Did You Miss Karen Witemeyer's Interview?

Have you been by to visit my new residence?

If you didn't, you missed my interview with author Karen Witemeyer on Tuesday. But don't worry, you still have the opportunity to read it by clicking here.

Come join me in the brand new Drawing Room!

The Drawing Room is Moving

Pardon the boxes. It's moving day.

Photo: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I'm very excited to announce that The Drawing Room is moving to a new home. My home. I've been working for a while on getting a webpage up, and I'm finally happy with what I have and what it looks like and everything, so I'm moving in. There's still a lot of work to do, but it's ready for occupation.

I hope you've enjoyed reading this blog and you'll move with me.

The new home is blog.KristiAnnHunter.com.

I'm a little nervous. As with any new home, there's bound to be some kinks and adjustments to be made, but it's still exciting to move, in essence, from renting to owning.

I hope you'll come and join me.

I'm Going To Be Published... Sort of... Kinda... Okay, not really, but it's still cool!

Confused by the title? Let me explain.

If you follow me on Facebook, you know I've been a little quiet for the last week. It's because I've been getting everything ready for our anniversary celebration at Regency Reflections!

As part of the celebration we wrote a serial story. That means I will have fiction writing put out for all the world to read. Which is sort of like being published, but not really. 

The event is going to be fun. We've hidden prizes throughout the story for readers to find for a chance of winning all eight prizes. I have to say I'm having some serious thoughts about getting myself a copy of the Bible in the prize pack. (I didn't donate it, but I saw the picture and it's gorgeous!) 

I would love to have you swing over to Regency Reflections and join the party. The story is a lot of fun, and one of the best parts is that we're letting the readers decide how it ends! 

More Than a Wildflower ~ Life Lessons from Hand-Me-Downs

I have a lot of nieces. That has translated to having a lot of clothes passed down.

And I do mean a lot. Three of my nieces are near the same size, so when they out grow those clothes, they filter down to my kids. That's three wardrobes worth of clothes. Believe me - it's a bit overwhelming, but it's a wonderful problem to have to figure what to do with all those clothes. I haven't had to buy much.

As my oldest child grows, the hand-me-downs become a little less. When kids get older they actually wear out some of their clothes, so there's less to pass down.

I had to go buy a pair of jeans the other day because several of the previously-loved pairs chose to become trendy and rip holes in the knees, thereby relegating themselves to the play-clothes drawer. As I bought the jeans, it occurred to me that when we moved up the next size, I was going to have to buy more jeans. There weren't many in the box in the closet.

Having to plan on buying more jeans meant having to plan for an adjustment in the budget for kids clothes. Right now, our budget is tight (who's isn't?) so that wasn't a happy thought.

But you know what is a happy thought? My God loves me.

San Carlos Wildflowers, via Wikimedia Commons

I posted a few weeks ago about realizing the connection between the verses Jesus spoke about God caring for the sparrows and the verses about seeking first the Kingdom of God. That connection floored me and adjusted my thinking and prayer life since.

And God came through.

I'll be honest, it didn't occur to me to start praying for jeans when she's still several months from needing that next size. There were problems that seemed much closer that needed my prayer and focus more than my daughter's wardrobe.

But God is so big that He can hear me on all of those looming issues and still take care of the little ones that I've forgotten.

Romans 8:26 says, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express."

I've always considered this passage as dealing with more spiritual things. Like when we don't realize what we really need to pray for is boldness or humility or something like that. But I think now that the Spirit also prays for jeans. Or a sunny day. Or a flat tire so that you miss getting caught in that big pile up on the way to work. He knows exactly what we need in our lives even when we forget or don't know in the first place.

Photo: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

We have a friend at church that occasionally gives us dresses her granddaughter has outgrown. Last week she gave us a huge box of clothes. Inside were six pairs of jeans in the exact size my daughter will need next. It's not a size that is all that easy to find either.

I am humbled by this tangible example of Jesus' promise in Luke 12:22-34. As my family has made a very conscious effort lately to seek more of the Kingdom of God, He has seen our need before it even arrives and He has provided. He has demonstrated that He loves me more than the wildflowers. And when it comes time to put those jeans in the drawer, I will remember His provision and tear up all over again.

God loves us. More than we can ever know. He loves you. Run to Him. Seek His kingdom and His righteousness and you will not be disappointed. He doesn't promise everyone a big box of hand-me-downs. Your miracle will look different than mine. But never fear, He will show up with exactly what you need, even if you don't know what that something is.