Praise

...and all of God's children said, "Amen!"

Have a blessed Sunday, Michelle

Hurt

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Colossians 3:12-13 (ESV)

Today's post is about regret. 

For words unspoken. 

Forgiveness that comes too late. 

My father and I didn't speak for the six years prior to his death.

He didn't walk me down the aisle at my wedding. 

And he never met or held his granddaughters. 

I struggled in this world to understand him. 

But I never stopped loving him...

For years I would sit at my computer in the wee hours and cry while listening to this song, Hurt by Christina Aguilera. I always thought one day I would send it to him. That maybe it would show him where my heart was and we could reconcile. 

But I never had the courage. 

I share this song today for anyone who is in this place, this dance of hurting someone...or protecting your own heart with silence. Weeks before my father fell ill someone offered me cautionary words similar to mine today. 

I wish I had listened. 

Reached out to him... 

Can you afford to wait for a day of forgiveness? If he/she passes before you have the chance to make amends will you be able to live in peace with the finality of that choice? 

I thought I could. I was sure the distance I'd grown accustomed to in my daily life would be similar to that of his departing this world. But it just isn't...that. The door has closed. 

There are no more chances for us to re-write this story. 

And that reality makes my grief feel almost impossible to bare on some days.  

Thank you sweet readers for hanging with me during a most vulnerable time in my life. Wow. Most days I don't know if I am crying for mom, dad or Shirley. But I praise God for holding me close and surrounding me with the love of my family, my friends and my church during this time. I know I am walking toward a place of peace and comfort. I pray you'll continue on this journey with me.

In the meantime, it would be my honor to pray for you. Please leave me your prayer request in a comment below or at teaganstravels@yahoo.com.

Blessings, Michelle

Some days even the grumpiest of bears just need an Isla kiss! 

Hope you are having a great weekend full of adventures where you are.

Blessings, Michelle

God's Summer Treasures

Yesterday, after a fun morning at the park, Teagan, Isla and I cut into the sweetest, juiciest piece of watermelon I'd ever had. It took me back to my childhood with memories of my mom. It was one of her favorite treats in the summertime. 

The smells and sights of summer came rushing into my grateful heart: dill growing in my friend's garden, playing for hours in the sunshine, flowers peaking their heads out of a tall grass, swimming in a mountain spring with the icy cold water shocking our warm bodies as we jumped in... 

Today I thank God for this watermelon. 

I thank Him for the simple treat that brightens our summer days while providing a means of nutrition as well. And for me? It also gave me a sweet trip down memory lane. 

All that in a piece of fruit! How great is our God?! 

And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.

Genesis 1:28-30 (ESV)

Think about our current drought here and the famine in Africa. How many in our world have never had the pleasure of tasting a watermelon? What would we do if it disappeared? 

Did you know in Japan the humble cousin of a watermelon, a version of a cantaloupe, costs over $400! There melons are packed oh-so-prettily and given as special gifts. I can tell you when I lived there as a college student and English teacher I couldn't afford melon...and I did miss it, indeed!

Dear God, thank you for all the treasures you filled our world with. Help us to be mindful of these today. To take a moment to rejoice in simple blessings and give you the glory! In Jesus' Name, Amen.

What are some of God's summer treasures you are thankful for today? What sweet memories do they bring back for you?

Blessings, Michelle

What I Know Now

Hey friends! We've made it to Thursday. I can't believe how quickly these summer days are flying. Today I am thrilled to write as part of 

FaithBarista's 

Faith Jam

Faith Jam is a link up where writers of faith are going to share some amazing stories. In this week's Jam we are sharing letters to our younger selves on what we know now about the faith journey we are on. I hope you'll take time to visit her site and read some of the entries. And if you've hopped over here from the Jam, you are so welcome!

My name is Michelle and I am wife to my Irish husband Brian, mom to preschooler Teagan and baby Isla. It's always an adventure around here where I like to share my family, faith, advocacy for Compassion International, struggle with infertility, newbie homeschooling adventures and always a mishap or two. Lately I also share about the very present grief I have in loosing my father, mother and stepmother all within months of each other. I pray this blog provides a means of encouragement to women by showing them God's love. 

Ready? Let's Jam! 

Here's my letter to my twenty year old self:

Dear Michelle, 

I look at you now and my older self wants to hug you. You'll spend too many years searching for significance, sure that the world can't accept you as you are. Life is good, but it seems the wind carries you on a roller coaster of emotions and crisis. You float from person to group to organization, all in a quest to find the missing link that will lead to a peace that eludes you. 

You will try "church" but feel like an outsider sitting in pews, sure that those "perfect" people inside its doors could never experience the struggles in your heart. But take heart, dear self! God wants you to know you don't need to be perfect to worship Him. He will help you discover you were wonderfully made and are already special to Him and so many others He has and will place in your life! 

Even while you stray, God will not give up on you. He will call you back to Him through a series of trials that bring you to your knees. But in the process? He will bless you beyond your imagination with a wonderful husband and friend, beautiful, treasured children, exceptional friendships and always, the love of your family. 

One day, you will be able to reconcile your life in the world with your faith and find peace through being your authentic self, a child of God. It will surprise you most of all to find Jesus has called you to share your faith through the written word. But in accepting this calling you will experience the greatest joy and purpose ever. So hang in there. And stay away from musicians!!

In Love, 

Your older...and sometimes, wiser 

Self

Letting God Prioritize Our Day

Most mornings I find it easy to arrange my day and the plans I have with the kids. This morning, I am just kinda running in circles. So I am taking a moment to stop, listen for God's prompting and let Him do what He will with my schedule. 

As I had my quiet time He led me to this verse which soothed my heart in the midst of a to do list that seems overwhelming. I pray it encourages you too. 

Tell me, what do you do to let God prioritize your day? And what blessings does He deliver when you do so?

Blessings, Michelle

Destination: Inspiration Linky Party #19 and Featured Blogger

Welcome to a new week of Destination: Inspiration on Teagan's Travels. I am so excited to feature our very first blogger under my new weekly Featured Blogger addition to the Destination: Inspiration party.

Jennifer Linck writes Bringing Home the Missing Linck: A Mother's Journey of Faith. She is just the sweetest woman and a wonderful writer. Plus, we have so much in common. Not only is she a fellow Texan, but she too has a heart for adoption, cupcakes, Jesus and Hawaii...ok, perhaps not in that order but you get the idea! Get to know her better here...

Jennifer Linck

1) Tell us about you and your ministry.
I love to share how God answered my heart’s cry to be a mother and am  passionate about adoption, orphan care and encouraging others who are struggling with infertility. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, I received a bachelor’s degree in journalism and spent several years working as a reporter for The Oklahoman. As a ghost writer, I completed the book Common Threads with author Patty Bultman in 2011. I love spending time with my husband and son. I love to scrapbook and anything related to a cupcake! I love to blog about my faith, family, adoption, and orphan care at www.jenniferjacksonlinck.com

2) Share something unusual about your life.

My husband and I were in the process of adopting a baby from Ethiopia when God took us on a crazy ride! I was working at the local homeless shelter and a young girl living there was trying to find a family for her baby. We adopted her baby in December!

3) How did you discover blogging and why do you do it?

I discovered blogging when we decided to adopt! There is a huge adoption blog community! I am also a writer. I love to write and share all that Jesus is teaching me. I started my blog to keep our friends and family updated on our adoption process and it turned in to something I just really love to do! I love offering encouragement and hope through my posts, while educating people on adoption and orphan care.

4) Where was your favorite trip and why?

By far, Hawaii! My husband proposed to me in Maui and I believe that Hawaii has to be Heaven on Earth! I literally cried when I had to leave! 

5) Show us what you've got! Share the title, description and link to your favorite post!

4 Weeks Ago

This is the story of the day we welcomed our son in to the world!

Please visit Jennifer's site and say hello! I look forward to hearing more from her on Teagan's Travels, hopefully as a future guest blogger and through linking up weekly!

If you are interested in guest posting or being featured here send an email to teaganstravels@yahoo.com. It would be great if you include a picture as well and a blog button, if you have one. 

Alright, we are off to another great party. 

Share as many inspirational posts as you like!

Passport to an Awesome 

Destination: Inspiration Party!!!

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*I  am trying to grow my little blog so I'd really be excited if you would follow me using Google  Friends Connect or Linky Followers on my sidebar!

*Grab my button and post it somewhere on your blog if you want to totally make my week.

*Link to your post instead of your overall blog address.

*We all love comments so spread the love to at least one other blogger.

Have a great week! 
Blessings,
Michelle