Healing, Friendship, and a Grateful Heart

Life lately has felt full in the best kind of way.

But it hasn’t always been this way.

For a long time, I lived life pretty isolated.

I didn’t have many real friends—not the kind that truly know you, walk with you, pray for you, and show up when life is heavy and when it’s good.

I carried a lot of trust issues because of how I was raised, and honestly, I just didn’t know how to let people in.

But God.

He’s so kind and patient.

Over time, He began softening those hardened places in me and showing me that we were never meant to do life alone.

He gently placed the right people in my life, one by one, and gave me the courage to say yes to friendship.

Today, I look around and see so many people I’m deeply grateful for—especially the friends we meet with each week to share life and study God’s Word together.

They are a gift I never want to take for granted.

So if you’ve been in that lonely place—I get it. I really do.

But I just want to say: don’t give up. God is faithful to bring community and connection in His time. And when He does, it changes everything.

I’m so thankful for the small group of friends we get to meet with each week.

We laugh, we pray, we dig into the Word together, and we share real life—the good, the hard, and everything in between.

Oh! And we share lots of good food with each other too!

What a gift it is to do life with people who point you back to Jesus again and again.

The biggest highlight of the week was when I spent a sweet day with my three grandkids while their parents attended a memorial service.

We decorated Easter eggs with the Eggmazing (if you know, you know), painted rocks, read books, and just played for hours.

Pure joy.

And something else I’ve been loving this week—Rich and I started walking again at our favorite state park.

It was closed all last year, and we didn’t realize just how much we missed it until we came back.

There’s something about walking in the woods, together, with nowhere else to be.

We talk about everything and nothing.

We laugh, we dream, we breathe in the quiet. It’s simple, but it feels like therapy for the soul.

I’m just really grateful lately—for friendship, family, fresh air, and the little rhythms that help life feel rooted again.

Weekly Wins

This week’s win isn’t something I did—but something that was done for all of us.

Today we remember Good Friday—the day Jesus gave everything so we could be free.

What looked like defeat was actually the greatest victory the world has ever known.

Love poured out. Mercy displayed. Grace offered freely to all who believe.

It’s called Good Friday because our God is so good.

If you’re looking for a church to celebrate today or throughout the Easter weekend, we have lots of locations and services available online and in person.

You can find them all here.

Favorite Find

Spotted this pretty rag rug at Aldi this past week and couldn’t pass it up!

I got one just like it a couple years ago and still love it—it’s held up so well.

I was so excited to see them back again and decided to go for the more colorful one this time.

It’s a great size and for just $9.99? Total steal! Don’t sleep on the Aldi finds, friends!

What I’m Watching/Reading/Listening to:

Just finished The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate and… wow.

What a powerful story. Historical fiction at its best—moving, eye-opening, and beautifully written.

It’s quickly become one of my favorite reads, right up there with Before We Were Yours (also by Lisa Wingate), which I absolutely loved too.

She has such a gift for weaving together past and present in a way that sticks with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

If you’re looking for a book that’s rich in story, heart, and history, this one’s a must-read.

Don’t have time to read? That’s okay, I actually chose to listen to this one while I was washing dishes or doing laundry. It’s such a great way to experience this story.

And I got it free on the Libby app.

It’s amazing to look back and see how far God has brought me—from lonely seasons and heavy burdens to full days and a grateful heart.

I don’t take any of it for granted.

The friendships, the quiet walks, the time with family, the little joys like Aldi finds and a good book—these are all reminders of God’s faithfulness in both the big and small things.

If you’re in a waiting season or a lonely place right now, hold on. God sees you. He’s working, even when you can’t see it yet.

Here’s to more rooted days, real connections, and a life full of His grace.