Tag: writing
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Guide My Steps: Answering the Call to Adventure
Miles 1-2 Psalm 119:105“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (ESV) I woke up early. The night before, one of our dogs kept waking up. My Oura ring informed me that I was sleep-deprived. Regardless, I felt energized. I carried a determination I haven’t felt in a long…
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The Journey Begins: Answering the Call to Adventure
“If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.”— C.S. Lewis Do you ever have memories spontaneously find you? A memory surfaced of myself hiking and sliding down a hill. Another of attempting to roller blade twelve miles with…
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Beneath the Trees
Through the portal, we made our way from the city to nature’s sanctuary. As we walk, the humidity clings to our skin. I am overly aware of the mosquitoes, gnats, and flies drawn to my sweat. Even amid the battle with the winged fiends, I find myself noticing. I am vividly aware of nature surrounding…
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Fear is Not the Enemy
A black bird catches my attention, bringing me back to the present. I find myself once again in the middle of the woods. I lift my head, watching the bird in the trees, its red wing highlighting its location so I can follow it. As I walk, I find myself contemplating. Is fear really as…
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I Have a Problem: Meanderings of a Book Collector
Step one to solving any problem is admitting it to yourself. Step two might be accepting it, or maybe it is admitting it to other people. I am not really sure how the steps go. So, in the interest of personal growth and transparency, I have a confession to make: I have a problem. The…
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Returning to Wonder: The Awe of Grandfather Mountain
As we drove to North Carolina and the mountains came into view, I felt something deep within my body both unsettled and calm. This always happens whenever we visit my favorite part of the U.S., an unexplainable peace in anticipation of visiting wild places that have stolen my heart, places where I go to meet…
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The Quiet Return to Creativity
Lately, I’ve noticed a small change in myself that I am grateful to see again: a return to creativity. It feels small, but it also feels significant. That part of me has been returning. I’m still trying to understand why. Maybe my mind and spirit are reaching for creativity as a way to process what…
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The Power of Silence and Solitude
We live in a world full of noise, distraction, and constant movement.But I have always been drawn to silence. When I was a child, I could sit for hours simply thinking and letting my mind wander. Looking back, I realize that silence has always felt natural to me. I’m not sure whether it is our…
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The Love that Stays: A Valentine’s Reflection on God’s Steadfast Love
Valentine’s Day often speaks in grand gestures—flowers, words, promises, intensity. But there is another kind of love: quieter and steadier, a love that does not fade when circumstances change. It does not demand performance or certainty. It simply stays. This is the love of God—faithful in waiting, present in silence, and gentle enough to meet…
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Faithfulness Without Feeling Inspired
February is here. As we enter the second month of the year, it’s natural to hit a lull in energy and motivation after the holidays fade. If we set resolutions in January, this is often when they become harder to keep. In the same way, we can experience a quiet lull in our relationship with…
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Slow Morning Rhythms: Creating a Peaceful Start to Your Day
As we conclude the first month of the year, I felt it would be good to share my thoughts on one of my goals: sleep and slow mornings. My entire life, I’ve tried to fit a mold around sleep—even attempting to join the 5:00 a.m. club. Today, I want to gently invite you into the…
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Fully Alive in the Quiet of Winter
(A Winter Hiking Reflection) It’s quiet. Snow crunches under my feet. The world is still dim, and the cold air meets my face as I wait for the sun to wake. There is something deeply peaceful about being welcomed by nature. I set out this winter with a quiet intention: to look for beauty and…
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Preparation
A New Year’s Reflection Happy New Year! This New Year’s was spent relaxing and keeping one of our dogs calm while our neighbors set off fireworks. Nothing special, just slow and quiet. My husband watched the Buckeyes game while I alternated between reading, playing a video game, and getting caught up on a favorite show…
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Six Gentle Ways to Reset Before the New Year
As we transition from Christmas, we find ourselves looking towards the New Year. It can bring excitement, apprehension, or both. Maybe this year was good to you, and there’s some grief in saying goodbye. Or maybe 2025 was difficult, and you find yourself bracing for the unexpected. Not surprisingly, I love the New Year —…
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When Love Arrives
An Advent Reflection Christmas has come! This year, our Christmas looks a little different, and next year’s will too. We’ve had doctor’s appointments, caring for a family member recovering from surgery, and navigating family gatherings. We ended Christmas Eve by attending our church’s candlelight service, where we lit candles and sang worship songs. It feels…
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Love Draws Near
An Advent Reflection We find ourselves on the final Sunday of Advent and the last weekend before Christmas as we prepare for this holiday week. I’m sitting with a warm cup of coffee, allowing myself a slow morning before the busyness begins. Outside, the snow has melted away, and the cold has returned, bringing wind…
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The Quiet Adventure of a Winter Walk
As the days shorten and darkness takes up more of our days, we can slip into the winter blues. I live in a state where I have the blessing of experiencing each season in full. The official first day of winter is still approaching, but we have already had our first few snowfalls. This may…
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Discovering Adventure in the Ordinary
“There are seasons when the most faithful thing you can do is remain.” — Morgan Harper Nichols My current season in life doesn’t look very exciting. I find myself in the midst of a transition season. My life has consisted of showing up, so when change comes, everything is prepared. This kind of season leaves…
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Cultivating Peace
An Advent Reflection We have arrived at Week Two of Advent. Words are important to me—the words we speak to ourselves and to others hold great power. It may sound a little strange, but I have favorite words, and this week’s theme is one of them. Today’s Candle is Peace. Advent is a beautiful season.…
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Soaking in the Holidays
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. December has come, and with it we were embraced with the season’s first snow. It is an invitation to slow down and a fitting beginning to the Christmas season. I find myself reflecting on the Holidays.…
Inquisitive Adventures 