Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.” Proverbs\u202c \u202d3\u202c:\u202d3\u202c NIV<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

There are moments in my day that can weigh me down. Circumstances that make my perspective so cloudy. Days that leave me feeling like a failure and that all that I do will never amount to much. Times when I feel judged and others words and opinions become all too important.<\/p>\n

I believe that words are powerful. I believe that words can be filled with grace and hope. Words can bring forgiveness and healing. Life words.<\/p>\n

Words can also hurt. They can be critical and narrow minded. Words can wound us and a seed of bitterness can begin to root deep. Words can threaten to steal our joy. Death words.<\/p>\n

As for me I desire to pursue life. I want to speak only grace words. Censoring what I listen to and read. Whom and what I let get under my skin. Choosing wisely whom I allow to speak into and impact my life. Making choices that either nourish or deplete my heart and spirit.<\/p>\n

More and more I am realizing that I need to saturate my days and home with words that bring life and hope. Even more so, I feel a greater need to dig deeper and saturate my heart and mind in His Word, which is my Life and Light.<\/p>\n

In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” John\u202c \u202d1\u202c:\u202d4\u202c NIV<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

My sister in law Michelle has a gift for encouraging others through words. A passion for sharing God’s Word and His hope in a very creative and beautiful way.<\/p>\n

About five years ago, when her life circumstances were weighing heavy and her perspective of who God was in all of it became cloudy, she did not give up. No, instead she grabbed hold of God’s Word, His promise of faithfulness. She wrote His words large on a sign and mounted it in her home as a visual reminder of His truth and love.<\/p>\n

This one sign was only the beginning. A seed of hope was planted and a new passion for sharing this hope arouse from a time of uncertainty and turmoil. She began an Etsy business called Wall Bling<\/a>, where she creates personalized signs using scripture and words of encouragement. Her signs are beautiful, life giving.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

This Christmas, Michelle gave our family a gift of life words. When I unwrapped this gift I cried. I cried because these simple words, a sweet phrase, spoke deeply to my mother heart, penetrating my fears and uncertainty. It spoke even deeper of a love much greater than my own. His love that knows no limits and will never fail.<\/p>\n

Thank you, Michelle and family for this special gift. One our family will treasure always. A gift of love, life, hope.<\/p>\n

I encourage you to visit Michelle’s Etsy site<\/a>. Her work is beautiful and inspiring and she has a wide variety of signs to choose from for your home or as a gift.<\/p>\n

The adoption sign<\/a> she created for our family is also available for purchase in her shop<\/a>. It can be customized by country and color. Even better, Michelle’s gift to us keeps on giving. She is generously giving one hundred percent of her profit on each adoption sign she sells to our adoption fund. God continues to work in amazing ways!<\/p>\n

* * * * * * *<\/p>\n

I hope you are having a joy filled new year so far. I know I have been pretty quiet but it is not so in our home. It has been a month of celebrations for our family. After the holidays and between Robert’s, mine, our daughter’s and both our mom’s birthdays as well as our 12th wedding anniversary, we are in over our heads with cake, special dinners and outings. I am not complaining, I love January. Robert and I get a few more grown up dates, an extra bonus. Even so, I am pretty tired now and ready for a celebration hiatus.<\/p>\n

I have also been quiet because God is working on quieting my heart as well as my overactive mind. He is teaching me to be more peace-filled in this time of waiting as well as in the beautiful messy joy of my days.<\/p>\n

When I rest in Him, lying my burdens at His feet, I find peace and His joy fills and completes me. I hope to share more of my heart on this in my coming posts but just know that it may take me a little longer as I rest more in Him and take time to process it all.<\/p>\n

My subscribers will be the first to know any new updates in our adoption process. Continue to pray for peace in the waiting and also protection and provisions for our little girl in Bulgaria. Even though we do not know her yet, God knows her intimately. He is with her right now, this very moment. His loving embrace wrapped warm around her.<\/p>\n

Here’s a few pictures of our January celebrations. A little window into our joy-filled moments.<\/p>\n

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