the story of us

Awhile back, a friend said to me "I like reading your blog but I miss the days when it was more about who you are and less about what you do. I understand why it can't always be like that, but I still miss those days."

And it's true. What started as a family blog/place to dump my heart thoughts has morphed into more. As our small businesses have become our job and as our family and ministry has become our life, it feels really easy to protect what is our life and blog about what is my job. Life feels sacred, the good and the bad of it. The car rides with kids pinching each other and babies crying in the night. Cuddle sessions on Sunday afternoon and moments curled up next to my husband as we pray and share our fears. Sometimes the fuller life gets, the more I want to hide it from the internet. 

BUT. I don't want to look back on this blog and not remember what our family was like. One of the biggest blessings of having blogged for 9 years is that I can look back and remember. So today, I thought I'd just give a quick family update - a story of us, who we are right now, from my perspective. 

Nick: Our patriarch is leading us well. He's following Jesus and we're following him. Nick is full time working for the church now and handed almost all of his responsibilities with Naptime Diaries to Jacey and I. He still primarily works from home, which is a straight up blessing to me. He spends his days studying and praying, meeting with new church members, meeting with other people in our city, serving at our kid's school, and planning and strategizing for the church. I surprised him with a bike for Christmas (which was the hardest thing in America to surprise someone with) and he's started riding a good bit. For fun, he works out and occasionally watches sports. For fun, I tell him he needs to have more fun. 

Elias: Elias turned seven at the end of January and most days I'm not sure who is parenting who. Ebug wakes up faithfully at six every morning, so him and I get to spend that first hour together - squished together on the couch as I read the Bible and he plays with legos or reads a book. His heart is in such a cool place right now, as he's all of a sudden exposed to the world in so many new ways - but he wants to be tethered home too. He reads his Bible every night in bed and he does a wicked english accent. He loves legos and anything electronic. His hair is so thick and beautiful, I feel like it must hurt his head. 

Glory: Glor just turned six last week and I swear in my head, she is still 4. Maybe 5. Not 6. The only word to describe her is JOY. She is so full of joy. And even when she's not, when she's mad or fussy, she makes us feel joyful because she's so stinking cute. She serves her heart out - often asking multiple times a day, "Is there anything else I can do?". She loves Frozen like every other little girl in America right now. She likes Irish dancing, which is hilarious to watch. She gets dirty quicker than anyone I've ever met and her smile is infectious. 

Benjamin: Oh Benj, son of my right hand. We've seen more growth in Benjamin in the last year than I ever could have imagined. He is growing so soft, but he's still so unlike the rest of us in some funny ways. He's grumpy and sarcastic, isn't quick to show his emotions, and he is really, really, really genuinely funny. One of my favorite moments of 2014 was a month or so ago and he was going to sleep. He still sleeps with his same camo blanket that he's had since he was six months old, even though it barely covers him. I couldn't find his blanket anywhere and he was slowly becoming distraught. I finally found it and after I covered him up and as I walked away, he called my name. I looked back over my shoulder to see him beaming the biggest smile, with his arms outstretch, wanting a hug. It was so, so loving for him and I stored it in my heart. 

Cannon: Cannon, Cannon, Cannon. What can be said of the baby that has me wrapped around his finger? His dad & siblings too. Cannon JUST started consistently sleeping through the night about a month ago, at 13 months old. He still has off nights. He is crazy strong willed and loud like no other. He loves playing ball - a yellow tennis ball is like his girlfriend. He loves waffles and blueberry cereal bars. He's starting to say a few words occasionally - uh oh, Dada, the occasional "no", he says "yeah!" all day long. He likes staring out the front door and watching the neighborhood cats and he went from walking to running in about one day. I still hold him like a baby once or twice a day and man, I am so grateful for him. 

Me? My days are norming out more than they ever have in my adult life. Busy weeks and slow weeks are starting to all look the same. I wake up early to be with the Lord and Elias. I get the kids ready for school and then stare into space for a few minutes when Nick takes them. I start really working around 8am and work pretty hard till noon every day while Cannon plays, naps, or I have a nanny. The rest of the afternoon is a flurry of errands, cleaning, Cannon, a little bit of work, picking up kids, neighbors over, working out, cooking, and cleaning some more. I love weekly date nights with my husband, our new church and these amazing relationships I'm developing. I'm completely humbled and feel like I have so much growing to do in my three biggest passions - motherhood, the church, and health + fitness. I keep a candle lit almost all day, I finally found the perfect lipstick for me and I rewear my outfits a few days in a row. 

This is our story. 

It's not perfect, but man are we blessed. 

This is who we are because He is who He is. 

Thanks for letting me share. 

life lately in grace

Life lately is filled with loud kids who are prepping for the biggest change their little lives have ever seen. They are excited and wound up and a little nervous and excited about starting school this week. In these last few days, we are squeezing every last drop of summer and having them full time. Last trips to the beach, movie dates with dad, and falling asleep in the parents room are all happening. And we're loving it.  

Life lately is gathering with community once again. Those first few weeks in Charleston were so different. Lots of people visiting, but no permanent community. As our friends from Fort Wayne have begun to move for the church and as the Lord has brought new friends, there is such much comfort for us in community. I love seeing my sink full of dishes and my driveway full of cars. Says the introverted community lover. 

Life lately is kissing the side of a baby's neck and laying beside him as he practices crawling. Cannon is still such a happy baby except for when it comes to eating (we can NEVER feed him fast enough) or sleeping (who likes to sleep?), but otherwise he is really the joy of our family. 

Life lately is all jumbled in a sweet and sticky way. Small business talk bleeds into church talk and intense marriage conversations are had while buying school supplies. Guests come and go and plan are always changing, but the Lord has us where He wants us and for that -- we praise Him. 

What's your life like lately? 

an end of summer benediction

First, some end of summer pictures. 

my main mini man and his first ice cream

a restfilled afternoon at Pop and Kiki's watching Shirley Temple

a non-restfilled afternoon at our home after craft time

I let Glory paint my nails and toenails! 

On Wednesday, we were driving home from our last little mini-excursion. This summer has been full of them for us - planned and unplanned. I was looking ahead at the calendar and having a tiny freak out. From that day, we had exactly four weeks till our big kids (at least two, probably three) head to school. The summer is nearly gone! And what do we have to show for it? 

Our house is semi-unpacked and kind of decorated. 
I had big plans to read a bajillion books and write a good bit on my own. 
I wanted to launch a new product line by August 1st. (still coming!)
All these should of and could've wrapped up in a 2/3 gone summer. 

My man, he has a good head on him though and the Lord calmed my heart through his words. He encouraged me that we have done great work this summer. We have abided. I have abided. I have held ice cream cones out to babies and let my phone battery dwindle while I dawdle with my kids. I've let mess and rest and creativity sweep over me. I've felt the Lord sweep through stiff places in my heart like a broom brushing cobwebs aside. 

If you feel like it's running by too quickly, don't stress. 
Look around and soak it up. Drink it in. 
The work is in the watching and the being. 
Our Father made the seasons with perfect purpose and that deflated, tired, fulfilled, warm feeling that washes over you on a summer afternoon - that's from Him. 
Soak it up. 

maybe there's a book in there.

I should know better than to make business only-strategic-heartless decisions. 
I'm a heart girl. 
And while one of my new years resolutions was to use the phrase "I feel" less, I shouldn't avoid big old thoughts and plans without feeling, you know? 

I'd made a strategic decision about the upcoming conference and another eBook a few weeks back. In all vulnerability, I hadn't prayed much about it or sought guidance from others. I knew I needed to prepare a message for my session at Influence and I knew I wanted to write another eBook this year. Neither had me up at night with my heart beating out of my chest. I didn't have some burning thing that I wanted to sit and have coffee with women and share with them, like I did with Be Quiet. But I could see a void and see a question permeating through the community and I chose to write on the idea of "getting it right the first time" as an answer to a void, not so much from a place of vulnerability or expertise. 

I started doing a little research. A little reading. Again, not enough praying or sitting still or feeling. I kept going with my normal routine - take on too much, freak out, cry in the shower, take a few things off my plate, get a crazy idea, take on too much, repeat. The conference barreled forward in the best of ways and some of the crazy ideas worked and this is our life - it's ok. It's very much what you would expect from a family of 2 parents, 3 kids, 1 full time pastor, 2 full time entrepreneurs, 1 full time mom, 1 full time dad, a 4th baby on the way, and new endeavors + opportunities + ideas popping up daily. 

And then, there I sat, in the hospital. 
With a nurse checking my bleeding and searching quietly for a heartbeat with her magical, hopeful wand. And the danger I could so tangibly perceive to my unborn baby - done very possibly by my own intensely sad cycle of life, I could immediately attribute and perceive threatening the rest of my life. 
My other kids. My ministry. His ministry. Our marriage. Ourselves. 
We weren't doing it right the first time. 

The next day I texted him, needing to hear the truth. 

"If I spoke or wrote on 'getting it right the first time', it would all be a lie, right? Things have to change, don't they?" And in grace & truth, he simply texted back "yes". 

So I'll still get up and do my session at the conference and I'll still possibly write the book as time allows. But the only authority with which I'll speak or write is from the assured place that I have failed at getting it right the first time and I'm a great big display of God's grace - trying again today, again tomorrow, again the next.
To get it right the first time. 
For His glory. 

post edit: the hospital visit I mention is the one I took a few weeks ago. 

baby is still doing ok and I'm sitting down a lot to keep it that way:) 

we're having a....

I seriously can't watch that video without dying laughing. 

She eventually calmed down. Eventually. 

In all seriousness - what we're having looks to be a very healthy baby. 

Thank you all for you prayers over the last week or so. The big, big, big scary problem that my doctors thought I was dealing with looks to be more like a much less big, much less scary problem. I'm still on "light rest" - no more running that 10k or standing up for too long but I will take that ANY day over serious problems for me + baby. 

This weekend, I've let my heart get attached all over again to this baby. 

Picturing bringing him home and cuddling him and singing him to sleep. 

Watching him wrestle his brothers and bless his sister.

I always hoped deep down I'd get to be a mama to three boys. 

And now, I have that precious princess thrown into the mix too:). 

Again, thank you for praying for our family. 

We will repay you with MANY adorable and precious baby boy photos come early 2013. 

That's a promise. 

the reluctant homeschooler

Partially a reason I've been a little more quiet in the last few weeks is our new little family endeavor that  is taking up lots of hours and even more brain space in this mama's head. 

Our journey to homeschooling is a long and drawn out story, but one I want to share as succinctly as possible if it will encourage other mamas or impart grace along the way. I'll start by saying, I was a public school girl growing up, my Dad worked in the American public school system for years and year, as did my sister. When we got married and even began having kids, there was no doubt in my mind that we'd do the same. I wasn't really exposed to any homeschooled kids growing up that functioned in society the same way we did and so I just had never seen it done in a way that made it even slightly attractive. Also, being completely vulnerable - I fell into motherhood in a way that overwhelmed the mess out of me. My first three kids were all born within 28 months of each other. During those years, I was tired and stressed out and truly just could not wait until they started going to school so I could get some peace. 

But of course, the Lord began getting at my heart. I still didn't feel slightly interested in homeschooling, but He began shifting my heart to see what a privilege it was to spend time with them and how short this season was that I had to speak into their lives. I also started getting really cautious about who was going to be speaking into them and teaching them and their surroundings. 

Long, long story short - we moved to Fort Wayne and I felt all kinds of dread in my heart. For so many different reasons, the main one being we don't know how long we'll be here, I knew that traditional public school was not in the cards for us. I prayed and prayed and prayed and prayed and asked the Lord if we could send Elias to public school and I felt a serious check about it. I didn't have the same desire to just get him out of the house, but I really wanted what was BEST for him. Friends, a comprehensive education, and shoot - just a normal kindergarten exciting experience. Also, I felt super inadequate to teach him - even kindergarten! In my mind, there were two types of homeschooling parents - mamas who are super wise, patient, uber organized teachers who feel really excited to teach their kids everything under the sun OR moms who don't stress so much and are more comfortable with organic learning. I fall in NEITHER of those categories. I'm not a natural born teacher and I cannot do anything organically or relaxed:). 

So I'm finding that there may be lots of different types of homeschoolers and I'm one of them. I'm one of the reluctant homeschoolers. 

• I'm repeating 2 Corinthians 12:9 a lot. 

• I'm loving the time with my kiddos but praying in my heart that the Lord would one day provide the right situation for them to sit under a real teacher. 

• I'm making the most of this season but trying very mightily to guard my heart from making my kids education an idol or a trophy for myself. 

• While we're missing the ability to be missional in a traditional schools setting, we're trying to capitalize on the freedom homeschooling gives us to love our neighbors - as that's one of the most important things we want to teach our kiddos. So, lots of YMCA visits, lots of schooling outside so we can socialize with neighbors, lots of community activity. 

• I'm thankful and still learning from my friends who are deeply entrenched in homeschool and 100% embracing sending their kiddos off on the bus with lunchboxes. I love loving both of those types of gals and supporting what they believe God wants them to do in their families. 

So that's the heart behind what's going on in our family right now. 

We'd love your prayers and Lord knows, I'd love any advice you other reluctant homeschooling mamas might have!

I'm going to do another post next week with the nuts + bolts of what we're doing PLUS some schedule stuff that has worked for us and a few free printables for any of you to use! 

In the meantime, I have a science experiment on balance to go prep:) 

psssst:  my sweet friend over at Blue Eyed Bride is giving away me eBook today! Go win one!

a true story, I don't have time.

Can I get Hallmarky with you for a minute? 
I think something I'm realizing is that the more you thank the Lord for your blessings, the more overwhelmingly blessed you feel. 

This year, for Easter, all I wanted to do was just really whole heartedly praise Him for what He did for me. And even in that desire, I knew it wasn't possible. I knew I couldn't actually muster up some sort of complete and pure praise of what, the whole cross? All of salvation? It's like the sunniest day that we've ever known and all we can do is squint and see the tiniest amount of light. My heart is squinting and knowing, "wow - I'm saved. Christ died for me. While I was still a sinner." And that one ray of light that eeks in behind the guard of my shading fingers and eyelashes and mostly-closed squint, and it stuns me. 

But somewhere during the week last week, I felt this charge to throw off what was hindering me and CELEBRATE. Easier said than done. I started over about 129 times. 
But each time I reminded myself, "Christ DIED for me." "I have been saved from death, from meaninglessness, from terror, from depression, from despair, from myself, from insanity...." or even, "Christ loves me. Just me. As I am.", those thoughts changed everything. 

I started thinking about that line from the John Mark song, "I don't have time to maintain these regrets when I think about... the way, He loves me...". And it's so true and so trite. 
Him alone. Is enough. But I'm finding when I count Him enough. 
He shows me all the other things. 

So this weekend was filled with much praise. 
And easter egg hunting. And food. And a datenight with the most handsome man I know. 
And thrift shopping. And beautiful conversations. And dreaming. 
And worship. And watching baptisms of the saints with my precious church. 
And ugly crying through praise. 


And girl, you know it was filled with other stuff. 
Headaches, fears, sadness, life. Pain, flesh, this world. 
But I don't have time. 
I don't have time to maintain those regrets. 
Haven't you heard? 
Jesus gave me new life. 

getting cute for a minute

Because this week has been ALL ABOUT keeping it real, here are my precious kiddos finishing up a Truthcards session. If you don't have Truthcards, I highly highly highly suggest them. For our little nuggets, it's a fun way for them to hide God's word in their hearts. And bribing with mints sure doesn't help. 


So maybe I set out to get a video of them doing some absolutely perfected verses for Jenna, the precious creator of Truthcards. What we got instead was Benja doing his own interpretation - but a real and fun moment with the conno-kids for certain. 


PS - I can't think of a better Easter-basket-gift or Happy-Friday-gift for your family besides these gems! 
Do unto others, you know?!

our glory is FOUR.

perfectly made.

if you're unfamiliar with our sweet girl's miraculous story - 

you could start here. 

and read some here too. 

she's been through a lot and God has 

gotten much glory from people petitioning 

for her life and her health. 

we want to thank the thousands of people who 

have lifted her up to Him. 

thank you, thank you, thank you. 

Oh my girl. My girl.

This has been a year, huh?

just being your wild and precious self

On your fourth birthday, I can’t think of a better way to start my day than to praise our Father who created you in all of your intricate and beautiful complexities, chose you for our family to love and shepherd and raise, and of course – sustained you miraculously throughout this last year. I’m pretty sure that if I look in your face long enough, my heart just automatically starts to praise Him. Your smile is THAT beautiful, your heart is THAT interesting and lovely, your future is THAT exciting – that my heart just bursts open and upward at the thought of you. He made you powerfully. He made you skillfully. He made you perfectly. He made you lovely.

with your favorites

So I’d love to just pray for you this morning, Lovey – and I will as soon as I put this computer down. I can’t wait to do this day with you. I can’t wait to do this year with you!

The big plans are for Dad to take you to breakfast, then I’m taking you for some special girl time and then tonight, HOT DOGS! (just like you asked for) and cupcakes with some of our friends. I hope it’s a fun and memorable day for you. I hope this year is one of the best of your life.

I love you glory-ory.

Mama. 

vday.

In honor of the day, I want to tell you one thing I love about each of my valentines. 

Nick: I love that you are so incredibly quick to forgive. I've never seen you not forgive.
Elias: I am obsessed with your ability to comprehend biblical concepts. I am positive that you understand the passover better than I do. 
Gloriana: Oh girl. I love your nod. Your incessant, hopeful, helpful, persistent little nod of your head. Only a mama can know what lies behind a nod like that.
Benja: I love that you're breaking out of the old I'm-going-to-pretend-like-I-don't-like-anyone shell. Nala the dog, Ben at church, and me - we're all on to you. You LIKE us. 


In all seriousness, Connolly Family: I love you guys. 
I don't deserve to be the wife and mama of such a special brood. 
I love you all so much. 


And also in honor of the day, how about two new prints and a QUICK 24 hours sale? 
If your hunny forgot to buy you a gift, 
or you forgot to buy your hunny a gift (oh gasp)
or you just need an excuse for some new scripture prints in your home - today's the day. 

Until midnight PST, use coupon code VDAY30 for 30% off everything in the shop! 

Like, maybe, specifically, these two: 

psalm 139

do everything

Or any of these oldies & goodies.

it is well, strength & dignity, tears, greatest

But most of all, have a precious valentines.

Tell somebody you love em. 

And tell them who else loves them. 

Amen?

coffee date

If you were here for coffee or tea this morning, here is something I'd like to talk about: 

How do you keep your joy during Christmas? 

If you're a mama, or a friend, or a wife. 
Or just a responsible human being who realizes Christmas is not the best time of year to wallow in any sinful and selfish feelings of your own, how do you let your heart be joyful during the holidays? 

This year, I can't help but think back to last year - when I was seriously struggling with depression over Christmas. I'm so pleased that my kiddos have fond memories (some of their first!) about last Christmas, but I can honestly say - I remember so little about it. 
I know the Lord carried us through some dark days. 

This year, we have so many hopeful and exciting things in our lives, and STILL it's such a battle to fight through the "it's-thursday-night-and-i'm-exhausted-and-i-really-need-to-do-laundry" to get into the most spectacular Tree decorating party ever. Amen? 
Or is that just me? 


And then, you add in the fact that our kids are FOUR, THREE, AND TWO and I have to remember that every memory we make in this seasons is going to involve slight whiffs of poop, a temper tantrum or two, and maybe a few tears. 

But they're still really beautiful memories. 
And they're still worth making. And He is still worth celebrating. 


I've been thinking back on my own childhood memories a lot and thinking about my single mom making Christmas work every year. I'm sure there were financial stresses, loneliness, tiredness, and a million other problems - but I don't remember a single one. I truly, truly, truly loved our Christmases growing up. 
Thank you Mama for pushing through. 

And then there is the Santa conundrum! Whoa Nellie. 
We don't even "do" Santa, and we've always felt really non-dramatic about it. Let the kids watch Santa movies and such, sort of ignoring the whole he-comes-down-the-chimney idea. Explaining that God gives us money and with that money, we sit it fit to buy our kids a few gifts to celebrate Jesus being born.
But at our kids school, they heard about Santa & his goodness, which led to a thirty minute conversation last night in which Elias insisted Santa was more exciting than Jesus. 
Which was heart-breaking and understanding all at once. 
And it took some grace to just move on and some prayer that He'd believe us one day. 
That Jesus is a million cadrillion times better than Santa. 

And speaking of Jesus, it's all about Him, right? 
I feel like the Lord has given me special instructions this year about the joy thing. 
Keep my eyes on Him. 
Keep my eyes on Him. 
Isaiah 45:22 - Look to me and you will be saved. 
Keep my eyes on Him. 

But let's talk - 
what are you doing to fight for the joy? 
What special coffee are you drinking at 4pm to get pumped for a night of advent activities? 
Do you find yourselves saying, "Well, does Santa die on the cross for our sins?!" :) 
I want to hear your heart, lady. 
And you can pray that I'll be keeping my eyes on Him. 

advent update

It's Tuesday night and I'm late (for me) working and tweeting and planning and packing. 
In 48 hours I'll be IN SEATTLE. 
I have missed my sweet girl friends something fierce since moving and I am so thankful for this time to go back and visit with them. 


But what do you know? That means I'll be away from my kiddos the first few days of advent. 
Well. Bummer. 
This is it! 
Our favorite time of year!
And mama is skipping town for a few days?!


But I'm going to use it to my advantage, (I hope), with lots of Daddy-centric activities that will make the kiddos really excited for Advent and the season that is ahead. 
And I thought as we go through the season, I'd share little bits and pieces of what we're up to, in the hopes that ya'll will share too! 


- Today I am finally putting up our advent calendar. I put it up for Etsy pics and took it back down the same night. But now it goes up for good. 
- Wednesday night before we get started, we'll have a quick family Bible time and refresh the kids on what Advent means. Nick is preparing one or two quick devotion times for us based off this material. Hm..... I smell a guest post. 
- Thursday morning we'll kick off Advent with a bang by a Daddy/donut/before school trip! Now one thing we don't do, is we don't tell the kids what the Advent activity is before the actual day (if we can help it) and here is why: if I told Elias & Glory that their Dad was taking them for donuts before school - they'd be up at 3:45am. True story. 
- Friday morning, we've bought special cards for the kids since I'll be away from them the whole day, Nick most of the day, and.... because these kids LOVE cards. 
- Saturday is bake cookies with Daddy day. (reminder: buy more chocolate chips before I leave)
- Sunday is "take Daddy to Starbucks on the way to church" day. 
Advent activities can be practical too, you know. 
- Monday is a Christmas movie after dinner. 
- and Tuesday, no matter if I'm dog tired from my red-eye, is
CHRISTMAS TREE DAY. 
I cannot wait. 


I want to share one more thing. 
I don't blog about my kids a whole bunch, mostly for their protection, but also - because parenting is one of the biggest challenges in my life. 
But this year has been so incredibly precious to see our kiddos wrap their minds around the gospel the best they can. To hear them talk about the concept of having Jesus give them new hearts and even to hear that they know they don't yet have those hearts. 
And honestly, it makes the whole idea of Advent that much more special. 
Not just to do a bunch of fun things to celebrate Christmas, but to take a few minutes out of each day to say to them again - 
This Jesus is worth celebrating. 
This Jesus is worth mixing it all up for. 
This Jesus came for you. And for me. 
And that's good news. 


I hope that is shifting something in all of our hearts today. 
Happy almost Advent friends! 

save big, bless big

There's no denying it now, ya'll. 

The holidays are upon us. 

Here in South Carolina, it may be 70 degrees but THANKSGIVING IS JUST DAYS AWAY. 

And with the Holidays coming, I can't help but think of...

joy?

peace?

Jesus?

family? 

YES. All those things, but I also really find myself thinking about 

MONEY. 

The car trips to visit family, the advent activities with the kids, the decorations, the gifts, the extra food, all of it. It costs dollas. And we're in a precarious stage of life with money. My husband has a wonderful blessing of a temporary job, we're fund-raising to plant a church, and our secondary income (naptime diaries) fluctuates mightily. 

But this year, I want to feel different about money. 

I don't want to be looking at what little we have discontentedly. 

I don't want to be feeling the exhausted hit of the bank account on the 26th. 

So, we decided to ask the Lord to help us do two things this holiday: 

SAVE BIG so we could BLESS BIG. 

We've now sat our kids down and explained to them, we're watching every penny from now till Christmas. No Friday sonic runs. No little new toys from Target just because. I've done my last thrift shopping trip of the year. No new books for Nick. A tiny coffee budget per week that has me missing my baristas something fierce. Making more gifts than we're buying. Really watching our grocery list with the knowledge that we'll probably want to save room in our wallets and our bellies for holiday parties and events. 

And our HOPE is not just that we'll get through the Holidays in the black, but that the Lord would help us shift our thoughts about what is good about them. That He'd open our eyes so we could open our hands to people who need more than we do. And maybe, just maybe be able to bless someone (or many someones) BIG. Be able to pay a friend's power bill, make a big adoption donation, buy a meal, WHO KNOWS?! Who knows what the Lord can do in our budgets if we make room for Him? 

So what do you say? 

Want to join us? 

What if once a week I did a save big/bless big post and in the comments we all shared tips & tricks for how we're saving during the holidays and ways the Lord is opening our eyes to ways we can all do a little holiday blessing? 

Let's do it. Well, let's see what He can do. 

first thess