Hello There!

This morning I’ve been going through pictures on my phone…
flowers, trees, little corners of our yard… and it stirred up more emotion than I expected. We’ve been in this house almost four years now, and as we get closer to moving into our new home, I find myself looking around a little differently.

The daisies that come back every spring.
The flower beds we’ve worked on.
That beautiful Japanese maple outside my office window… and the little birdhouse nearby where I get to watch a family of birds just about every day.

It’s simple things—but they’ve been part of our everyday life here. And if I’m honest, it’s a little bittersweet.

This house has been good to us. We’ve had wonderful neighbors. It’s been exactly what we needed for this season of life. This is where we came when we moved back from East Tennessee… and it’s also where we were when my mom passed away. So yes, there are roots here.

And while I am so excited about what’s ahead—because I truly am—I know I’ll leave a little piece of my heart behind when we go. Life has a way of moving us forward, whether we feel ready or not.

We’ve moved a lot over the years, so I know what’s coming—
the packing, the boxes, the unpacking, trying to figure out where everything goes. It’s work, and sometimes that can take a little of the joy out of it. But there’s excitement too.

I catch myself thinking about the little things—
Where will I put my dishes?
How will I organize my pantry?
What will my kitchen feel like?

I’ve never had a pantry that was just a pantry before… so that’s something new for me. And I’m looking forward to figuring it out, even if I don’t have a plan yet. And as I think about all of it, one thing keeps coming back to my heart…

God has been so good to us.

Through this entire building process, He has provided in ways we didn’t expect. Things that seemed like setbacks turned into blessings. We’ve seen savings, provision, and protection time and time again. He has truly guided us—and more than once, He’s saved us from ourselves.

I can honestly say we are blessed.

But this morning, instead of looking too far ahead, I’m trying to stay right here.

Right here in this house.
Right here in this yard.
Right here in this moment.

Because there is still beauty here.

And I don’t want to rush past it.

The Bible reminds us:

“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
—Psalm 118:24

And also:

“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself…”
—Matthew 6:34

That’s something the Bible study I’m in right now has really been pressing into my heart—don’t get caught up in tomorrow.

Live today.

So today, I want to be present.
To notice what God has already given me.
To be thankful for this season, even as it comes to a close.

There may not be flower beds at the new house yet…
but there will be. New roots will be planted. New memories will be made.

But for now, I’m just grateful for what’s right in front of me. And I wanted to share a little bit of that with you today.

Lord bless you, Michelle

---

Closing Prayer

Lord,
Thank you for the season I’m in right now.
Help me to slow down and truly see the blessings you’ve placed right in front of me.

When my heart feels pulled between what was and what’s ahead, give me peace.
Teach me to be present, to be thankful, and to trust you with what’s coming next.

Thank you for your provision, your guidance, and the way you care for us in every detail.
Help me to carry gratitude with me as I step into this new season.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.