Rebecca VanDeMark's Blog, page 242

Dreaming of Spring and Summer Fashion and Sharing an Amazing Sale

Today for this Fashion Friday post, I am excited to share with y'all some fun pieces that I have found (for extremely cheap!) on the SheIn website. I am totally dreaming of Spring and Summer so a lot of pieces are for the upcoming months, and I hope that you enjoy them! 
I do want to share too that there is an AMAZING sale going on right now with SheIn that ends in the next couple of days and lots of items are starting at exceptionally low prices plus you can receive $3.00 off your total!! Want to check out the sale? Click HERE!

Starting off with some "mild winter" pieces (especially for those of us freezing on the East Coast *smiles*) Here are a few pieces that I thought were really cute, especially for the price:
This off-the shoulder sweater comes in a variety of different colors and is just $10.00. The sweater is said to have a bit of stretch to it but the reviews say that it runs true to size. It is available in sizes Small through xxxlarge. 
I really love this Navy Top with the Lace. I ordered a short sleeve version in pink last year from SheIn and wore it on one of the shore excursions on the Royal Caribbean Cruise that I went on in November (you can see it HERE). I like the long-sleeve version and think that it might be cute under a jacket. This shirt is $9.00 right now, comes in size xsmall through large and you can find it in the long-sleeved t-shirts HERE.  But after looking at a few "wintery pieces" I quickly turned to Spring and Summer items. I am totally dreaming of spring and summer and warm weather lately (I think it is the recent winter snow storm that has me dreaming of tropical locations *smiles*) and this above top was so adorable at SheIn. For us taller gals, it looks a bit short, but it is so cute, especially for you petite ladies. It is $15.00, and comes in sizes xsmall through large. Another version of a white lace top...  This off the shoulder shirt looks adorable for summertime and is a couple of dollars cheaper than the above top, retailing at $13.00. It comes in sizes small through x-large.  This top has a boho feel to it which is so cute, but it is the back that I really fell in love with: This top is on sale right now for $22 and also comes in a royal blue version. Both colors have sizes xsmall through large as options. 
Looking for a dress? There were some cute dresses that I found on the site for a pretty good price: I thought this dress was cute and adorable and a sweet Spring to Summer transition dress. The one part that makes me hesitate is how low the lace in the front goes down. Any thoughts? This white dress just screamed summer to me and I could totally see using this as a cover up. It comes in sizes large and x-large and is on sale for $24.00.  This floral dress I purchased last year to wear on the Disney Cruise with my sister but didn't have a chance. I can't wait for warmer days to enjoy this dress! It is a favorite on the SheIn site with lots of positive reviews and comes in sizes small through xxlarge. It is on sale right now for $25.00! You can find it in the Fashion Dresses section! 
Want to check out these items and others from SheIn? Click HERE! 
What about y'all? Any Spring or Summer fashion finds you are dreaming about? Did y'all see in my Monday post about the Virginia Dare Dress Company? I seriously can not wait until it launches because I love all of her designs! Happy Friday friends! I hope that you have a wonderful weekend!!

From Hope Valley Devotionals (Three)

Listening to Elizabeth's journal entry in this precious episode at the end of season one, I am immediately struck by the wisdom that she is sharing. So many times in our lives we are tempted to move or run away to a new place if our circumstances are not exactly how we envisioned them more than resolving that we will stick through the storms of life and plant and bloom where the Lord calls us to be, looking for the happiness that can await us.
Several years ago my life changed radically due to severe health issues. I went from being a very independent, social, and active young woman who enjoyed working in a job that I loved as a high school teacher, having a busy social life filled with people I lovingly referred to as "my tribe", enjoying a volunteer schedule in my community to becoming primarily bedridden in my parents home (in a different state). It was incredibly difficult and at the beginning there wasn't a day that didn't go by that was spent more in tears than in laughter. I deeply struggled with scripture talking about contentment as I was unsure how this new life that I found myself in could be anything but sorrowful, stressful, and full of grief. I wept deeply and longed for the days where my life would return to "normal". 
I was assured by many people, including my main medical doctor at the time, that this was a brief season in life and I would soon be back to my previous life. Unfortunately the days spread into weeks and months as my health continued to decline and my life became about survival and finding answers. I longed to be in a different place- physically in my body and emotionally longing for the life that I had before.
When several correct diagnosis' finally came, my life took a different turn as the past four years have been about fighting for my health. In many ways there are such minor improvements in my health that looking in from the outside no one would notice much and yet what has changed is finding joy and grace despite this very difficult situation. I have found the truth of Elizabeth's words that there is a beauty in resolving to stay (emotionally or physically) as long as the Lord calls you to a specific place and in recognizing that life holds a mixture of sadness, wonderment, hope and joy.
My heart goes out to each of you who may long for a different place to call your home. I weep with you, because my heart well understands where you are at. Truly, I do. For those of you who are struggling deeply with this area, I wish that I could sit down with you for coffee or tea and just listen to your story and give you a gentle hug of encouragement. I can't imagine the hard roads that some of you are walking. 

My mama has done this with me often... sat down, held my hand, and given me the space to cry and process the longing of wanting to be in a different place or season. Years ago my mom shared with me about a difficult season in her own life when I was a child. Specifically she shared how difficult it was to live in one house and neighborhood that I spent the first nine years of my life in. I was shocked to learn this because I had never suspected this at any point in my life. My mom was always so joyful in that living arrangement and as far as I had ever known she had not survived, but thrived in that space.
One afternoon when I was weeping about my circumstances, my mom tenderly explained all of the things that made that living arrangement a difficult place to live. She explained difficult circumstances with neighbors, inconsiderate situations that happened, the difficulty in the design of the home being extremely small for a growing (and tall!) family of five, her dreams of a garden that she did not have the finances or space for, the lack of supportive friends as they lived farther away, the difficulty of having one car, and the lack of a neighborhood community that both of my parents longed for. There were no financial resources to change things in the home or move and as she continued to talk she listed many other things. 
For the first time my mom expressed how difficult it was for her as a young wife and mom especially since they had moved from an idyllic situation with a beautiful big farmhouse that she adored with lots of space, a huge garden, quiet surroundings that allowed her babies to sleep easily, the beautiful layout of the spacious house that allowed a family to comfortable grow, and the easy access and location to their church and to their friends, even without a second car. 
My mouth literally dropped open as she talked because I was stunned that the life that she had before my childhood home was her dream house and situation, not the one that I had grown up in. I immediately asked her what her secret was to being so joyful in the situation that she was in as I had never once ever suspected that my mom was anything less than completely content in her life. 
Her reply was simple and yet profound as she said, "Jesus. Simply Jesus. I turned my eyes off the circumstances that I couldn't change and loathed and onto the One who loves me more than life. I resolved to find the joy there in that situation, no matter what the circumstances were to the contrary." And then she continued and gently said, "Rebecca, if you can't find contentment and happiness where you currently find yourself, you will never find it in a different set of circumstances."
My mom is my hero. She resolved to make her home where she was at and grew and flourished there. She worked at memorizing scripture to encourage her heart, spent hours in prayer, played inspirational music, and most of all learned to laugh at the things that would have made her cry (Proverbs 31:25). She and my dad consistently modeled a life-style of reaching out to their neighbors, embracing the community that God had put them in with love and practicality, and grew to understand and know the hearts of those whom they shared the street and neighborhood with. Over the years they embraced an elderly widow whose children lived far away, gathering her lonely heart into our family so much so that I believed she was a second grandmother. It took days upon days and years, but my mom intentionally and lovingly got to know each of our neighbors and the broken and the weary that surrounded us, opening our home to be a refuge for those who were hurting, and showed us by her actions how to open our hearts to everyone that crossed our paths. 
Throughout my life I have seen my mom consistently model this same trust and surrender to the Lord. Several decades after the little house season, I now again marvel at watching my mom resolve to find joy and contentment in her situation and surroundings. For the past four years she has tirelessly sacrificed any of her desires and dreams to help me get better. She retired early from a job that she loved, has cooked hundreds of meals, taken me to every doctors appointment (even the ones across the country and in Canada), has sat in countless uncomfortable hospital chairs, wiped away my tears, held my hair back as I have been sick time and time again, and has whispered constant hope and truth to me every single day. She has delighted in serving behind the scenes and has never once complained. 
For the past two years we have lived 20 hours away from my parents home and with my grandmother in her tiny home so that I could receive treatments in my fight for my health. My parents have sacrificed deeply, giving up their home for this time period, moving away from their community and their other children, sleeping on an air mattress in the living room, and everyday I see her ask nothing for herself, but instead has joyfully served her family. My mom has given up the ease of living in her own home and space and has never complained once. My mom has sacrificed in small and big ways and I have once again marveled at the way that there has never had a cross word or a word of complaint about our current situation. Her love and focus on the Lord and not our circumstances has changed me in the best way possible. She continues to live out the principle from the small house long ago... a life found in the joy of the One that she loves the most. 
Dear friends, no matter what circumstances you find yourself in- maybe like myself you are struggling with physical limitations or maybe like my mom you are a mama who longs for a different place or maybe you are someone dreaming and longing for a spouse, a child, a new job, a new home, a broken relationship healed, or countless other things, find courage. 

C.S. Lewis once said, "Courage, dear heart" and my heart longs for you to fight for for this. Fight for the bravery to find joy and resolve in where the Lord has placed you. Fight the temptation to be drawn into a life of comparison of what the highlight reel of others on social media looks like and pray for the wisdom to find why the Lord has called you to where He has. Spend the time that you would spend wishing for a different set of circumstances crying out to the Lord for wisdom on why He has placed you where He has and find the joy in His presence alone. Focus on Him. Focus on who He is and surround yourself with His love and His faithfulness. Memorize and meditate on scripture. Build your house- physically and emotionally and plant gardens as you find joy in the One who loves you more than life. 
And on the days you want to curl up in a ball and cry and weep from despair know that He will carry you (Psalm 68:19). The Lord is with you sweet friend. You are not alone. You are not forgotten. May you be blessed by the Lord as you embark on this courageous act of resolving to stay, as Elizabeth did, emotionally and physically. I am cheering you on and praying for you. 

"Those who cry while they plant will joyfully sing while they harvest."
-Psalm 126:5-

"Build homes, plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce."
-Jeremiah 29:5-
*Please note that the quotes used in these weekly devotionals are the sole intellectual property of Hallmark Channel, WCTH, & Crown Media, LLC. These on-line posts are in no way supported, endorsed or affiliated with WCTH, Hallmark Channel, or Crown Media. They are simply encouragement inspired by Janette Oke and this precious show.*

5 Romantic Trips to Plan and Take

Happy Valentine's Day friends! Today for my "travel Tuesday" post I am dreaming about romantic trips to take with my future love, not just on Valentine's Day but all throughout the year. As I have been thinking and dreaming I wanted to share about five romantic trips to plan and take.  {one} A Trip to the Caribbean or Bahamas If you love the warmer weather and love white sandy beaches, then a trip to the Caribbean is a perfect romantic trip for you to take. The beautiful part is that there are literally all different options on how you could plan this trip. If you love cruising like I do, then a cruise could be a wonderful option for you. A cruise to the Caribbean or Bahamas gives you a wonderful option to do even a quick weekend trip if you are short on time. I have simply been amazed at the two different times (once on Royal Caribbean and once on Disney) I have done a quick weekend cruise how relaxed and rejuvinated and refreshed I feel.   If you aren't into cruising, then you could consider doing an inclusive resort stay with a company like Sandals. I have personally never been to one before but have dear friends who have been (and have even taken their kiddos) and have simply loved their experiences. I was looking through the Sandals website and was blown away by all of the different options there are (even outside the Caribbean and Bahamas) but saw these above pictures for the Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort & Spa(which is a dream destination of mine to visit) and immediately fell in love. If you are looking for other resorts in the Caribbean or Bahamas there are tons including: Sandals Grande St. Lucian Spa & Beach Resort Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & SpaSandals Royal Bahamian Resort & Offshore Island and many more.
{two} A Trip to Italy I loved visiting Europe years ago and have always dreamed of going back, especially to parts of Italy that I didn't get to see. One of those places is Venice (as seen above) but there are so many parts of Europe that I want to see that it is fun to dream about all different trips you could take.
One of the things that has been fun to discover as I have been dreaming of different trips is the Rail Europe system, specifically the Eurail Italy Pass.
This pass would let you see all different parts of the country by train. But again, all of Europe looks delightful, so thankfully if you are interested in any sight in Europe you could explore the website and custom your trip to your preferences. 
{three} A Trip to Hawaii
Will y'all laugh if I say that I pretty much fell in love with Hawaii when I was little when I saw the Brady Bunch visit there? But seriously a trip to Hawaii always sounds lovely and romantic. With several islands to choose from with different opportunities on each, you will always have lots of options. 
{four} A Trip to Finland to Sleep Under the Northern Lights
I came across the Kakslauttanen Resort (as seen in the picture above) on Pinterest a while ago and immediately fell in love. Seriously, how amazing does this look??
{five} A Trip to Lake Louise, Canada
The minute that I saw pictures of Lake Louise on Pinterest, I fell in love with the beauty which is gorgeous in the winter, but also breathtakingly gorgeous other times of the year.
This is definitely a place that I want to visit and I have been told by friends that staying at the Fairmont Resort at Lake Louise is fabulous. 

What about you? What are romantic trips that you would recommend taking? Any trips that you are planning? I would love to hear because at the end of the day, I believe that the most romantic part of any trip is who you are with. I hope that today you are surrounded by lots of love and joy sweet friends as you travel this beautiful journey of life. Happy Valentine's Day again friends!

Monday Inspiration and Encouragement {Volume One}

For a while now I have had a dream of sharing some Monday inspiration and encouragement on the blog. Life is hard and I know full well that in the difficult times it can be hard to find inspiration, so starting today I plan to routinely share with y'all different things that I have found to be really inspiring and encouraging from all different genres and hope that it will encourage and inspire you for your week!  via
{one} I recently discovered Honey of a Thousand Flowers website and journal and pretty much fell in love instantly. You will too as you swoon over the gorgeous pictures, like this post here. Simply lovely to look at and read through.

{two} I am going to preface this by saying that I love ice skating and this was one of THE most moving performances that I have ever seen. I was absolutely inspired by the hard work, the story behind this performance, and the way that it was "outside the box". Thank you Vanessa James and Morgan Cipres for a beautiful performance that truly brought me to tears. It was stunning.  

{three} My amazing friend, Blythe, wrote a beautiful post on joining the journey of those who are hurting. As always, her words are absolutely amazing and have challenged and encouraged me. You can find her post, Joining the Journey, on the Mundane Faithfulness website HERE. It is simply lovely. 

{four} I ordered "I Said Yes" by Emily Maynard Johnson off of Amazon and received it last week. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect from this book and really went into it with an open mind. Y'all, it was sweetly written, incredibly vulnerable and honest, and was inspiring. If you haven't read it yet and are looking for a sweet and easy read, I definitely recommend it and you can find it HERE.

{five} I think it must be all of the snow that we received in the last 24 hours have has me dreaming of southern places to visit this Monday afternoon. And let us be real... dreaming of travel is always inspiring. Being from the south, I have always loved visiting The Biltmore. If y'all haven't visited this is a wonderful time to visit as The Biltmore offers the lowest ticket prices this time of year. You can find out more and purchase tickets HERE (where they will be $15-$25 off!)
{six} I have been overwhelmed (in the best way possible!) by the response to The Novel Garden Subscription Crate. Thank you so much for your love, support, and joy for this project and for your encouragement and inspiration. {seven} Finally, y'all know that know me know that I am a "girly-girl" to the hilt and love and adore dresses. So imagine my delight at discovering the Virginia Dare Dress Company. Y'all, I watched the above video and felt my spirit say, "thank you".  I then read an interview with Rebekah (you can find it HERE) and her words really resonated with me. She said, "Start investing in people, and love them well. Your ideas won’t get very far without them, and learning how to make a difference in people’s lives is just as important as learning the industry you want to make a difference in." So SO true. 

Seriously, I just want to give Rebekah a big hug, sip tea and create art with her, and then wear every single one of her dresses. Friends, watch the video and then follow along with the journey of Virginia Dare Dress Company on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook.

I hope that you are inspired and encouraged by these seven things on this Monday afternoon! What about you? What is inspiring you recently? 

10 More Things to Pray for Your (Future) Husband

 I have mentioned many times here on the blog that I pray for my future husband on a regular basis. I try to spend time each day praying for him, knowing that when I am married to him that I will want to make prayer a regular part of my life with my husband and for my husband. One of the things that I get asked repeatedly is what exactly I pray for my future husband so I have shared in the past a post on 10 Things to Pray for Your (Future) Husband which can be found HERE. I also have shared 10 Things I Pray for Myself as a (Future) Wife which can be found HERE. 

Today I wanted to share 10 more things that you can pray for your (future) husband. If you are married I highly encourage you to pray for your husband and if you are single or engaged, I encourage you to start praying for your future husband starting now!
(One) I pray that my future husband would have a hunger for God's word, a passion to know Christ above anything and anyone else.
(Two) I pray that my future husband would have big and daring dreams to change the world for Christ. I pray that he will not be content to just accept the world the way that it is, but have a passion for a calling that is uniquely His. 

(Three) I pray that my future husband would dream big dreams and attempt big things for God, but also have the unique understanding on how to love the people that are placed in front of him. That he would have a genuine understanding of Mother Theresa saying, "Want to change the world? Go home and love your family". 
(Four) I pray that my husband would be filled with joy. I pray that he would know the love of Christ so intimately and that he is filled with strength and dignity so that he can laugh at the days to come (Proverbs 31:25) because his ultimate source of peace is found solely in God.
(Five) I pray that my future husband is delivered from any trials that he is currently going through. I pray that the Lord would write a redemptive story out of any circumstance that he is going through.
(Six) I pray that my husband would have great discernment that comes from knowing Jesus Christ. I pray that he would consult God before anything and anyone else and pray for wisdom for each and every decision that he is facing whether it be small or big. 
(Seven) I pray that even now the Lord is developing him to be an excellent father to our future children. I pray that he would have a heart for raising up men and women who love the Lord more than anything else, that he would develop patience and laughter, and that he would have a heart for the orphan.
(Eight) I pray that my husband would be protected... protected physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
(Nine) I pray that even now the Lord would be preparing his heart for me alone. That our hearts would be joined together by God, the tapestry for this being woven right now as we pray and wait for each other. 
(Ten) I pray that my future husband would be a man of prayer. I pray that this will be a hallmark and benchmark of his life, understanding the importance and necessity of prayer.
Are there any specific prayers that you pray for your future spouse? I would love to hear what things you pray for!

The Novel Garden Affiliate Program

Today I am so excited to share about The Novel Garden Affiliate Program! I was so overwhelmed and blessed by the messages that I have received of support for this special new project that I have started. If you missed the announcement and the story behind The Novel Garden, you can read more about it HERE. I am looking for bloggers, social media influencers, and everyone who may be interested in supporting this project to join the affiliate program! Here are the details:


How will this work? If you are chosen to be an affiliate member you will receive a special discount coupon code (10% off) for your community. Any time that someone uses this discount code you will receive reward points which will be paid out in cash each month. You will receive 5% of the total sales of those who used your coupon for the month and you will be paid on the 1st of the following month.
Please note that in order to gain rewards your special coupon must be used.   How will I be paid? Please see above.
Please note that because this subscription box does not hit a tax threshold at this time you will not need to fill out any tax forms. If this changes in the future you will be contacted immediately. Are there any additional benefits? In addition to receiving the 5% from referrals, affiliates will receive the quarterly subscription box of their choice*.
In addition to this I have created “affiliate incentives”: Once you hit the following goals your rewards will increase for the entire time that you are an affiliate.
25 subscription placements from those who have signed up for a crate with The Novel Garden using your couponYou will receive 7.5% for rewards for the lifetime you are an affiliate
100 subscription placements from those who have signed up for a crate with The Novel Garden using your couponYou will receive 10% for rewards for the lifetime you are an affiliate + 1 gift subscription each year for a friend
200+ subscription placements from those who have signed up for a crate with The Novel Garden using your couponYou will receive 10% for rewards for the lifetime you are an affiliate and 2 gift subscriptions each year for friends
*International Affiliates: Please note that at this time you will be responsible for shipping costs if you would like to receive more than one box a year due to the high cost of shipping. We are happy to work with you and discuss this further*
Is there anything that I need to do? Affiliates are required to follow The Novel Garden on Instagram, Like the Novel Garden on Facebook, and share AT LEAST one social media post or blog post of the contents that they have received (which equals out to four social shares a year). [Please note that affiliates who do not do these things may be removed as affiliates.] After this affiliates are free to share as little or as much as they would like throughout each month. The more that you share and the more that your community purchases the more rewards that you will make. Please note that in order to gain rewards your special coupon must be used. How can I sign up? To sign up please first spend a few moments reading through The Novel Garden website to get a feel for this program. After this, if you are interested please send us an email with the following information:
*Your Name*Why You are Interested in Being an Affiliate Member*Please let me know if you would be interested in receiving a one-quarter box to review even if you are not chosen to be an affiliate*Any Additional Information You Would Like Me to Know
We will be in touch within 1-2 weeks after I receive your information. Have questions? Please feel free to email us at: thenovelgarden@gmail.com

September Caravan: Embracing Grace and Mercy when Dreams are Delayed and Life is Different Than You Imagined (Releasing September 1st, 2017)

I shared yesterday on social media that the final signatures are finished and that I am so humbled and honored to announced that my upcoming book, September Caravan, will be released on September 1st, 2017. This book is my most personal yet...a collection of personal short stories (from 2012 to 2013), words of encouragement, and sweet inspiration on the concept of embracing grace and mercy when dreams are delayed and life is different than you imagined.
This book picks up where December Caravan left off and shares stories from my life as I learned to embrace the beauty of grace and mercy in the midst of loss of independence, long days in painful hospital testing, days of pain and sickness, deep loneliness, and finding joy despite having dreams delayed and life looking radically different than I could have ever imagined in my early thirties. 
Here is a brief description from the back cover of the book:
“My journey started in the harsh winter months of December but really began in the simple changes of seasons in September. My book, December Caravan told the beginning of my story that started with my ex-fiance walking out on our engagement & ended in 2013 after my recent diagnosis of Advanced Late Stage Lyme Disease and Cancer among other illnesses. But the story had just begun, & I like many other people was about to learn the lesson of living where mercy beckons when life is brutal & harsh & learning to embrace grace when dreams are delayed & life is different than you imagined or hoped." 
This concept of mercy beckoning will change the way that we live, approach our relationships with God, and the way that we grieve & rejoice. Mercy beckoning encourages us that there is beauty that is found & grace that will meet us in the most difficult of circumstances. In the midst of the broken, the messy, and the painful, God carries us & whispers to the weary spirit, gently reminding us that God’s grace is there when our dreams are delayed & life is different than you hoped or imagined. 
Picking up where her well-loved book, December Caravan, left off, Rebecca shares stories from her life & learning to embrace the beauty of grace & mercy in the midst of loss of independence, long days in painful hospital testing, days of pain & sickness, deep loneliness, & finding joy despite having dreams being delayed & life looking radically different than she could have imagined in her early thirties. Rebecca shares the foundation of her hope gently reminding those who are desperately looking for encouragement and sharing the ways that mercy has beckoned to her broken heart these last several years. September Caravan will gently encourage you of the truth of learning to embrace grace when mercy beckons.
It is a funny thing to share your heart with the world through a book... and to be honest I probably would have removed some parts because they are so deeply personal. But I am learning in new ways how being vulnerable, showing the beautiful along with the messy, reflects the heart of Christ in ways that I could never have imagined. As we allow Jesus to step into our broken and messy pieces, He beautifully restores and redeems the things that we wish that we could forget or "erase" from our past. So returning to this time period in my life brings a soft smile to my face... and to my heart. A smile of a knowledge that comes with personally experiencing that the Lord works intricately and personally in the deepest lows and in the glorious highs... all remaining so faithful and so loving. He is so good.
If you would like to keep up with updates specific to this book please follow along at the September Caravan Instagram page which you can find HERE! The beautiful thing about this specific IG feed is that it used to be the landing page for December Caravan and is now changed to the September Caravan page, a beautiful picture for the continuation of the story. *smiles*

I am going to be announcing the opportunity to be apart of the book launch team in a couple of months and will continue to update and share other ways you can be a part of this special project!

Thank you so much for sharing in the joy of this exciting news! I hope you have a wonderful Friday and a wonderful weekend!

From Hope Valley Devotionals (Two)

 The beautiful theme of community and love that meets us in the darkest hours is just one of the reasons that I adore Episode 3 in Season 1. In the midst of grief it can be easy to “lose our voice” and I am convinced, that as Elizabeth wrote in her journal, it is the light of love that restores every lost voice.
This episode resonated and challenged me on a deeply personal level. Many years ago, I was the recipient of extravagant love, much like Rosaleen in the midst of my own grief walk. I had always been beautifully surrounded by a loving and faithfully supportive family that I don’t take for granted, but when my ex-fiance’ broke off our engagement only a few days before Christmas in December 2008 and a few short months before we were to be married, I was living more than 12 hours away from them and found myself losing my voice due to the pain of darkness.
When the fairy tale dream that I had envisioned with my fiance' came to a shocking and sudden end, I found that people and noise had become a balm to my broken heart. Noise, not ice cream and chocolate as the myth states, had become the thing that I had tried to “fill up” my life with to pass the quiet hours after my teaching day was done. The hours that had once brought so much happiness now stretched silent and sad with long sleepless nights before me. 
Noise and my desire for companionship drove me to play countless episodes of old TV shows until I fell asleep at night. Morning talk shows were what I blasted from the first moments of rising each morning and kept me “company” in the early hours of my day and taught me more about pop culture than I had ever known in my entire life. The search to escape grief drove me to throw myself into my teaching career as never before. Despite living an hour and a half away, I arrived at the school by six am most mornings and left approximately fifteen hours later. While some expressed concern, no one knew exactly what to say and so the majority of adults that I worked with gently tried to tiptoe around my broken heart. The gentleness was a loving attempt to share in my grief in their own way.
Unfortunately this led to many stilted conversations and lots of awkward silence. There were precious friends on staff who embraced my messy state and heaped a generous amount of love on me, and yet I needed more. I longed for someone to see beyond the broken shell of a person that I had become and I longed to see love courageously acted out in human form. Most of all, I longed for love to restore my lost voice. Despite the extreme kindness of many people in my life, my family lived over 12 hours away, and I was feeling that I needed the body of Christ in ways that I was unable to express in words.
In many ways I was very similar to Rosaleen… locked in silence and unable to move past what happened despite the loving-kindness that surrounded me. And just like Rosaleen went silent I found myself losing my voice to grief. Unknown to me, and in the opposite way of Rosaleen being helped by a teacher, my unspoken hearts prayer request was about to be answered in the most unlikely of ways- through my students. 
One day during my planning period, about 3 weeks after my world came crashing down, I found my classroom surprisingly empty. I glanced around at the quiet room and realized that I needed another distraction from the silence that would last until my next class arrived. I walked out of my room and down the hallway to the third floor student lounge which had gorgeous floor to ceiling picture windows that overlooked the soccer field and surrounding woods. It was a favorite place in the school building and I was surprised to find it empty. I settled into a chair and surveyed the still winter scene outside and ironically considered how similar it was to everything that was in my life. Just like outside, everything looked dead in my life.
As I sat pondering this scene I didn't hear Paul, one of my senior students, come in and settle in on a chair beside me. As it dawned on me that he was there, I felt the teacher side of me kick in and I looked for something "brilliant" to say. In the haze of my own grief and pain, I was dimly aware that the holidays must have been just as difficult for Paul as they were for me, due to some family situations, but for the life of me I was once again at a loss for words. 
"This view is amazing. I never get tired of it." I heard him say. I nodded and he hesitated and then continued. "How was your holiday, Ms. V?" 
"Short," I replied, my voice laced with sadness. Even though I had only been back for three days it seemed like years. 
“Ms. V-” He interrupted my thoughts, and I turned to look at him as I realized he was hesitating. “Ms. V,” he said again. “I am so sorry.” 
As I glanced away and back out at the winter scene outside the window and then back at the young man sitting beside me, I realized that my cheeks were wet with silent tears. “Thank you,” I whispered.  
For the first time, someone outside my family and best friends had acknowledged the pain I was going through. Not in a way of making it better but with four simple words that acknowledged the deep hurt I was feeling and gave me room to grieve. Those four precious words were uttered from someone who had done nothing to cause the pain but instead chose to step into the pain.
I am not sure how long we sat there in silence that day before the bell rang, but I do remember the feeling of peace filling the silent space that had crept into my heart because a senior decided to look outside of themselves and reach out to their teacher whose life been seemingly shattered. It’s ironic because in many ways, nothing changed that day, but in other ways, everything changed. The need for noise to numb the pain was gone and it was replaced with a peace that had been lost since the night my life had shattered. 
Often times, all we need is someone to come and sit with us and say “I am so sorry”. It might seem like it is not enough but trust me- it can change everything. The minute you choose to extend grace, kindness, and love to another hurting human being something powerful happens. The light of that beautiful and gentle love restores the lost voice. 
That year was living proof of this to me. After that conversation, there were countless ways that love was physically expressed by this senior class for the remainder of the year. At a time that could have been one of the most selfish times in their lives, these seniors poured consistent, practical, and personal love into my life. There were hundreds of letters of encouragement, students who convinced me to take up running after school when I just felt like sitting, countless cups of coffee, little notes left on my desk, in books, and in my car, gifts of music that were filled with uplifting and encouraging words, DVDs given, Katharine who called me “beautiful” when I looked anything but, invitations to eat lunch so that I never ate alone, many jokes and pranks played that brought laughter, Starbucks gift cards, money for a new car when mine died, invitations to weekend outings (including Valentine’s Day) and hundreds of Dutch Blitz games simply because I once said I liked it. Whether it was a conspiracy between all of them or a simple plan to care that morphed and grew, those simple yet precious acts of love changed my life and brought back my voice.  It has been eight years since those precious students changed my life and yet while our lives have continued on, I am reminded of that year often with simple gratitude and a heart full of incredible thanks as that year has influenced me deeply, even to this day.
In what could have been the worst year of my life, I truly only remember with a fond and humble smile. With a smile that knows and understands what it means to be the recipient of incredible love and kindness here on earth and with a humble heart that has seen the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living despite the hard. Without a doubt, a circumstance that brought me so much pain was the backdrop for a beautiful time in my life. When I felt like Rosaleen, standing in the dark mine looking ahead and seeing only darkness, my own group of "Elizabeth's" showed up with the light of love.
I have been thinking about that year and this episode a lot recently, especially with all of the turmoil surrounding our world right now. I think we all want to change our worlds and we all have great and big programs and ideas, but what changes peoples lives isn't often the planned out programs or things. Instead, it is the intricate and personal way of loving people directly. It's stepping into the darkness with the hurting and the broken-hearted and lovingly and personally reminding them that they are not alone. It is gently reminding them that their story at this crisis point season in their lives is not the end of their story. 
We each have the beautiful opportunity to remind someone that their worst days are not the end of their story as we bring the light of God into someone's life. Sometimes it is sitting and just listening. Other times it is offering a word of encouragement. Sometimes its saying the simple words of "I'm sorry" when you are not to blame. Sometimes its taking the time to listen to a friend say, "Please help my little girl" like Molly did. Sometimes its understanding in wisdom that we can encourage our children to embrace the brokenhearted along with us. 
The gift that the parents of that senior class gave me was priceless. Those parents gave me the gift of healing so that one circumstance would not be the definition of the rest of my life. And those parents perhaps taught their senior aged children the most important lesson before they graduated, the gift of lovingly embracing the brokenhearted. 
Mother Theresa once said, "Do you want to change the world? Go home and love your family." Let's do that today. Let's go home and love the family that is before us. Let's lovingly bring the light of love to those who have lost their voice and let's love the people right in front of us. Do you realize that you could be the person to help change the course of someone's life? You can. Do you realize that your personal and practical love can have a huge effect on the community at large? It will. I beautifully witnessed this myself as out of the love that these students poured out on to my life, the entire school community was influenced. It truly was a piece of heaven on earth and sweet friends, I promise you will see that happen too. We have the opportunity to beautifully create a "Hope Valley" right where we are in our lives, in our families, in our communities, and in our world, because the light of love truly does restore every lost voice.
"The Lord will be your everlasting light and your days of sorrow will end."-Isaiah 61:20- 
"The Spirit of God...is on me... He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken...God sent me to announce the year of His grace... and to comfort all who mourn, to care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion, give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, messages of joy instead of news of doom."-Isaiah 61:1-3, The Message- *Please note that the quotes used in these weekly devotionals are the sole intellectual property of Hallmark Channel, WCTH, & Crown Media, LLC. These on-line posts are in no way supported, endorsed, or affiliated with WCTH, Hallmark Channel, or Crown Media. They are simply encouragement inspired by Janette Oke and this precious show.*

The Novel Garden Luxury Subscription Crate

Today, my little heart is beyond excited to share a special project that I have been dreaming about and planning for a long time, which is launching a new luxury quarterly Christian Book Subscription for those who love books and are inspired by beauty called The Novel Garden. 
As an author and former teacher, I have always believed that the power of the written word could change the course of a life and bring hope. Throughout scripture we see that Jesus often told stories (parables) to communicate deep truths of God's love. 
The dream and concept for The Novel Garden began when I became primarily bedridden due to my fight with Advanced Late Stage Lyme Disease in 2012. During this season and throughout the past five years with treatment I have read hundreds and hundreds of books and found such encouragement, inspiration, and hope. I desired to help spread that hope throughout my community. I often send books to friends for encouragement and dreamed of the idea of inspiring others beyond just my friends and personal tribe while giving back to the community. Inspired by beauty, travel, and french shabby chic markets, I started planning the concept and business plan of The Novel Garden in 2016. Designing and offering three different crate options, I am excited to see the way that The Novel Garden will touch and inspire people's lives. In addition The Novel Garden will give back to the community in two specific ways:
(1) By donating 10% of ALL subscription profits to help provide Bibles to those who do not have one
(2) To donate the book contents of the subscription boxes to Little Free Libraries, intentionally giving the local community an opportunity to be introduced to God's love through these books. Today I am so excited to share that the subscription crate went live on Cratejoy TODAY and is now available for purchase. As I mentioned above there are three different subscription plans to choose from: The Book Reader Edition Each quarter your curated box will feature one christian book. In addition your box will feature items to enhance and encourage your life. We delight in providing a unique blend of new and best-selling authors and small shop pieces with up and coming authors and boutiques. With every crate subscription we give back to the community by committing 10% of the purchase price to help purchase Bibles for those who cannot afford them or do not have access to them around the world and by donating book contents to existing Little Free Libraries. The Novel Garden Edition Each quarter your curated box will feature four christian books in different genres. In addition your box will feature items to enhance and encourage your life. We delight in providing a unique blend of new and best-selling authors and small shop pieces with up and coming authors and boutiques. With every crate subscription we give back to the community by committing 10% of the purchase price to help purchase Bibles for those who cannot afford them or do not have access to them around the world and by donating book contents to existing Little Free Libraries. The TNG Teen Crate Edition The TNG Teen Crate Edition is perfect for teen women ages 14-17 years old. Eachquarter your curated box will feature two teen christian books. In addition your box will feature items to enhance and encourage your life. We delight in providing a unique blend of new and best-selling authors and small shop pieces with up and coming authors and boutiques. With every crate subscription we give back to the community by committing 10% of the purchase price to help purchase Bibles for those who cannot afford them or do not have access to them around the world and by donating book contents to existing Little Free Libraries. *All proceeds from this crate subscription help to fund the ministry of Grace Engaged* Again, I am so excited to share with y'all that this subscription is now available and you can find out more HERE to subscribe or purchase through Cratejoy directly HERE. Have questions? Here are some of the most frequently asked questions with answers (you can find out all of the details and how to become involved HERE):
frequently asked questionsHow often will I get this box?THE NOVEL GARDEN CRATE IS A CHRISTIAN LUXURY BOOK SUBSCRIPTION THAT OPERATES QUARTERLY. What are the dates for subscriptions? Shipping Dates?BOXES ARE SHIPPED ON THE 20TH-25TH OF THE MONTH. ORDERS MUST BE PLACED FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS BY THE 18TH OF THE MONTH A BOX IS SHIPPED. ANY SUBSCRIPTIONS PURCHASED AFTER THE 10TH WILL AUTOMATICALLY SHIP THE FOLLOWING MONTH.What is in the box? Will I only receive books?EACH QUARTER YOUR CURATED BOX WILL FEATURE FOUR CHRISTIAN BOOKS IN DIFFERENT GENRES. IN ADDITION YOUR BOX WILL FEATURE ITEMS TO ENHANCE AND ENCOURAGE YOUR LIFE. WE DELIGHT IN PROVIDING A UNIQUE BLEND OF NEW AND BEST-SELLING AUTHORS AND SMALL SHOP PIECES WITH UP AND COMING AUTHORS AND BOUTIQUES. How does The Novel Garden give back to the community?WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT STORIES AND BOOKS ARE A TOOL OF ENCOURAGING HOPE IN OUR PERSONAL LIVES AND THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. IN SCRIPTURE WE SEE THAT JESUS OFTEN TOLD STORIES (PARABLES) TO COMMUNICATE THE DEEP TRUTH OF GOD'S LOVE. WE LONG TO SPREAD THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL AND GOD'S LOVE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. WITH EACH SUBSCRIPTION WE GIVE BACK IN TWO WAYS- (1) WITH EACH SUBSCRIPTION WE WILL DONATE 10% OF THE PRICE TO HELP PURCHASE BIBLES FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD THEM OR DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THEM AROUND THE WORLD. (2) WE WILL DONATING BOOK CONTENTS TO EXISTING FREE LITTLE LIBRARIES. YOU CAN JOIN IN OUR EFFORTS TO SPREAD HOPE BEYOND YOUR SUBSCRIPTION PURCHASE BY DONATING YOUR BOOKS AFTER YOU HAVE READ THEM TO A FREE LITTLE LIBRARY IN YOUR TOWN. I am an author. How do I get my book into your crate?WE LOVE WORKING WITH NEW AND ESTABLISHED AUTHORS. WE SPEND MONTHS RESEARCHING BOOKS AND PERSONALLY READING EACH BOOK WE CONSIDER IN ORDER TO CHOOSE THE BEST TITLES FOR OUR BOXES. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN COLLABORATING WITH US WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. PLEASE CONTACT US AND SHARE MORE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR BOOK BY EMAILING US . I own a small business. How do I get my product into your crate?WE LOVE WORKING WITH SMALL SHOPS. AND BOUTIQUES. SEND US AN EMAIL WITH MORE INFORMATION ABOUT YOU AND YOUR PRODUCTS. *PLEASE NOTE THAT IF WE THINK YOUR PRODUCT MAY BE A GOOD FIT FOR OUR BOX WE WILL REQUEST A SAMPLE.* How can I become an affiliate of The Novel Garden? What is included?IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT MORE ABOUT THE AFFILIATE PROGRAM YOU CAN EMAIL US. AFFILIATES RECEIVE 4 SUBSCRIPTION BOXES A YEAR AND RECEIVE 5% OF PURCHASED SUBSCRIPTION REFERRALS. 

The Single Journey During Valentine's Week

“You will be called 'sought after'".-Isaiah 62:12-
One of the most difficult times in the single journey can be during Valentine's, especially the week and day of. On this day of “love” with all of the red, all of the balloons, all of the heart candy, all of the flowers, and all of the expressions of romantic love, it can be easy as a single gal to sometimes just want to curl up in bed and pull a quilt over my head until Valentine's Day has passed. 

Valentine's Day as a single lady can feel like a day where singleness is written with a capitol “S” on my forehead and everyone knows that I am “alone”. I struggle and yet, feel challenged to pray as I know the truth that I can act out on my feelings towards this day and live in "loneliness" or I can embrace the truth of God's word, knowing that I am "sought after" and loved. 

I am loved by the Lord. 

Scripture says that I am loved beyond measure, that I am loved more dearly than I could ever imagine. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) I am not loved for a short time but forever by the Lord. I love how Jeremiah 31:3 states: “I have loved you with an everlasting love…". 

Our time and circumstances here on earth are temporary, but the Lord's love lasts forever. We may not feel special on Valentine's Day, but we are to the Lord. “I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you.” (Haggai 2:23) 

One of my most favorite verses as a single gal is from Isaiah 62:12: “You will be called Sought After.” Don't we all want to be 'sought after'?!?! I know that I do!!

As we wait in this single season let us trust that the Lord has a beautiful story, and that we are preciously sought after. Even this Valentine's Day where we are single the Lord is crafting a beautiful and miraculous story for our romantic lives. On this Valentine's Day, rest in this precious truth that you are loved, forever, immensely, passionately, and most of all that you are sought after.