Let Others In

Hi friends,

Do you remember that ct sinus scan I had a couple of weeks ago? Well, I went into it not thinking much about it other than that I would need sinus surgery. Yet when the doctor called me, he shared that on the ct scan there was an area of inflammation that they needed to look into to see if it’s cancer free, or if the cancer is back. Rather than having the sinus surgery in 2-3 months, I had it yesterday, and it included a biopsy.

After the surgery the doctor spoke with Stephen and the news was encouraging yet we still need to wait to receive the pathology results to confirm that all is well.

I’ve been hesitant to share this because I like to come here to encourage you. I like to get to the other side of things and see what I’ve learned so I can come beside you and encourage you on your journey. Yet something happened yesterday that opened my eyes and heart, and what I don’t often give others the opportunity to do; be there for me.

Only a small circle of family and friends knew what was happening. Yet before surgery there was a pull on my heart to ask for prayers. I didn’t understand it but I followed where God was leading and reached out and asked for prayers from others.

After I sent the prayer request their way, I handed Stephen the phone and was soon called to go back for the surgery. As I laid on the bed waiting for the nurse to come in, I felt a wave of lightness come over me.

I laid there and smiled at God.

I realized that because I chose to share my struggle and ask for prayers, the prayers of others helped lighten my burdened heart.

I share this with you today for a couple of reasons. One being to share with you what the truth of my heart is and to ask for your prayers as we await the pathology results. And secondly, to ask you if there is something you are dealing with that you too are holding tight to your chest? If so, I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

May we be willing to share our brokenness with others. I know how hard it is as I even hesitate sharing this with you now. Yet what I experienced yesterday showed me, and I wholeheartedly believe you will experience too, is when we allow others in beside us, their prayers help lighten the weight of our burdens. So thank you for being there for me and my family, and know I am always here to listen to your heart. In our sharing, may we receive the light of Christ, as we lean into the body of Christ to lift us up when we need it.

With gratitude, love and hope,
Shawn

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
- Galatians 6:2

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

Thank You, Veterans

With Stephen being a veteran, and having dated during his six years of service, we know what life in the service is like. Ever since our kids were little, when we see someone wearing a veteran’s hat, or a serviceman or woman, I encourage them to say “thank you for your service.”

A number of years ago, we had little cards made that said, “thank you for your service” that the kids would hand veterans, or the servicemen and women.

One day, when Gavin was little, we were in the store and Gavin saw a man wearing a Vietnam hat. He asked me for a card and went over and handed the man the card. We continued on shopping when I heard a person say, “excuse me.”

I turned around and it was the man Gavin had given the card to. Holding it in his hand he asked if it was my son who had handed him the card. I said it was. Then with tears in his eyes he said, “no one has ever thanked me for my service until now.”

I stood there in shock at that truth and asked if I could give him a hug, which he agreed to.

I could see Gavin’s eyes light up when I told him how his act of love truly helped that man’s heart feel loved and appreciated.

We went our separate ways but that moment has always stayed with me.

I share it with you today to invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

May we give thanks for, and to, our veterans in our life. Give them a call, send a text, go over and say hi, etc.

And the next time you see someone wearing a hat from the service, consider thanking them for their selfless service. You never know, you too may be the first person to ever say those words, “thank you,” to them, and make them feel loved and appreciated.

With gratitude and respect,
Shawn

PS Let’s say thank you to the veteran’s in our life today. Feel free to pass this along to them, or tag their name below.

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.
- John 15:13

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

We Have This Hope

I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

May we remember this truth throughout our day💕🙏💕

With love and hope,
Shawn

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” - Hebrews 6:19

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

Rise Above

Sometimes it takes rising above and widening our lens to see the bigger picture that will bring peace to our soul💕🙏💕

With love and hope,
Shawn

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” - Jeremiah 29:11

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

In the Wait...

What to do in the wait, when things are uncertain, as we are experiencing today?

As someone who has experienced waiting, and not knowing the outcome of results more than I’d like to, here are three tools that help me, that I pray help you too.

1. Pause
We need to press pause on the stories, the fears, the worries, the google searches, refreshing websites, the scrolling social media. Instead may we choose to read, listen to, watch or do something that will diffuse the heavy and nourish our minds with truth and peace.

2. Breathe
May we take deep breaths and give thanks for the breath in our lungs. May we remember it is a gift to be here on this day. May we not allow the external circumstances that are out of our control to rule our hearts and minds and rob us this beautiful day we have been given. Instead may we take deep breaths to decrease the stress and increase our calm.

3. Pray
May we pray and have a conversation with God, sharing the realness of our hearts and the hope of the outcome we desire. Yet may we then open our hands and hearts and not cling to our desired outcomes, instead trusting His will.

And whatever the outcome is, may we go to God with whatever emotions we experience so we can sift through them. May we harness those emotions for good, and not harm. And may we remember that no matter our circumstances, our purpose to love God and love our neighbors remains the same💕🙏💕

With love, peace and hope,
Shawn

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” - 2 Timothy 1:7

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

Let Love Rule

💕🙏💕

With love and hope,
Shawn

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.”
— Colossians 3:15

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween🎃

Love,
Georgia🐾

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

Wonder and Joy

Sometimes it requires taking a step back, and seeing life through someone else’s eyes, to discover the wonder and the joy in the day❄️🎃

With love and hope,
Shawn

“And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”
- Luke 5:26

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

Palms Up

Whatever we are going through today, may we...

pause. breathe. pray.

And do our best to live out this truth while holding on to hope, that will anchor our souls.

With love and hope,
Shawn

Trust in God with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him so He will make your path straight.
- Proverbs 3:5-6

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

Choose to Love

Today I had to get a ctscan for my sinuses. It’s not a big deal. The lingering effects of radiation, yes, even three years later, are giving me sinus issues which I need to deal with.

As I walked down the hallway to get the scan, I passed these chairs marked, MRI, CTScan, XRay, etc. As I walked by the people in these chairs, I prayed for them.

Yet moments earlier I was sitting in the waiting room with people and didn’t think to pray for them.

What I realized is that seeing these signs on their chairs gave me a glimpse into their reality, and a reason to pray for them.

The truth is, every person we pass throughout our day has something they are going through. The thing is, there isn’t a sign on their chair, or on their back, telling us what they are going through.

I share this with you to invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

We do not need a sign to remind us that each person we pass throughout our day is going through something. May we visualize a blank sign on each person, know God knows their hearts, and pray for them. Even though we will never know the power of our prayers, we will know the transformative power of choosing to love others, even when we don’t know their story.

With love and hope,

Shawn

P.S. Give this a try...maybe even while waiting in line to vote🤷‍♀️💕🙏💕

“Love your neighbor as yourself.” - Mark 12:31

LET'S STAY CONNECTED