just have to trust in God's plans. These Bible verses help remind me to trust God and his plans for my life. "For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." Proverbs 3:5 God sees the whole trail. He knows everything that we will encounter along the way. When I look at my situation from this perspective, I find hope. This shift brings me peace and gives me the strength to keep walking. I wonder if you have experienced moments where shifting your view changed your feelings about a situation. It can be really hard to be on a path that is going differently than you expected. Whatever you are going through, I know it is hard and probably not what you planned. Your path now looks different, and you don't know how you will get to the other side. What God is showing me is that it isn't about knowing where the path is taking me or being able to see all the obstacles along the way. It's about trusting God to take me where I need to be, knowing He will be walking beside me the whole way.

Hey Hey, Have you ever felt that God was calling you to do something, but it took you a while to be obedient? My most recent project has been in the works for several years. God actually laid it on my heart when I was doing the Armor of God Bible study by Priscilla Shirer with some friends. One of the questions at the end of the section we were reading asked, "What do you feel like God is calling you to do right now?" I didn't know, so I prayed about it, and when I did, I heard that whisper to start a podcast. If you know me, then you probably know that a podcast is the last thing I would want to do. For one, I actually don't like my voice. I grew up in the South, and the southern twang in my voice has kind of annoys me. I don't like listening to my own voice at all. I would much rather be behind the screen writing words. Second, I am an introvert, and it can be hard for me to reach out to people I don't know. I like staying in my cozy little corner and being comfortable. I'm really finding that God doesn't like us to be too comfortable, because it is in that comfort zone that we become stagnant. We aren't growing. Starting a podcast was waaaayy outside of my comfort zone. So I prayed and asked God what the podcast would be about, and it was this: people sharing stories about how they have stepped out in faith to do what God has called them to do. After hearing this and writing it down in our book, I really battled with whether to share it. Sharing would mean recognizing that the words were from God and would hold me accountable for pursuing them. When my group was sharing and they asked me, I hesitated -- but ultimately shared. They, of course, were super supportive of the idea and were all in the first season of the podcast. So I dove right in, started researching, and tried to figure out how to do the podcast thing. I even bought the equipment. I was determined to do what God asked. I was going to be brave. Even though I did have some doubts about my abilities, I felt God affirming this podcast through conversations with people, conferences, and church services. BUT... There were some setbacks. Timing with my planned co-host just wasn't working out. The doubts really started to creep in, and I let the timing with my co-host serve as an excuse to keep me from actively pursuing these plans. All the while, I could still hear God telling me to make the podcast. Finally, after a couple of years of my equipment collecting dust, I started piecing the podcast together. God gave me my wonderful co-host's name, and the Acts of Faith Podcast began. We started recording last fall. Starting something new is scary and hard. Tech is not my area of expertise, so figuring out how to record and edit was challenging. The process ended up taking a lot more time than I ever thought it would. We had to navigate technological challenges. Sometimes our programs wouldn't work, and we would end up recording on our phones so the guest wouldn't have to come back. Scheduling guests for times that worked for both their schedules and ours got complicated at times. We battled doubts because we didn't always know what we were doing. There were times we didn't even know who our guests would be. But...God showed up. He provided guests and helped us navigate the other podcasting details. Sometimes we would pray for a guest, and that same day we would get a text from someone who said yes. Sometimes our edits would get lost, and then they would show up again. God always made it possible for us to record. It has been hard, and oh so rewarding. The way God shows up in people's stories is such a reminder of His character. He is sovereign. He is our protector. He is our provider. He is our healer. He is our comforter. He is our peace. God is good! It's interesting because the stories I thought would be told weren't necessarily the ones shared. One thing we wanted to do with the podcast was make sure that we didn't tell people what to talk about. We wanted the Holy Spirit to lead people. I found that the stories being told were giant acts of faith, but really were people acting in faith in their daily lives. I think we need to be encouraged by the big acts of faith God is calling us to, but also by the day-to-day acts of faith when we are in the valley and need to trust God. Being part of these guests getting the opportunity to share their faith and how God showed up for them has been such an honor. This podcast has grown my faith so much by showing me God's love for His people. It has given me the strength and courage to keep going. I want to encourage you to step out in faith and do what God is calling you to do. It may seem weird and ridiculous, but God has a purpose for you and the action He is asking you to take. I would love to hear about what your act of faith will be. We have some great guests in our first season, and we will have season 2 in the fall, and I can't wait. We hope you will listen. You can click the Acts of Faith graphic above to listen. Shannon and Stephanie

Hey Hey! It's been a while since I posted, and I wanted to let you know why. The first half of this year has been crazy, with other things claiming my attention. I had to step back from the blog to work on a different project I felt God was calling me to do. It took a lot more time and effort than I ever thought it would. I am going to share more about that project in the next blog entry. I am so excited to share it with you. If you are reading this, you may already know, but I'm sharing it anyway. This summer, I am taking a break from that project and am reclaiming my little writer's corner. I never truly stopped; I just haven't posted the things I've written. I honestly almost gave up writing on this blog. The other project's timeline made it seem I couldn't do both. However, I got some advice from another writer, in her writing course, thanks to Hannah Brencher, that really reminded me to keep going. Once I decided to keep going, I realized something that has bothered me ever since I started this blog: the name. I loved the meaning behind Three 4 Tea, but I didn't really feel that it fully captures what my writing is about. So I prayed about the name and immediately had an answer, hence the name change to Live the Day His Way. This change more so reflects how I want to live my life. "Live the day His way" is something I say to my kids every morning before they get out of the car to go to school. It is the last part of our prayer, help us to live the day His way. Ultimately, this is something I want to do every single day. I want to live the day God has given me the way He wants me to live it. Often my plans for the day don't align with His. I've learned that His plans are always better. When I keep trying to force my will for the day, it just ends up turning into an awful mess. Through this blog, I share what God is doing and sharing with me in order to try to be more like Him and less like me. I hope you enjoy hearing what God is sharing with me and that it encourages you in some way. Stay tuned next time for what I have been working on.

I love to go for walks in nature. I am not a runner, I prefer a faster paced walk. I joke that I want to be a power walker when I am older. I actually really do. I just need to work on my form more. Sometimes I take my two miniature dachshunds with me for a little adventure. When they know we are going for a walk, they get so excited to get there. Once we are there, they are right at the door and window, trying to hop out as soon as I open the door. Rocky and Eevee on a Walk THE STANDOFF Something changes between the time the door opens and when we reach the trailhead. My oldest dachshund, Eevee, will all of a sudden stop walking. She refuses to go down the trail. So there I am, standing on one end of the leash while she has it extended on the other side as far as it will go. We are at a standoff. She no longer wants to go, and I am trying to convince her that it will be as fun as last time. Eevee trying to go back the way we came. I know once we get down the trail, she will be trotting along with her tongue hanging out and a big grin on her face. I know that she will enjoy the walk, but she has forgotten that this walk with me will be enjoyable. Instead, she is so focused on the unfamilar smells and what we might run into. Will there be an animal or a person? She is letting fear keep her from the joy that will come on the walk. Last time this happened, as I was pulling on one end of the leash and Eevee on the other, the Holy Spirit shared with me that this is exactly how we as people can be. God will ask us to do something, and at first we are excited and eager to be obedient. But then, when we start to do what He asked, we see all the things that could go wrong and we freeze up. We start to question everything that God asked us to do. What if there are wild animals or snakes? If you know me, you know that I am terrified of snakes, and no snake is a good snake in my mind. I have actually come across snakes during my walks that are covering the width of the path, and do you know what I do? I do not just keep going past them or in the grass around them. Nope, not happening! I turn around and walk back the way I came. That is what fear and obstacles can do. These challenges can convince us that fleeing is safer than the actual obedience of walking the path with God. We start to try to take back control of the leash and pull ourselves back to where we think it is safe. Maybe you can relate. STAY ON THE PATH When we are walking with God and are being obedient to His calling, we run into things along the way that are scary and challenging—things that the enemy hopes will have us turn around and go back to the start. Truthfully, he hopes that those fears and challenges will keep us from ever getting on the path again. So in this moment, when we experience fear and challenges during our walk, much like my dog, there we are with God on one end of the leash holding, while we are at the start pulling tight, trying to go back to what we know—what is comfortable. At this moment, we are in a tug of war. I know Eevee will enjoy it more at the end of the walk, but she has to get over the hurdles and start walking again. What I tend to forget is that God knows what’s on our walk and what is waiting for us at the end of the walk. What is there to fear when the One who knows everything about this walk will be with us the entire way? It can be so hard to remember that He is with us. We aren’t walking alone. Remembering that He has gone before us and He is with us during the walk helps us continue to stay on the path and not run back to where we started. When we have fear and obstacles with something God has asked us to do, we need to let out some slack and give control back to God. We need to keep walking, letting God lead us through our walk. On the walk and she is having a good time. Tongue is out! Praying that you have the faith to keep walking, friend!

Back in January, I was reading the book of Matthew when God gave me a visual I want to share with you. Think about your favorite tea or coffee mug—the one you can’t get rid of. Maybe it’s like mine: it looks great on the outside, but on the inside it has stains and even a few cracks. That cup is a lot like us. When the outside looks fine Sometimes we try to fill our lives with all the “right” things: going to church on Sundays joining a group volunteering listening to worship music Those are good things. They matter. But if that’s all we do, we can still miss what matters most. The visual God gave me As I read Matthew 23:24–25, this picture became so clear: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First, clean the inside of the cup and plate, so that the outside may also be clean.” The Pharisees and scribes looked like they knew God. On the outside, everything appeared right. And if we’re honest, we can do the same. We can fill our “cup” with things that make us look put-together—like we have it all together and like we know God—while the inside stays untouched. What can happen if we’re not careful Instead of letting God heal what’s inside—our sins, our hurts, our cracks—good activities can become a cover. We stay busy doing things for God, but we neglect being with God. Serving, volunteering, and going to church were never meant to replace a real relationship with Him. It’s like creamer in coffee: it’s meant to enhance what’s already there, not take the place of the coffee itself. In the same way, all the good things we do are meant to support our relationship with God—not substitute for it. Relationship first Max Lucado recently said (I’m paraphrasing) that God isn’t impressed by everything we can do. He wants relationship. He wants us to seek Him. Matthew 6:33 says: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Our relationship with God has to come first. That means making time to sit with Him: in His Word in worship in prayer Like any relationship, it takes time and effort. We make time for what matters most. And when we spend time with the Lord, He speaks to us. He begins to heal . He starts repairing the cracks and cleaning the stains on the inside. From the inside out So let’s not settle for looking like we know God. Let’s actually know Him. Let’s spend time with Him—so our cup can be clean from the inside out.

For as long as I can remember, I've always wanted a large window over my kitchen sink with a beautiful view outside. When we did a showing at our current house, I was so excited when I saw the kitchen window overlooking the yard. I could imagine seeing my kids playing outside as I cooked dinner. When part of your view is watching you. This is Gates. A Window to Nature's Wonders I had no idea the views that I would see out that window. When I look out, I see blue jays and cardinals flying from tree to tree. Our dogs love to run around and chase these birds, creating a comical scene. The squirrels scurry up and down the trees, hopping from one to another as if they are in a game of tag. Every morning, the sun rises on this side of the house. I get to witness the sky transform into various cotton candy pink and blue swirls while preparing breakfast and lunch. It’s a gentle reminder that God has given us a new day and shared His creativity with us. The Magic of Oak Trees In our yard, there are some majestic oak trees. If you look out at just the right time of day, you can see the sun shining through these trees, making it seem like heaven is shining down on this place. My favorite view is when I see my husband and kids playing outside together. They engage in their own baseball, frisbee, and football games. I love watching their smiling faces turn red with exertion as they dash from one base to another, trying to make it home before Dad catches them. My boys often team up, determined to beat their dad. Even our dogs join the fun, racing around the bases to keep up with their human besties. The sight of my family playing together is one of my favorite things. It brings a smile to my face every time I watch them outside. I see my husband engaged in our kids' lives, and I cherish those moments of bonding. The View Isn't Always Perfect But life isn't always picture-perfect. Sometimes, the view is less serene. Fingerprints and smudges streak the glass, reminders of my son's seed projects and our cat that comes to say hello each morning. This window is also where I witness my kids screaming at each other because one of them cheated in the game. They stomp toward the house, crying, or sometimes they get so angry that they wrestle each other in the yard. Finding Joy in the Chaos Though the view might be messy, it is in these moments that we have the opportunity to find joy and see God's beauty. Sometimes, we can get so caught up in the negative that we fail to see the great wonder right in front of us. We might miss the amazing views that God has placed before us when we focus too much on the negative moments. We often let those negative moments linger, smearing and blurring our perspective of the world around us. Yet, there is still beauty in the messy and chaotic moments. We just might need to look a little closer to see them. Despite all the fights I witness through that window, it remains the most beautiful spot in my house. When we bought this home, I didn’t fully grasp what a glorious gift that window would be or how much joy it would bring me. It has provided me with awareness and hope. I get to see glimpses of God through His creations. Gratitude for Every Moment No matter what I see outside my window—joy or chaos—I am grateful for these moments. They remind me of the beauty of family life and the lessons we learn along the way. What do you see from your window? I would love to hear about it in the comments. Enjoy your tea, and I'll talk to you next time. ---wix---

Jan 1st brings about a blank page in our book, a new chapter if you will. It's a chance to rewrite some of our story -- or is it? Maybe it's an opportunity to make our story even better! Are you someone that sets resolutions, creates a vision board or maybe has a word you focus on for the year? Maybe you don't do any of these. Last year I had a word that I focused on and it really was something that I worked to live out throughout the year. It guided my decisions and helped me to stay focused. But this year, I'm approaching the year differently. I am giving myself permission to set some long term goals instead of trying to make them fit into a 12 month period. This year, I am trying to focus on progressing on these dreams. Like completing some projects that I've been working on, eating more protein, and limiting my phone use. You see, it isn't that I don't have a plan to achieve these goals or that I don't want to achieve them this year. I'm actually a recovering perfectionist and I used to get really down on myself for not completing my resolutions within that year. Over time I've realized that some resolutions may take more time than we plan or expect to come to fruition. Sometimes there are things beyond our control that can limit the achievement of these goals in this single year. I refuse to let circumstances get me down or make me feel like I have to give up on my goals, just because December 31st arrived. If I reach the end of 2026 knowing that I kept showing up -- even when it was hard, even when the progress wasn't noticeable or seemed impossible -- that perseverance will be worth celebrating. That's not to say that you can't have resolutions in a set time frame. I just know focusing on progress is what works better for me. That's the beauty of it, you don't have to do what everyone else is doing. You get to decide what works best for you. What about you? Are you a resolutions, words, or flexible goals person? Have you set any for this year? What are you doing differently this year? Tell me in the comments. :) Happy Tea (or coffee) Drinking, Stephanie

As Christmas quickly approaches, I am beginning to reflect on the different parts of the season.  Growing up, we didn’t have a lot of Christmas traditions. We always went to both of my grandmothers' houses on Christmas Day. We would string popcorn and wrap it around the tree as garland. One thing I really enjoyed as a kid was getting to open a Christmas gift on Christmas Eve. We didn’t have much money, but there was something exciting about opening one gift early. Even though, I loved that tradition, I’ve never actually carried it over into my own family. I'm not sure why. Maybe it is because I have this quirky unspoken rule for myself--I can only open gifts on the actual day of the event. Whether it's my birthday, Mother’s Day, Christmas, opening a gift early just feels wrong to me. I don’t know, maybe I am the only one who feels that way. I'm not sure you'd call this a tradition, but I did it every year. I'm sure I'm not the only one. I was the kid who loved pretending to be a Christmas present detective. I'd pick up my gifts, do a little shake, and try to guess what was inside. It was like solving a mystery, and I must say, I was pretty good at it. Either that, or my mom was just that predictable with her gifts! I'll stick with the idea that my detective skills were top-notch. Ha ha.  It is interesting to see the traditions we keep and those we let go of as we get older.  One of my favorite Christmas traditions as an adult is attending Christmas Eve service. My favorite part is when the lights are turned off and the candles are lit one by one, while voices around me begin to sing "Silent Night." There's always such a calming peace that surrounds me as I stand in awe. On this one night, people come together to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Son of God.  Over the years, I've learned that traditions can change. The things we did with our kids when they were little aren't always the same as what we do now that they're older. We will keep some traditions for a lifetime and others may be for a season. Sometimes, a tradition we once loved can become difficult to continue, or a new tradition we hoped would be wonderful turns out different than we expected. At the end of the day, it's important to ask ourselves what truly matters and what we want to gain from that tradition. If it no longer serves its purpose then it may be time to move on. Letting go of a tradition that isn't working can be hard, but it can also open the door to new possibilities. If you've been struggling through a tradition and just haven't let it go yet, I am giving you the gift of permission. Permission to let go of that tradition that has become more hassle than beneficial. It is okay to let go and move on. Our traditions can change and grow with us.  When everything else is changing and moving fast, one thing remains the same, JESUS. And isn’t that so beautiful? As we continue to move through the Christmas season, let's be mindful of the traditions that are truly benefiting our families. What are some of your favorite traditions? I would love to hear them.

I don’t know about you, but I have been one of those people who set high expectations for how I think the Christmas season will go. I picture all the things that I plan going perfectly—kind of like a TV movie. My husband laughs at me and tells me that my expectations are set too high. And don’t tell him that I said this, but he is right.  At Christmas, I picture the smiles and laughter as we drive around seeing Christmas lights while drinking hot chocolate. Everyone is in a great mood, and it is the best time. All the Christmas cookies that we bake will turn out delicious and look like they came from a professional bakery. Our gingerbread house, of course, looks like we made it from scratch and is so well decorated that it could be in a magazine. Expectation My kids will love every activity I have planned and will not complain one bit. There will be plenty of time in our calendar for all the things. I imagine the giant smiles and the thank yous we will receive on Christmas morning. The gifts that we put so much thought, effort, and money into will be appreciated. Everyone will love Christmas dinner. Then we will go see family, where there will be big giant hugs, and everyone gets along and spends quality time connecting. We will feel fulfilled at the end of the season. I know some of you are rolling your eyes and laughing at me right now, and I am laughing at myself as I type this because I know how ridiculous it sounds. Still, every year I find myself getting a little disappointed in how everything went.  As much as I want it to, nothing goes as I expect it to. At Christmas time in Florida, it is too hot for hot chocolate. My cookies never look as gorgeous as those from a bakery. Our calendar gets so full that it is hard to relax and enjoy. Oh, that Christmas present you thought they would love, they look at it with a partial smile and toss it in the pile with the rest, and then play with the box it came in. Reality. Still fun and delicious! Don't get me started on the meal. Yeah, it's the roll and the dessert that they eat. The gingerbread house is falling apart because the icing isn't strong enough to hold up the sides and it looks like there was a candy explosion in my kitchen. The surprising, though not really, is that there is always fighting and complaining.  Maybe that is what you really pictured when I was describing my expectations, because if we are really honest, we know that it isn't going to go perfectly or even exactly like we thought it would. Somehow we can still get disappointed and upset when they turn out differently than we expected. So how do we navigate this Christmas season so that we aren’t left feeling disappointed, exhausted, and unfulfilled? Changing High Expectations into Flexible Moments If we are putting all this hope into a perfect Christmas season, then we will be majorly disappointed when things go awry because they can and will.  My husband tells me to lower my expectations, and I think that can be helpful in some circumstances. However, it doesn’t matter what I do; I always set high expectations. So I have to be intentional about making sure that my focus is on the right things. Asking myself what the purpose is of the activity helps me to keep in mind what matters most to me and my family. Are we making cookies to create a lasting memory of connection and fun, or are we doing it to make the finals in a baking competition?? If, at the end of the day, we are connecting, then it doesn't really matter how the cookies look? Something else that helps me is to remind myself to be flexible with the plans. If it is too hot for hot chocolate, then we grab milk shakes instead. My kids didn’t want to go see Christmas lights last year, but I did, so we went to a fun park with lights that they would enjoy, and I would still see the lights. I also like to try to see the good in the scenario. The box that is being played with, instead of the toy, is their creativity and imagination at work. I’m still working on the good in fighting and arguing. If you've figure that out, let me know. haha. I think it is also important to remember to laugh at yourself and the sometimes overly ridiculous situation. Like is imperfect and can be really messy. Leave the Christmas Season More Fulfilled Many times, we can leave the holiday season feeling empty. Sometimes, we put our focus on all the activities and fun surrounding Christmas and forget why we are celebrating Christmas in the first place.  Christmas isn’t about all the activities we can do and all the presents we can get. Christmas is about celebrating Jesus' birth. It is about how God came down to earth in the form of a baby to become the Savior for us all. He was and is the greatest gift we have ever received!!! Hebrews 12:2 tells us that we run the race set before us, " by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith." We can be intentional this year about making sure that Jesus is the center of our season. We can stay in the Word of God every day. If you can’t read it, then listen to it in your car on your way to places. You can read the Christmas story in Luke or do an Advent each day. No, I am not talking about the candy advent calendars. Although, I do love a good piece of dark chocolate. I am talking about an advent that goes through Jesus' birth. You can find these in books and online. I actually enjoy one that Hannah Brencher does. She sends it to you by email each day. It is wonderful, and I enjoy it every year. Starting my day in the Word helps me posture my heart in the right place for the Christmas season. During this crazy time of year, my heart needs it more than ever!   Let's stay in the Word this season and focus on Jesus. We will leave Christmas feeling more fulfilled rather than empty if we are actively seeking Him this season. I pray this Christmas season that you will not let disappointment ruin your season, that you will leave time to rest and read God’s word this season, and that you will leave the season feeling fulfilled.

When I was still teaching, I remember praying constantly for the Lord to provide me with a teaching job at a different school than the one I was at. This was during a time when teaching was a highly regarded profession, and there were few job opportunities available. The available ones, you basically had to know someone. It was a very tough work environment. I would cry regularly, and many times I didn’t want to go to work. I was at that same school for seven years. I interviewed for positions at other schools but didn’t get another offer.  It was so hard because I wanted to be at another school so badly. I remember how frustrated I felt because I kept praying and God wasn’t answering. Much like my friend that I mentioned in the last blog, God didn’t seem to be coming through. I felt that this job was breaking me. It was hard to get up and go to work every day. I couldn’t understand why God would keep me in a place that was doing so much harm to me emotionally. Sometimes we can get wrapped up in wondering why our desires haven’t been fulfilled. We get stuck on why God isn’t giving us what we want. Doesn't He know how much we need this? I’m reminded just how often we think that God isn’t giving us what we want because he doesn’t love us. In reality, he cares so much that he isn’t giving us what we want, because ultimately it isn't what is best for us at that time, or maybe not at all. After seven years at the same school, a better position finally became available. The job I had been praying and praying for had finally come. Only the job wasn’t exactly what I was looking for. I wanted a full-time teaching position, but that isn’t the role God gave me. Instead, he gave me the job of stay-at-home mom. I honestly didn’t want to stay home. It was my dream to teach. At that moment, I didn’t realize that God had answered my prayer with the role I truly needed. It wasn't until many years later that I realized that God answered my prayer. It just looked different than I thought it would. I believe there are times that God doesn’t give us our desires because they aren’t best for us. I think there are also times that we aren't ready, no matter how ready we think we are, and God is working to prepare us for what is coming There are also times, I believe, when our prayers haven’t been answered yet because God wants to partner with us, and He is waiting for us to move in obedience. We can’t get a new job if we aren’t filling out the applications. Sometimes we have to take a step with God in the direction He is calling us to. There might be times when God is waiting for us to surrender something to Him. Our desires that we are praying for might not line up with God’s plan for our lives. What we want may seem like it is good and right for us, but God sees  all.  He sees the big picture, and if it isn’t happening, there is a reason. I encourage you to tell God how you are feeling. He can handle your emotions. I also encourage your to pray! 1.  Pray and ask God to reveal if it isn’t His plan.  2.  Pray and ask Him to help you surrender it if it isn’t part of His plan. 3.  Pray and ask God to show you what He wants us to learn through this time. 4. Pray and ask if there is something you need to surrender or another act of obedience. Last thing and this is probably the hardest, Praise Him! Even when you don't feel like it. We praise Him because of who He is, not what He can do for us. Praise helps put our mind set on God. I know it can be frustrating and so hard, but keep waiting, keep trusting, and keep praying.  God's plan is always better than ours because He knows the path we are on and He can see where we are going.