The Next Five Years

“What’s your goal? Your game plan? Where do you want to see yourself in the next five years?”

I used to hate these questions. Up until I started having babies, that was the constant wonder. “Janelle, what are you going to do with your life?” Guys, I don’t know. Something, I’m sure. And then babies started arriving, and it becomes assumed what I will be doing with my life:  parenting. Really, one of the greatest things I could ever do, and something I will do with utmost purpose.Continue reading “The Next Five Years”

From Momma to You

Boys, this summer has been a good one. You won’t remember it much, if at all, but trust me when I say that it has been one of the greatest beginnings for us. Your daddy & I are big dreamers. You boys probably didn’t know that. You probably thought we were always boring duds that don’t know exactly what cool is, but believe me when I say that we (or maybe mostly I) like to think in terms of life-changing rather than just the mundane.Continue reading “From Momma to You”

New Chairs

I used to play a lot of soccer back in my day. And by that, I mean I played soccer pretty seriously in middle school. I wasn’t too bad, you know, not exactly the star player by any means. But I really loved it. I planned to play throughout high school, too, but I gave up on that soon after I began summer training the summer before my freshman year of high school. I remember my dad sitting me down and talking to me about quitting, that I shouldn’t just quit something “just because”. Which makes sense, you know? He cared and still cares a lot about my well-being, something that I am grateful for a tenfold.Continue reading “New Chairs”

A Job, A Dream & Abiding

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will last.

Johns 15:16a

About three years ago, I told my husband that God had revealed some truth to me about the future for us. I knew that someday, my husband (a graphic designer) would be doing freelance full-time. I delivered the truth to him, challenged him to recognize that desire that he felt seemed just plain crazy, and prayed that we would be able to walk out on the water whenever that time came. Over the past month, due to circumstances out of our control, we’ve had to consider this option more & more often. Continue reading “A Job, A Dream & Abiding”

Palms Up

“Ask nothing unless you ask your own heart how much love it holds for Me.”

Shouldn’t this change just about everything about the way we live our life?

Don’t ask for a single thing unless that one thing loves God.

A few weeks ago I began spring cleaning my house (and I still haven’t finished, but I’m just considering this an extended break..) and I was floored by all the stuff we had.Continue reading “Palms Up”

Fields of Prayer

I’ve recently been taking the time to pray more intentionally for other people. Like, more than the, “I will be praying for you!” line that is delivered to every Christian in America at least five times in their life. That doesn’t mean that I’m making a list, checking it twice, and crossing off names as prayers have been prayed. But really praying, listening to the heart of God, and offering up whatever there is to offer.

Continue reading “Fields of Prayer”