Little heart, didn't you know? You were made to be brave. You were fashioned to fling off the fear and shed the doubt and catapult over all the angst. But you must keep your eyes on the Valiant One. Yes, all eyes to the King! Him who makes the fraidy-cats into lion-hearts. And little countenance, didn't you know you were made to shine? You are here to be light, to bring out the vibrant colors in the shadow lands. But, you must turn your face to the Brilliance. Him all ablaze and robed in light. He who splits the dark and swallows up the night. On Him keep your gaze. Bask in the sunlight of His face and so shine.  "The Eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." (Deut. 33:27)"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen yo[...]

I don't get out to the woods as often as I used to. When I was just a girl, I'd venture out to the wild frequently. I'd go to think and to talk out loud to God and just to wonder at all the beauty I could find. And it wasn't hard to find it--I just had to go and look. And by look, I mean, stand still and see. Now that I'm a mama to two little ones, it gets a little more complicated. The woods keep calling me, but I just don't always get to come. But sometimes I just can't help myself. Like the other day, when me and Bubby were all bundled up. I glanced over at the wild edge and saw something I couldn't resist seeing more of. So, I scooped up my little guy (as heavy as he is) and tramped through the snow. Then, I set him down beside me in a knee-deep drift and said, "Wait just a second...Mo[...]