Heavenly Hawaiian Hakus, A Crown of Love

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Heavenly Hawaiian Hakus, A Crown of Love

Hawaii is often featured as a place of pure bliss in instagram perfect photos, and rarely do we post about the reality that there is still great poverty, pain, abuse, sex trafficking— all the painful realities of humanities brokenness are found there too. But do we focus on the pain and ugliness of the world as our focal point, or do we choose to see the beauty and the possibilities for restoration and bring hope into the world through our thoughts, words and actions. The choice is ours.

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Hope Retreat Recap

/ Elkhorn Resort and Spa/
Hope Retreat Recap

It was an honour to join the team at the Manitoba Women's Retreat at the beautiful Elkhorn Resort and Spa this past spring. I enjoy sharing my story, speaking hope and casting a vision of restoration by giving permission to others to dream,  grow in faith, hope and love. Retreats are a wonderful way to spend some unhurried time together with newfound friends sharing authentically from my heart to theirs.

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Post Mother's Day Prayers for the Brokenhearted

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Post Mother's Day Prayers for the Brokenhearted

As a follow up to my recent blog post "Are You My Mother", I wrote about the gift of honouring motherhood and all those who "mother" us throughout our journey of faith. There is much to be happy about on the topic of motherhood. At the same time, it is important to pause and reflect on the angst Mother's Day brings forth for many: both spiritually and relationally. If we can learn how to mourn with those who mourn and help each other be more authentic with the pains of life, we'd realize we all walk with a limp. Especially as mothers.

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Are You My Mother?→

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Are You My Mother?

In my own journey of faith, Mothers Day often brought deep sorrow more often than not because I spent many Mothers Days apart from my own mother (& mother in law) as I lived long-distance from them. As a young momma myself, I struggled with the what ifs and the "woulda-shoulda-coulda" thoughts as my idealistic tendencies were crippling my ability to fully embrace Mothers Day.  By focusing on what I didn't have (family supports who live in my own city) and the imperfections in me and earthly mothering expectations, I let myself down. I struggled with fully embracing my motherhood for many years as a result. Condemnation, guilt and oh, right: comparison- the thief of joy. 

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Prayer Walking

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Prayer Walking

The purpose of prayer-walking is to seek God’s guidance, mercy, and transforming power—both for the  individuals and regions we pray for, but also  for ourselves. Prayer-walking helps us become more spiritually minded in what we are observing all around as we walk and pray. It’s a time where we allow ourselves to breathe in revival and speak forth revival, taking authority in Christ on the land in which we are given. 

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Betrayed by a Friend

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Betrayed by a Friend

I remember my mom saying to us kids: "Even Jesus wouldn't invite his enemy (Like Judas) to his birthday party"- trying to convey the truth that we cannot trust all people and to ultimately know who your enemies are.  I didn't quite get what she was trying to say when I was younger, but I do now. Yes, Judas was a part of Christ's 12 chosen disciples and I believe Jesus did truly love all of them and believed in their full potential. But ultimately, Jesus is not responsible for the evil Judas allowed into his own heart to cause the betrayal. 

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Our Canada, My Story

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Our Canada, My Story

I've lived in Canada since crossing the border in 1990 after our whirlwind honeymoon, but it took me 20 years to take the step to be an official Canadian Citizen. After marrying my Canadian beau, I was perfectly content to be a visitor- landed immigrant, then permanent resident. Growing up in Minnesota, I was raised to pledge my allegiance to the USA, salute the flag and "Live by the Girl Scout Law". Needless to say, my American Pride was deeply embedded within.  Even after I had a miraculous brush with heaven in 1996 and truly understood that my eternal citizenship is in heaven,  (Philippians 3:19-21),  I was in no rush to become a Canadian Citizen.

But God had other plans...

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Redeemed- The Power of Story!

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Redeemed- The Power of Story!

    In all my years launching and leading Women's Journey of Faith, and now launching Hope Restored Canada, I have come across hundreds of speaker names, suggested books,  studies, retreats and  conferences. I am grateful for each life that has crossed my path as their stories of faith, courage and perseverance has intersected with my own story.  We are created for story.

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We are Created to Create!

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There's a trend that has been capturing the attention of many to attend a "Paint Nite" , where for a few hours, groups come together and are coached to bring out the inner artist in us. Sometimes in studios, libraries, or over a glass of wine in restaurants or bars. Others have started up their own business like a  friend of mine who started up "Leslie's Coffee and Canvas". Fun, Fun! I ended up going to three paint nights in one year and I loved every minute of it. I found it to be a stress reliever actually...

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Faith through the Mountaintops and Valleys→

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Faith through the Mountaintops and Valleys

Life is full of ups and downs, mountaintop experiences and valley meanderings too. Do you ever find yourself living in "la la land" though wanting to stay on the mountain top with all it's thrills, pats on the back, high fives and that feeling of accomplishment? I know I do! No wonder the movie musical La La Land was so popular!  If I look back on my life and look to people I admire most, we have all experienced some minor or major set backs, heartbreak, and pain. It sucked big time going through it, and many instances I wouldn't wish it on my closest friends.

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A New Year of Restoration

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2017 is here whether we like it or not, we are destined to move forwards. We can't go back but only be present in the moment and look towards the future with hope. I have to laugh at all the times in my life where the turn of the year has pushed me to want me to be the best I can be, but truly- what are we measuring that ideal against?  

If you are like me, we often beat ourselves up that we didn't lose those extra pounds gained during the holidays, or read the books or passages that we'd like to or reestablished relationships like we ought to and we end up feeling like a failure.  We often set the bar unrealistically high when it comes to New Year's Resolutions! 

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Restoring Ruins

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Restoring Ruins

It's good to get back to blogging again! I've taken a break from it for a few months and it was not by choice, but a forced kind of way. In the spring of 2016, I received an email from a camp director in Alberta (who was about to book me to speak at a women's retreat),. giving me a heads up on an online nightmare. She informed me that when they sought to confirm the booking, they came upon my website and was shocked that it was gone.

I was like "What do you mean,... gone?"

 The annoying reality hit me 'Welcome to the world of hacking.' As I clicked on my site, up came a page I will not soon forget. As a result, I acted swiftly to assure my site host at the time quickly took off the images, erased all my content and the cyber bug added eery music and text on my page.

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