I finally got an evening to sit and reflect on this Tennessee Spring evening. The birds are singing and the cows are moo’ing across the fields. Everything is beginning to turn green with bright colors peeking out through it all. There are fields of yellow flowers for miles upon miles, throughout every farming field and they are enough to make you want to pull your car over and frolic until the sun has left the skies. It’s a pretty incredible place up here this time of year. And this front porch will see many a’ special nights in the near future I have a feeling.

 

Being here this time of year reminds me of home. The smell of sweet grass and the feeling of wind blowing through my hair when the temperatures get just right. There is something special about the sun shining warmth of the day, with that mountain chill at night. There is nothing like it. I think that’s part of what I’ve always loved about these hills and that genuine place that my heart feels every time I encounter it again.

 

It seems like life has been so crazy lately, a good kind of crazy. But I think we could always use a slow down. The last 21 days John and I have made choices to be able to reflect and really spend time in His presence, listening closely at life’s greatest journey in the midst of His will.

 

We were talking the other night and we were blown away at where a year has brought us. Married, living in Tennessee, and happier than we’ve ever been, yet more simple than it’s ever been. Sitting on this front porch tonight, I am in pure awe. John said, “Just imagine what this time next year will look like.” The best is yet to come.

 

Life has its trials and its ups and downs. Working in ministry and starting a new business don’t always create rainbows, butterflies, and a large income. But where we are today is better than anything we could have imagined and built for ourselves. There is nothing more fulfilling than being aligned with His will and not our own. There is nothing more promising than following in obedience and watching the fruits of that start blooming and come to life. There is nothing that instills more faithfulness than watching him provide in the most devoted ways that only He can when you need it most. We laugh and we cry a lot of happy tears these days at something so simple, yet divine- His Grace and love for us.

 

In our little 100 year old farmhouse on this beautiful land, watching this world come alive with newness that is enlivened not once, but over and over again. We are reminded that the steadfast love of the Lord never goes away, that his mercies are new every morning. Through years of struggles, trials, and questions of where this train was going to end up- His mercies and faithfulness led us to a pretty incredible dwelling in life and we know that more sweetness is just around the bend.

 

Tonight, I am refreshed and reminded to be still. To sometimes just sit and watch the sunset paint the skies one-hundred shades of orange. To turn it all off and watch and listen in wonder. To let Him speak into us instead of us always speaking into him. It’s funny what we see and hear when we just slow down. And it’s even more special how our hearts become full in such an instant over such obedience to simplicity.