Filled with Joy: Grant Woods Forest Preserve Proposal

Filled with Joy

The sun beats down on me as I kneel, scrunched beneath a tree for hiding.  The text comes through, I can see them, walking over now.  They play frisbee, carefree, relaxed, excited to simply be enjoying unexpected time together; a gift to never be taken for granted.  The frisbee escapes into the water lying quietly beside them.  The moment is perfect.  Cody sneaks into his bag to slip out the ring box, Sue occupied with stick in hand rescuing the lone frisbee.  Cody comes to her aide, sweet whispers enter her ear, as he then drops to one knee.  Smiles erupt, laughter follows, joy fills the air, as even the trees and water express their joy.  

After this beautiful proposal, I asked Cody and Sue to describe to me their relationship and what they found attractive/valuable within each other.  What followed was more beautiful than the rest.  Sue described how she so loved, admired and adored the way that Cody loves and serves the Lord and the people that he encounters within his life.   For Sue, Cody gushed on how he is continually blessed by Sue's overwhelming joy.  Joy.  What a beautiful trait to be filled with.  These two are bonded by so much more than just love, but also by admiration, respect, longing, and the truest desire to serve the Lord with all that they are. 

Romans 15: 13 says this: 

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" 

After spending only a short while with these two, I do not believe I have ever seen a more selfless form of love between two people.  Both, running with their beautiful and unique stories fully towards the Lord and allowing Him to bless the rest.  The joy between them was contagious and I truly left feeling more blessed than ever.  The way these two love others and serve is truly a radical testimony of their  love and hope.  I can only imagine how beautiful their life is going to be together now!  I know that they will bless this world beyond measure and make lasting impacts for the course of eternity.  And I have not even mentioned how gorgeous Sue is, both inside and out!! Their wedding day is going to be one for the books!! Congratulations Sue and Cody!  Thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of such an incredible moment in your lives and for blessing me to the core in the process.  Grab hold of joy in this life my friends, be filled with it, renewed by it, for it will truly being you lasting hope, thus releasing the chains and bonds and allowing you to live the fullest life there is, one of freedom and bliss. 

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Making space for snuggles, giggles and tractor watching

Making Space

Space.  It is something I so desperately longed for as the children were infants, barely having a moment to myself, with my space, without the warmth of another human resting against me.  And there is beauty in the space.  The space to have freedom of thoughts and peace and quiet.  However, lately I have been thinking of a new kind of space.  Making space within my life for intentional time with family, intentional, focused play time.  For you see, how is it that I can stay at home with my children, and yet still be constantly missing it?  Because, some days, I have no extra space within my thoughts.  They are filled with my ever increasing house to-do lists, business to-do lists, personal to-do lists.  I thought being at home would make it easy, and yet I do still get much more time with my children, but I still must fight for it.  I must choose to make the time, to make the space, for otherwise everything else will fill the day and I will miss it. 

So, this is what we are intentional weaving into the space of our days now.  We are making space for the snuggles, for tickling and chasing around the house and dancing.  For watching tractors and birds and ducks and chicks.   For picking leaves, playing in the dirt and discovering new things.  We are making space for it, for I know that if I do not create the habit of the little things and time with my children being important now, when they so desperately desire it and need it, then I feel I will miss my window and they will grow to not want it as they age.  They will find new desires, new people to invest time in them.  And this is my job, my family, my people.  They are always the most important.  So, let's start making the space for the little things in our lives too, because little things over time become the big things and big things become the memories etched within our hearts and souls.  So, may we commit to doing the little things well.  They are important too. Make space to breathe.  

Warmly, 

      Laura 

My hiding place: The Felsman Family

Psalm 32: 7

"You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance".  

My Hiding Place

Teeth chattering but smiles full, warm embraces and belly laughs.  We arose to the morning light and met it with joy and sweet music.  Stories being remembered and memories created all the more.  There was a collision of tenderness and wild, of beauty and strength.  This family, united, covered in a blanket of goodness and unfailing love.  And oh may we not forget hope.  For it rests here, in the gentle crevices between the pain.  But as it makes its way in, it bursts forth, shining brighter than the rest.  Overshadowing anything else that might be and restoring all to as it should be.  So much beauty, so much love, so much hope to be spread.  

This family; truly genuine, contagiously joyful, completely present. Hearts worn proud, and affections spilling over.  The adoration and respect of these boys to become men.  The simple purity brought forth from it all.  And within the real, the raw, extreme vulnerability presides, but it does not disappoint as it becomes the resting place for the truest beauty we are able to give.  Ourselves as we truly are, broken and beautiful.  May we continue to hide in the Lord, rest under His guarding protection and care and sing a new song to Him for the day of our deliverance is soon to be here and the hope is rising still.  

Thanks for spending the morning with me Felsman Family!  What a delight it was! 

Warmly, 

     Laura 

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