Body

January is the perfect time to refresh your home and create a welcoming, cozy retreat. Even in cooler climates  where traditional winter vibes might not apply, small, intentional updates can help your space feel warm, inviting, and ready for the new year. Here are five easy ways to make your home cozier this January: 1. Add Soft Layers Even in milder weather, layers bring comfort. Toss lightweight, textured throws over your sofa or bed and swap out summer-style pillows for options in warm neutrals or soft fabrics like cotton knits. A neutral, breathable area rug can ground your space and make it feel cozier underfoot. 2. Embrace Warm Lighting In January, the days are still short, making the right lighting essential. Opt for table lamps or lantern-style lighting with warm bulbs to create a soothing glow. String lights around indoor plants or place battery-operated candles on shelves for a gentle,

Close your eyes. Now I want you to imagine God. Does that sound silly? Or strange? Or scary?? Just try it. You might be surprised like I was! In my new favorite journal, The Next Right Thing Guided Journal (everyone needs one!), Emily P. Freeman includes what she calls a monthly practice. This month she suggests what I did above: Close your eyes … and imagine God. Why? Because as she says, “What we believe about God informs every aspect of our lives, including our decisions.”   Before I share my experience with you, stop now, close your eyes and imagine God. Take a few minutes to write everything you see and feel. I don’t want you to be influenced by what I share. So I closed my eyes and followed her directions. I was surprised to find that when I imagined God, I could not do it as one

This week I had the joy of spending several hours with a small group of women over dinner and gelato. Our friendship with each other dates back to the early ‘80s. We all met at the same church during our college or young married years. As I went to bed that night, I reflected on the life-giving evening and thanked God for the gift of these long-term friendships. Between the four of us, we represent almost 140 years of marriage, 11 children, and 12 grandchildren to date. We have lived a little bit of life. In our 20s we spent a lot of time together at church, activities, Bible studies, and small groups being a part of each other’s lives and making many memories. As the years progressed, we each went separate ways either physically or changes in our church home, but we kept in contact. Then we entered our

We have all heard the saying, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” But when life recently dealt me some unexpected changes, I found I might be ready to make a totally new flavor instead of sticking with more of the same. I have been in the same line of work for over 25 years, retailing high fashion jewelry through a wonderful, Biblically-based direct sales company. This business changed and challenged me in so many ways from personal development skills to leadership to finding my extroverted side when called upon. It also incredibly blessed my family financially over the years. So when the 2020 state of our world caused this company to close unexpectedly last year, it was quite a lot to take in. Although I had been slowing down over the past several years, it was still always there as a way to earn instant income when needed. So

I have always loved the power of the written word. As an avid reader, the words on a page can transport me to another place or teach me ideas in a whole new way. As a writer, they are a way for me to pass my experiences on to my reader in hope they find encouragement for their life. As a mom and wife, they are a way for me to bless, encourage and share a little wisdom with my family through the legacy of my words to them. Three years ago, I began the practice of writing each of my children and my husband a letter at Christmastime. This is a tradition I wish I would have begun when they were much younger rather than now as young adults. But let’s face it, busy moms who are working either in the home or out, have little extra time come

Four years ago this past summer, I was going through a personal crisis with fear. I had input coming in from several sources that were pushing my mind to unhealthy thoughts causing crippling fear and anxiety. Plus, it was an election year … need I say more?? As someone who had never dealt with these feelings in my 50+ years, I was totally taken off-guard. I wrote about that a bit in Fear … Living in an Uncertain World and the tools I used to get my mind back to thoughts that were healthy and pure. Since then, I have learned to be much more pro-active, and this year, I am countering possible election fears with Words of Truth. So last week, I had two podcasts come up that were speaking on the election. At first, I was like, “Nah … I’m good.” But then I just felt really prompted to listen