Welcome to My New Office... (Part 1)

 

                Now that our church’s Dedication Celebration day has happened, and people have had a chance to tour the new space, I want to introduce you to my office!

                Last February, after a staff meeting, our church staff took a field trip to the new wing of the building to see the office suite and match people to office spaces. We collectively decided to go in order of seniority to choose spaces, which meant I was last and would get the office not chosen by anyone else. Happily, the remaining space was the one I genuinely loved the most.

                Why did I love it most? It had this cute little alcove on one side that none of the other offices had. I was so happy to learn it would be my new home, and I immediately began planning the specifics of its furniture layout.

                A few weeks later, I saw it again, and while it wasn’t done, it was much more finished, and I was just so happy to spend some time in it again.

                By the time we had the all-clear to move in, I had piles of things waiting in our home office, and I was ready to make this space home.

                I thought I’d show you the full space today and then show you the details tomorrow.

                The bookshelves already belonged to the church, and two of them came to live in my office. I will fill them up as time goes by, but I’m leaving myself room to grow. I brought a few books from my home library – ones that I thought I would use often in a ministry context.

                I also decided I didn’t want a full, traditional desk in this space. For one thing, I didn’t want to fill up as much floor space as a regular desk requires. Secondly, I often stand to work, so having a stand-or-sit option in my desk mattered a lot. In our home, we have a sofa table, and I enjoy working at that, so I asked if I could get that for this space, and they said yes! I picked out this sofa table with two stools and a center section that had drawers for desk storage. When Ryan assembled it, though, he left the center section separate, and I liked it so much better!

                Unfortunately, it didn’t have a top, because the top was supposed to be the sofa table. My brilliant husband remembered that we had a marble slab at home that he thought would fit perfectly, and he was RIGHT! This gives me so much more leg room under the table, and the cabinet fit right in between the bookcases!

                At the beginning of the year, Ryan and I found this little table at the consignment shop, and we bought it because it was so unique. It has two leaves that pop up and down easily, and I immediately wanted it for this space. We bought it and hoped it would work, and it did not disappoint!

                The week before move-in, I went to some local garage sales to try to find some additional pieces for my office, and high on my list was a chair for guests. I found this beautiful, pristine chair at a garage sale, and it was only $20! I paid for it on the spot and called Ryan to see if he could pick it up on his lunch hour, since I couldn’t fit it in our car.

                By the time we moved in everything and decorated the walls, this place felt just perfect. It was indeed the vision I had in my head.

                I can’t wait to show you the details tomorrow!

More Spring Speaking

 

It has been almost ten years since I left WBCL; can you believe that? In those ten years, God has opened doors for me to speak here and there, sharing with groups of all sizes and demographics, and I have treasured every opportunity to share the Word of God with those groups.

                It amazes me how many people still remember Mid-Morning and have such fond memories of it. I always enjoy hearing the stories of how God used that program to reach those who listened.

                I’ve worked hard to craft and share messages that (hopefully) leave an impact on those who hear them, and doing that takes a considerable amount of time. Dreaming up ideas, writing the talks, learning them are some of the ways I spend my prep hours ahead of an event, and now that I am working full time at the church, I know that continuing to accept outside speaking engagements at the rate I’ve been doing isn’t going to allow me to give my best to those places and my daily work.

                I won’t stop speaking entirely, but I will cut back. So I was grateful that the group I served this past weekend did a magnificent job and created a great wrap-up for my spring speaking!

                I shared at a one-day women’s conference not that far from home. Ryan was able to go with me this time, and I dearly loved having him with me.

                Look at this beautiful breakfast grazing table they had!

                The decorations were just beautiful.

                And I had a little book table!

                I spoke on the topic of being still, and the ladies were so open and receptive to hearing from the Lord that day. It was such a blessing to my heart.

                They had a great worship team with powerful voiced, and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to them.

                A few shared testimonies, and my heart was so moved by their courage to share so vulnerably in front of their friends and fellow believers.

                It was a sweet day, and I am so grateful for the chance to share and serve before I move into this next chapter of 2025!

Sunday Snapshots: Memorable Moments from the Week

 

I feel like every week we say, “If we can just get through this week, we should be good to go.” And here we stand, on this Sunday, saying, “If we can just get through this week, we should be good to go.”

                The start of 2025 has been so beautiful in so many ways. I have loved settling into my new role at the church so much. But it has been a long stretch from New Year’s Day to now without a holiday or vacation day, and I am so looking forward to a little respite coming up! Meanwhile, let me share with you some of the highlights of this past week.

Last Sunday was Mother’s Day, and one of my favorite moments was taking pie and ice cream over to my parents’ apartment to celebrate the day with them. I don’t know why I loved that little bit of time so much, but I did.

I moved into my new church office last week, and it was one of my MOST favorite things. Creating that space that I had dreamed about and envisioned for weeks was more impactful than I could have dreamed.

This year marks my first attempt to grow strawberries. I saved up some money to buy a stackable planter and planted both established plants and roots in them. I had so much fun putting it all together! I am not anticipating much this year – but maybe a berry or two!

Of course…there was my birthday! I loved many things about that day, but one thing I loved most was the creativity Ryan put into making the day special for me in the midst of all the work we both had to do.

Ryan had a big day at work this week as well. Swiss Village hosted a special day to invite people in from the community to share with them more about what Swiss Village has to offer, and Ryan worked hard to create a welcoming table. I stopped by to see him in the middle of the event, and I just loved seeing him in his element!

Not all days are memorable in good ways, and we had one of those this week. This picture is the one that means the most to me from that day, because after an absolutely ABYSMAL evening, Ryan and I went out for dinner to celebrate my birthday, since we weren’t able to go out on that day. We were both frustrated and not our best selves by that point, and as we left the restaurant, Ryan asked if I wanted a picture with it. I said, “Do we WANT to remember this day?” He said, “Memories are worth making, whether the day is good or bad.” Pure gold, Ryan Shaffer. Pure gold. Thank you for helping me reframe my day! (Clarifying note: the restaurant wasn't the frustrating part of the day. It was actually the best part of the day!)

Yesterday I had the honor of speaking at a women’s event nearby. The ladies were so sweet, and I appreciated their kindness in inviting me to share with them. I was also so happy that Ryan could accompany me!

                Thanks for peeking into the week. Now if we can just get through this week…

Saturday Suggestions: Inspirations for Your Weekend

 

Good morning, friends! I welcome your prayers today if you happen to see this earlier in the day. I’m speaking at a women’s event today, and I want to give it my very best. Spiritual warfare is a guarantee whenever I’m slated to speak, and indeed, it kicked in with a fury last night.

                While I share my thoughts on being still, here are some links for you to enjoy!

For the past couple of years, we’ve purchased our ferns at the Amish greenhouse where we get the rest of our plants. This year the fern prices were significantly higher, so we got them at Walmart instead, but they are also a little smaller than we’ve had before. I know they’ll grow – but this post about how to grow great ferns did catch my eye. Interesting suggestion in there! Might be worth a try! (BONUS: WOW!!! This post of Sarah’s has some absolutely great advice on how to get the most for your money when buying plants. I learned a few things in this one.)

Waiting for an answer to prayer is hard…and I think we can all agree on that. But I loved the perspective in Barb’s post about noticing the work God does in us IN the waiting. We miss that way too often – because we’re too impatient or just don’t have our eyes open to see Him at work. If you’re praying…and waiting…and waiting…and waiting…I hope her words are comforting to you!

I was so happy to see we have already made many of the swaps in this “pantry swaps for a cleaner kitchen” post. I do still buy some canned soups and bottled salad dressings, but I also use homemade versions of both more often than not. (And the soups and dressings I purchase are the healthiest I can find.) How about you? Is it time to clean up the pantry?

I told you earlier this week that we don’t host Mommapalooza anymore, but KariAnne Wood hosted her first one this year (though she didn’t call it that), and I was in love with her table! I think I loved it extra because it was all blue and white and I’ve come to learn, since living at the lake, that I love blue and white décor. If you want some inspiration for your Mother’s Day events for next year – or just for a random day – check out her post! (BONUS: Here are the recipes she made!)

Have you mixed flowers and herbs in arrangements before? How have I not thought of this? I love the idea – for the greenery and the fragrance! This post has great advice/tutorials on how to do it.

You know what I miss about blogs? The realness. When I started blogging nineteen years ago, bloggers were just people who wrote and shared their thoughts. Monetizing and niches weren’t things. It was just a conversational world among friends…online. And when I read Andrea’s post of homemaking tips and how to keep it all real, it felt like that sort of blogging world came back. It was so lovely. So read for the conversation…read for her ideas…just read and enjoy!

Birthday Celebrations

 

Hello, friends, and happy Friday to you! Two days ago, I celebrated my 47^th birthday, and though it was, in some ways, a very strange birthday, it was also a wonderful day, and I am grateful for it!

Historically, I’ve taken my birthday off work, because I enjoy a day of reflection, rest, and celebration. It’s not that I think I’m deserving of attention, but merely that I wish to appreciate the opportunity to celebrate another year of life and all that God has done in it.

This year it wasn’t possible to take the day off, because this is the week we are moving into our new wing at church…a moment years in the making. Additionally, my birthday fell on GriefShare night, and while I’d planned to miss the evening so I could celebrate with Ryan, that didn’t end up working out either, which was absolutely okay.

So rather than taking the day off…I worked extra long! And tucked throughout the day were many moments of celebration.

Sweet Ryan got up extra early to go get my favorite breakfast pizza from Casey’s, which I really only ever get on my birthday. Alas, Casey’s was closed, because their system was down. So he went back an hour later. Still down. So he came home and made me an omelet and toast. That labor of love was beautiful to me.

Another love-gift was Ryan’s choice to take a vacation day so he could be with me at the church. That meant so much to me!

We got ready and headed to the coffee shop to pick up coffee for us and for Jonathan and Julie, since we were all going to be working together.

Our first order of business was to move the clothing boutique we’ve helped with since moving to this area. With our new building project complete, we are able to house the boutique in the church, and it was joy upon joy to complete this move! (I am not sharing all the pictures of this part so I don’t show the big reveal before the official building dedication.)

We were able to get it all moved and mostly set up before lunch, and I was so excited that the staff and volunteers at the church that day all ate together! Ryan and Jonathan picked up fajitas and Ryan even surprised me with a cake and a birthday headband! (The cake came from Sorinna’s, a local bakery, and it was SO GOOD. Mocha.) They sang to me, and everything!

In the afternoon, Ryan and I worked more on my office, which I can’t wait to show you (after the dedication) and we actually completed it. I mean, it’s never fully complete. But it’s home. (I even went back to find a picture of the first time I ever saw the office – without paint or flooring – and compared it to the picture Ryan took when we finished up on my birthday. Indeed, my vision is what I saw in my mind that day!

One of the families in our church dropped off the most BEAUTIFUL bouquet of flowers for me. They are stunning! (Been carrying them around the house when I’m home so I can enjoy them.)

After doing more work at the church in the afternoon, we came home long enough to spend a little time with Lexi and open my gifts! I had a few cards that had come in the mail – and Ryan gifted me an art print from Lindsey Letters. It’s called Summer at the Dock, and it’s perfect for our house! I love it!

We went back to church for the rest of the evening, so we could help lead GriefShare. The ladies who attend are so sweet, and they even sang to me at the end of the night.

I was exhausted by the time we got home, but I spent some time cuddling with Lexi, since I’d barely seen her all day.

Thank you, Ryan, for making my birthday extra special, despite the obstacles that didn’t lend themselves to celebration. I love you so much, and I loved spending the day with you!

At the Start of This New Year

 My plan for today was to share with you about yesterday’s celebrations. Alas, it is 11 p.m. and I just sat down for the first time. I haven’t uploaded my pictures, I haven’t thought through the details of my beautiful birthday, and I don’t want to rush the stories.

So I’ll come back to that tomorrow, and today I will share other thoughts!

First of all, thank you for the sweet birthday wishes yesterday! I loved Ryan’s post and appreciated all the creative and thoughtful things he did to make the day special for me.

Secondly, I spent some time the night before my birthday reflecting on the past year. So much has changed for me (on a personal level) from the year prior, and I am grateful for it. I remember a year ago and how frustrated and scared I felt about my future in the land of work, and to see how God went before, prepared, and provided has been such a faith boost for me.

As I sat drinking my morning coffee yesterday, I watched ducks swim across the lake and marveled that this is my home. What a gift to get up early and even before a long day of work, have the chance to drink coffee while looking over such a picturesque scene!

For friends and family, for impromptu parties and together time, for naps and puppy hugs, for cake and ice cream, for kisses and flowers, for gifts and cards, for smiles and words of encouragement…I am grateful.

Thank you, Lord, for this beautiful new year. Help me to honor You with each moment of it!

A Victorian-esque Love Letter

 

My Dearest Bekah,

As I pen this letter I am overcome by the love that I behold for you.  I am writing to you in the quiet hours of night, with nothing but the soft glow of candlelight for company and our beloved delectable beverage of choice, coffee.  I’m finding myself distracted by the moonlight, picturing your luminous eyes in its ethereal glow.  The silence echoes the profound emptiness in my heart, a void that only your presence can fill.  I long for your laughter as it is the sweetest melody to my ears, a song that I yearn to hear with each passing day. I am endlessly captivated by your beauty, both that which the eye beholds and that which the heart perceives.

The memories we’ve woven together serve as the golden threads that embroider the tapestry of our lives.  I continually long for the warmth of your presence and the comfort of your voice, recounting tales that never seem to grow old. With each sunrise that I behold, my heart sings a chorus of your name, and with each sunset, I find my dreams cradled in the sweet embrace of your arms.  Our times of joy are my most cherished memories, those summer days under the sun-kissed sky, the shared laughter and whispered secrets.

Oh, the blithe adventures we have partaken! Together, roaming the lush countryside, our fingers brushing against delicate petals as we marveled at nature’s splendor. The sunsets our witness, painting the sky with hues of pink and gold, as we stole fleeting glances of adoration, a silent exchange of affection that only our hearts can comprehend.  Your alacrity continually brings me joy unbounding!

There’s not a moment that passes when my heart doesn’t yearn for your presence. Your laughter is my symphony, your eyes my guiding stars, and your love, the sustenance of my soul. Our memories play in my mind like a cherished melody, offering comfort in your absence.  I hold onto the memories of our time together, keeping them close to my heart as reminders of your unwavering affection.

Let us embrace this adventure, hand in hand, side by side, and face whatever challenges may come our way, for together, we shall conquer all.

With all the love that fills my heart and all the dreams that dance in my soul.  Have the happiest of birthdays my sweet Bekah!

                                Your Loving Husband,

                                                                 Ryan