CREEKSIDE MINISTRIES

Remembering Brent (1968 - 2023)

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Stoll) — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 21:07:00 +0000

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Revelation 21:4

It's with great sadness that I share the news of the heavenly homegoing of our dear friend and my former ministry partner, Brent Carl. This faithful servant of God, beloved by so many, is now with Jesus, the One he adored and served.

Brent ministered faithfully over the years in churches, Samaritan's Purse, counseling, and creative ministry venues in NY and New England. He was widely known for his gentle pastor's heart, ability to relate deeply to people of all ages, and giftedness in teaching God's Word in ways that were always practical and relevant.

His obituary is here.

Dear readers, you blessed Brent and Bonnie and their kids with prayer and financial support through GoFundMe when I reached out to you back in January. I am trusting that you will do the same for Bonnie and their beautiful children in the days ahead.

And Brent, if you're listening, I know I speak for the many who grieve your suffering and death at such a young age. You have shown us what it looks like to deeply trust Jesus in the valley of the shadow.

Serving together on the same team for those 13 years was sheer joy even during the rocky seasons. Thanks for introducing me to blogging ... and for all the biblical wisdom and encouraging words you shared along the way.

I know you and Bob are having the time of your lives together again with your dearest Friend, Jesus. Save a seat for me at the table, ok ...

Linda

this tribute was originally published at
LindaStoll.net

Remembering Pastor Bob (1940 - 2019)

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Stoll) — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 21:15:00 +0000

It is with great sadness that I share the news of the heavenly homegoing of our dear friend and former pastor, my mentor and ministry partner, Bob Eckler on November 19th. This faithful servant of God, beloved by so many, is now with Jesus, the One he passionately adored and served.

I'm confident that his deep bass voice is joyfully lifted strong as he praises God face to face ... and I can only imagine that he's having the time of his life meeting and greeting the many saints, family, and friends that went on before him.

His obituary and information on his
Celebration of Life Service is here.

From 2002 - 2015, I had the joy of serving with Bob on the pastoral staff at the church where he was senior pastor and then at Creekside Ministries, the pastoral counseling center / house church we co-founded at the home he shared with his lovely, gracious wife, Dottie.

Along the way, Bob and I partnered together in developing a Celebrate Recovery program, facilitated week long seminars for single parents, and provided marriage counseling as a team so that both husbands and wives could feel comfortable as they sought help and support.

Bob's deep love for Jesus and his passion for caring for his flock are well known. His hearty laugh and propensity to burst into a verse or two of a favorite hymn as he went through his day are fondly remembered by all who interacted with him. This mighty prayer warrior deeply cared for those who were broken in spirit and was an incredibly powerful preacher of God's Word, a kind and tender-hearted pastor who loved his people well.

In our 13 years of serving God together, Bob generously opened numerous ministry doors for me, championing my work in ways that I most likely never would have otherwise experienced as a woman in conservative evangelical circles.

To say I am grateful would be a vast understatement.

Bob, if you're somehow reading this, please know that your Christ-centered life and faithful ministry impacted countless souls for the Kingdom. Tim and our family join me in grieving your immense loss. We thank God upon every remembrance of you {Philippians 1:3}.
Linda

2010

this tribute was originally posted at

LindaStoll.net

Where'd She Go?

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Stoll) — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 14:38:00 +0000

Hey Old Friend ~

I hear that some of you have been wondering where I disappeared to!

Well ... I moved lock, stock, and barrel over to my brand new online home, LindaStoll.net, four weeks ago today. It was a huge upheaval in many ways, but every day it feels more and more like home sweet home.

I've created a very personal space for us to do life together and would love for you to join me there so I can give you the grand tour, show you around, and give you a great big welcome!

Today I'm filling you in on what I finally decided to do about that annual 31 Days writing extravaganza. And in recent weeks I've had to share some heartbreaking family news, as well.

So grab my hand and click here to follow me there ... and please be sure to subscribe to the new site when you arrive! I don't want us to lose track of each other. What I know for sure is that rich, ongoing relationships that stand the test of time are a rare, treasured gift indeed!

Can't wait to re-connect with you again ...

A Month Not Soon Forgotten . . .

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Stoll) — Fri, 31 Jul 2015 11:27:00 +0000

If you're a faithful friend around here, you'll know that I've been doing alot of musing recently about our long anticipated move to Cape Cod and my Dad's sudden death the following day. This is grief therapy in action.

And you guys have been so overwhelmingly supportive and kind. This is true community in action. Your faithful prayers matter, your words of solace are like great big hugs. I feel heard. I feel cared for.

Thank you seems so very insufficient.

Today I'm turning a bit of a corner as I head off to my favorite month-in-review celebrations over at Emily's and Leigh's where we share the odds and ends of what we're into and what we're learning.

Come along with me, will ya'?

* * *

i'm referring ...

my counseling clients to other counselors. A prayer-fueled, difficult decision for me and not all that easy for them, these wonderful women deserve the absolute best I can give, and right now that means an introduction to other people helpers who will walk with them on the next leg of their journey.

i'm celebrating ...

little Tyler's 1st birthday even from afar. God has been sending some wonderful nurses so that his mommy and daddy can get out to church and get a bit of respite from time to time. If you haven't met our 7th grandchild, his welcome-to-the-family video is here ... and you'll understand why this is one fabulous milestone. Heads up - get the Kleenex.

i'm unpacking ...

far too many boxes and trying to figure out what to do with way too much furniture. Enough already.

i'm appreciating ...

the greeting card industry and those thoughtful friends who take the time to choose the perfect message and send it my way. The Friday night small group showered us with envelopes stuffed with memories and photographs and the most beautiful sentiments as we took our leave from New York. And these days, the rusty green mailbox opens to reveal cards that speak a tender peace to my soul.

i'm learning ...

how to make collages with PicMonkey. I had a really cool one just about designed for this post, but it vanished into thin air. Really. Please tell me I'm not the last person on earth to figure this out.

i'm watching ...

lots of my former possessions go to auction this weekend. I've discovered the startling truth that just 'cause you once collected and cherished an object, doesn't mean you have to keep it forever.

i'm lending ...

grace to myself, giving myself some space to do absolutely nothing at all. And when that fails, to go lay down and take a mid-afternoon nap. And not feel a tinge of guilt about it.

i'm chatting ...

with the everyday people in my new neighborhood ... the cashiers, baggers, librarians, the woman sitting next to me at an outdoor concert, the re-sale shop owner, fellow walkers, a few people at church. Whoever said New Englanders are standoffish hasn't been to this neck of the woods.

i'm stalling ...

on getting my new blog site up and running. Right about now I need to write more than I need to make myself crazy. The thought of wading into any kind of technical detail makes my eyes glaze over.

i'm rejoicing ...
because we finally sold our house this week. No glitches. An appreciative buyer. Thank You, Lord!

i'm savoring ...
Psalm 29:11 - 'The Lord gives strength to His people; The Lord blesses His people with peace.'

i'm heading ...
off to the Adirondacks with Tim, the girls, their guys, and the kiddos for a long-ago-planned week at camp. It's been two years since we took a vacation together. Restful? Hardly. But I just can't wait.

* * *

and saying hi to Kelly . Holley . Lyli

A New Home for Daddy & A New Home for Me

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Stoll) — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 19:42:00 +0000

I know I'll look back on this season as one of the most stressful I've ever had the privilege to live through.

Yes, a privilege.

Because I've encountered my Savior's startling grace at each faltering step and every jagged breath of the exhausting, tear-strewn path.

On one sunny Friday I moved, lock, stock, and barrel, from New York to Massachusetts. And the very next day, before I could even unpack a handful of boxes, my Dad moved on to his heavenly forever home, called oh-so-very-suddenly by his Maker.

After 40 years apart, I thought we were going to do life together for one final season.

God had other plans.

Moving on to live in a new location is a joyful gift, one waiting to be unwrapped and experienced with the greatest anticipation, an open door into the vast unknown with all its great big possibilities and inviting open-ended opportunities just waiting to be explored, savored, treasured.

When all is said and done, I guess we each got to move on to the exact location our hearts were yearning for.

It makes me smile that we both walk on the shores of crystal seas these days. Even if those golden spaces are universes apart.

God's Word tells me that there's no tears by your heavenly crystal sea, Daddy. But the tears are flowing freely on this side of heaven.

It's ok. Because there's one thing we're sharing right about now.

The Holy Spirit of God is closer than the next breath we breathe. And I would have it no other way.

* telling my story at Kelly's . Holley's . Lyli's

Consolation Wears Many Faces

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Stoll) — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 19:03:00 +0000

'Spiritual consolation is an experience of being so on fire with God's love

that we feel impelled to praise, love, and serve God and help others as best we can.

Spiritual consolation encourages and facilitates a deep sense of gratitude
for God's faithfulness, mercy, and companionship in our life.

In consolation, we feel more alive and connected to others.'
St. Ignatius Loyola

{1491~1556}

Consolation wears many faces ... and maybe this sacred gift of grace is never more powerful than when we are in the midst of a fierce and raw grief. This holy invitation beckons gently even as we weep repeatedly, uncontrollably with a depth that we've never confronted before.

Who knew that there were so many hot and stormy tears locked somewhere deep within the human soul?

Like when you had no choice but to say good-bye to your father at 11 at night in a sterile emergency room cubicle when he had already taken his leave and headed to his long-awaited heavenly home.

And again six days later right before the casket was closed for good and locked up tight.

And a few hours later at the graveside after the 23rd Psalm was prayed by family members young and old, and you and your sister passed out roses and kisses to each family member so that they were able to take away something sweet amidst the grievous yet grand memorial celebration.

I've always hated good-byes. And never more than now.

Tears cascade, they well up from someplace unfathomable at the oddest moments sprinkled throughout the day and night, don't they. A sight, a sound, a scent, a memory pushes all reason aside and you weep hard.

And then you continue to do the next thing ... depleted, drained, yet strangely relieved in some odd kind of way.

Yet through grief's rocky, unsteady path, the Christ-honoring consolation of our faith is a solid surety, intertwined with a steady flow of gratitude for the sacred faithfulness, mercy, and companionship of our God.

And then there is the steady consolation that comes from partaking in the rhythms of life.

The photo shoot at day's end reminds us that our shared faith in Christ and our enduring commitment to each other are powerful cords that bind us close. Even if we do make each other crazy from time to time.

The joyful exuberance of children's laughter and love and play.

Of prayer with hearts united and hands held, kicking off the celebration of the upcoming arrival of my sister's first grandchild this fall.

Or letting the movement of water do its healing work.

There's embracing the grace to sit absolutely still because there's no energy to do anything more and to try would be a waste of what little energy remains.

And then there are the tall glasses of icy water that chase away the humidity that hangs like a shroud.

Hands busy at the household tasks of tidying up and wading through endless loads of laundry.

Beginning to contemplate the random piles and stacks of boxes that litter the house from end to end.

The flowers. Oh ... the flowers. Glorious. Fragrant. 'Pastel shades of Monet,' the florist coined them. We are relishing their fragrant whispers, their soft textures.

And these words here, a most calming, therapeutic penning of this post.

And then there is the tender consolation that has come from you, my friends.

I sift through and re-read again the sweetest avalanche of emails and texts and comments and cradle each one with deepest appreciation. I walk to the end of the driveway and open the rusty green mailbox, smiling because you've somehow found our new address and have taken the time to send cards that speak His precious peace and bountiful hope.

I thank God for those who traveled hours to stand with me at the memorial service. To come toting my huge, cumbersome asparagus ferns and old tin watering cans that we couldn't jam into the truck when we left New York. And you, sweet friends, who braved the flat tire you had to deal with on the Mass Pike, but forged ahead to be with me anyway. Your calm presence strengthened me at the end of a very difficult day and your great big hugs soothed my spirit.

And to those who showed their love by delivering all kinds of yummy food to my mom's. Your gifts of chicken in all its many forms, the mounds of fresh fruit and the lasagna and the desserts? They kept us fed and nourished. Without you, we'd still be staring into the wide open fridge, trying to figure out what to eat.

Even in our sorrows, the lovely blessings of consolation are scattered around us, right and left. We only need open hearts to experience God's healing grace in all its fullness. We lean hard into Him right about now. And He lovingly scoops us up and carries us through grief's valley ...

In Memory of John Halliday Blackie

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Stoll) — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 19:31:00 +0000

It is with greatest sorrow that I share the news that the day after we moved here to Cape Cod, my beloved Dad died suddenly, quickly, peacefully.

We are crushed. Tim and I were so looking forward to this season of doing life with him and my mom. But even in the midst of the shock and the whirlwind of decisions and phone calls and planning is that ever-present peace that passes understanding.

God knows. He loves us so. He cares. He cradles us close. He bears our grief, he carries our sorrows.

I share with you a tribute I wrote to Dad two years ago. And the obituary and memorial service arrangements are below.

Please, my friends, pray for our family.

* * *

June 2013 ...

I hold you close and stretch my arm way out, camera in hand. We're still making memories whenever we can. And I want to capture this celebration before we dive into great huge bowls of chocolate ice cream on the most gorgeous Cape Cod day ever. Before we laugh the sunny afternoon away as we fill the newly painted window boxes with multi-hued petunias and patch the driveway and cut the rhubarb. Before we sit and watch the birds explore the bird house and someone who shall remain nameless tracks driveway tar onto the light aqua carpeting. Before the evening falls and the breeze cools and we watch TV at ear-piercing levels and talk politics and books and you share ancient photos and vividly-detailed stories from Scotland in the century past.

We all know you never expected to hit this milestone. Ah ... but God had other plans, and here you are, moving around on your own two feet and in your right mind. Wisdom still comes from your heart and your vast life experience. You still break into hearty song on a moment's notice ... and I realize in the writing of this that my sister and I do the same. For the nuts didn't fall far from the tree, did they ...

You still prize hard work and an eye to detail, even though you might be moving just a tad slower. Your eyes are quick to fill at the most sensitive of moments. You make us laugh ... and yes, we both continue to make each other crazy from time to time.

And when you confidently pound on heaven's doors in perfect King James English, I know our Redeemer listens. You have shown us how to be faithful to Him and to each other.

Please know I value your wise counsel more than ever. And I know I'm not the only one. So please rejoice in this season because your legacy is living on, even as we speak. Through your children. Children's children. And children's children's children.

How good is God!

I love you, Daddy ~

JOHN HALLIDAY BLACKIE

1928 - 2015

LINK TO OBITUARY

3 Things I Loved Most About House Church

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Stoll) — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 16:25:00 +0000

We said good-bye to The Community at Creekside last Saturday night, the house church I helped birth back in the beginning of 2008. This peaceful, rather unstructured worship setting has offered freedom and healing and joy to those who have done life with us along the way.

I was recently told that I've changed for the better in the process. Less driven, less intense, less wounded.

The Spirit has worked overtime to gentle and calm my soul. House church's atmosphere has played a role in my healing and growth. I'm grateful.

What I've loved most?

1. No committees, no power plays, no posturing and maneuvering, no grappling for control.

After decades in administrative and leadership roles in the traditional church, the distinct lack of rigid hierarchical structure has been a true gift, a lovely relief, a healing stream. Decisions were made easily, amicably, without alot of fanfare, wrangling, drama, or trauma.

2. Weekends morphed into a true sabbath rest.

The release of busyness started late Saturday afternoon in preparation for church at 7 pm. And the sweet respite, the slower pace flowed right through Sunday evening, a sacred pause that let us recover from the week's pressures and prepared us well for the next five days.

No alarms jangling to wake us up, no crazy running for the door early in the morning in our Sunday best. No series of classes, meetings, and programs that we were expected to jam into our schedule.

Just a gently quiet weekend ebb and flow that we quickly embraced. Sabbath rest at its finest.

3. A growth in godly character, not numbers.

People sometimes ask me if the Community has grown. They mean numerically, as in bodies attending. No, it hasn't.

And is this a perfect group of people? Far from it. We're all saved sinners, remember?

But I have seen a growth in character, the fruit of the Spirit's gentle wooing. More grace extended. Patience blooming into full fruition. Kindness showing up on a regular basis. A steadfast generosity eager to extend itself to those in need. Faithful love that became evident in a myriad of ways.

I will miss this little community, Bob's deep insight into God's Word, Wayne and Lynn's joyous energy in leading us in worship. I'm a bit scared to go back to a traditional church setting. I've been burned a time or two before and the scars remain, still a bit tender to the touch.

But follow His lead we will, for we know He has a new place for us to call home.

I love you guys. And last Saturday night, all your lavish expressions of love and affection were oh so gratefully received, soaked up into our just-a-bit overwhelmed souls. The memories of our joyful celebration of God's goodness will linger long after the tears have been forgotten.

And if you're reading this post in or around Poughkeepsie and don't have a church home? There are a couple of vacant, very comfy seats that just might have your name on them ...

:::

THE TRANSITION JOURNEY ~ AN UNEXPECTED SERIES

In Which This Is All So Very Bittersweet

Dear Linda : : Answering Your Questions About the Transition

For Sale . . . Our Much-Loved Haven

The Getting-the-House-Ready-to-Sell Whirlwind

Leaning in the Whirlwind

The Sheer Joy of Kindred Spirit Companionship

Honoring My Clients As I Close Up Shop

3 Things I Loved Most About House Church

Choosing Light-Hearted Responses

Moving On

:::

connecting with

Kelly . Jennifer . Holley . Lyli

Honoring My Clients As I Close Up Shop

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Stoll) — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 16:14:00 +0000

Truth be told, these have been rough weeks at the counseling office. Tears have been shed, kind and tender tributes have been offered back and forth and back again. Together, some clients and I have mapped out plans to continue our work over the phone and Skype after a bit of a break, while a few have been referred to other counselors.

And then there are those who are ready to take wings and soar.

On reflection, I'd say we've finished well. And while it's fair to say that most of them are not exactly ecstatic about my leaving, I think they'd agree that we have worked hard at bringing this season of life together to a most satisfactory conclusion that has honored Christ.

Even if tears flowed freely from time to time with no embarrassment or shame. From clients and counselor alike.

So instead of focusing on the now empty shelves in a half bare room and my very mixed feelings about this most difficult of transitions, I want to bring tribute to these incredible women of valor. I hope that by the time you're done reading these words, you'll know why I'm passionate about what I do ... and why it's so hard to leave this place.

:::

no one's immune from sitting in the counseling office

I've talked with clients from 14 - 84. They've come from endless, fascinating cultures with the broadest array of experiences, challenges, and pain. But no matter where they find themselves or how they spend their days or how much cash they've got in their pockets, whether they're people full of faith or those who shake their fist in God's face ... when all is said and done, life happens. And absolutely no one is immune from emotional trauma, grief, unexpected events, family crises, or serious illness that can pull the rug right out from under us.

it takes courage to come to counseling ... and to keep on coming

Let me put to rest the myth that people who go to counseling are weak. It takes an inordinate amount of strength to admit you need to talk with a professional. Tenacity to find the perfect fit with the counselor who has the proper training to match your needs ... and a true connection to your soul. And raw faith and endless trust to allow that counselor to lead you through your stuff, week in and week out, so that you come out on the other end so much better than when you started.

every wounded soul needs a healing team

While counseling conversations are 1-1 and confidential, healing doesn't come in a vacuum. Together, counselor and client create a healing team that comes alongside as she moves through the tough times. Safe, caring family members and friends, experienced medical and legal professionals, ongoing support groups, effective community services, church resources, and online help all come into play. We don't heal on our own. We were created for community.

counseling's not a 1 hour a week deal

A motivated client is not content with 1 hour of work a week. An emphasis on caring for her body through healthy eating, exercise, rest, and a new work/life balance are all on the table. Consulting with her doctor, taking needed medication as prescribed, and creating a space to meet with God on a regular basis are vital steps in moving ahead. Those who follow up on assigned reading and journaling, who begin to set up wise boundaries and take concrete steps to reach their goals ... these are the ones who mend, who grow, who heal.

wounded healers emerge from painful places

God doesn't bring healing so we can simply wander off and put our feet up and be happy. The goal is always to take the lessons learned and the strength and wisdom gathered to bring something of beautiful, healing substance to others. To be so restored and so grateful and so wise that grace and hope can be offered to others who are broken ... that is when the client knows she's come full circle.

:::

I honor you today, all who've invited me to sit and be present with you in the stark reality of your pain. To leave no stone gently unturned as we've walked slowly but surely through the dark and scary places into the healing light and freedom that comes through Christ. To banish the lies that have hindered, to discover the power of forgiveness, and embrace new ways of looking at life and relating to others well. And ultimately, to claim the joyous potential of inviting our Redeemer to restore 'the years the locusts have eaten' {Joel 2:25}.

Thank you for allowing me to champion your healing, pray you through each setback, speak the hard truth in love, and celebrate your victories. When all is said and done, God is faithful and He is good.

Anticipating what He has in store for us all ~

:::

THE TRANSITION JOURNEY ~ AN UNEXPECTED SERIES

In Which This Is All So Very Bittersweet

Dear Linda : : Answering Your Questions About the Transition

For Sale . . . Our Much-Loved Haven

The Getting-the-House-Ready-to-Sell Whirlwind

Leaning in the Whirlwind

The Sheer Joy of Kindred Spirit Companionship

Honoring My Clients As I Close Up Shop

3 Things I Loved Most About House Church

Choosing Light-Hearted Responses

Moving On

:::

adapted

sharing with Kelly . Jennifer . Holley . Lyli

The Sheer Joy of Kindred Spirit Companionship

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Stoll) — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 02:17:00 +0000

Sometimes we've just gotta get out of our own heads, you know? The endless swirling of our own giant-sized thoughts, the wholehearted self-absorption of our own neediness, the tunnel visioned focus of what's on our own personal plate.

Sometimes we've just gotta take a very purposeful break and tell those iron-sharpening-iron souls in our lives that we truly desire to be in their company and invite them to do life together with us even for just a few precious hours. And to flexibly follow the Spirit's gentle nudges as we gather side by side.

To pull up rickety chairs 'round the table and break bread one with the other ... even if it's just take out. To sit outside on a cool evening, cozying under an afghan together even as the sun sets low while the conversation deepens. To answer 'yes, please' to a repeated offer from a friend who would like nothing better than to lend a hand. Or do a luscious brunch overlooking the river that flows north and south ... and then grab well-worn sneakers for what seems to be a 50 mile hike back and forth over that river's footbridge on the most glorious sabbath afternoon ever.

These gatherings with kindred spirit companions are sheer joy and a much-craved grace, even more so during seasons of uncertainty, of transition, of change. The conversation is easy, stories are shared, the laughter flows, there might be a tear or two that falls. We are stretched and replenished, refueled for the journey ahead. For we each bring out the absolute best in one another as we point our companions to Christ in the most natural and needful ways.

And when all is said and done, we find that the weekend was not at all about us. That life goes on beyond our own four walls. And that it's good, very good, to be totally other-absorbed. And we can't help but smile as we praise God that those kindred spirit friends are in our lives. For good.

No matter where our divergent pathways may lead in the unknown days ahead.

{}

THE TRANSITION JOURNEY ~ AN UNEXPECTED SERIES

In Which This Is All So Very Bittersweet

Dear Linda : : Answering Your Questions About the Transition

For Sale . . . Our Much-Loved Haven

The Getting-the-House-Ready-to-Sell Whirlwind

Leaning in the Whirlwind

The Sheer Joy of Kindred Spirit Companionship

Honoring My Clients As I Close Up Shop

3 Things I Loved Most About House Church

Choosing Light-Hearted Responses

Moving On

{}

stopping in to visit

Kelly . Jennifer . Mary . Holley . Lyli

Leaning in the Whirlwind

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Stoll) — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 13:49:00 +0000

'His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of His feet ... the Lord is good,

a refuge in times of trouble, He cares for those who trust in Him'

~ Nahum 1:3-7 ~

/ / /

From this week's journaling ...

Whirlwinds leave us reeling, unfocused, unsettled, strained. Everything is upended, uprooted, out of sorts. We are left to find a new normal, a stable reality. We want to make some sense of it all, for out of kilter we feel.

No wonder I feel the way I do right about now.

Exhausted. Sad. Frazzled. Done.

So here I am now. Processing the farewells, aiming to leave well, to grieve thoroughly, to appreciate the remaining moments I have with those I care so deeply for. To understand the stress of the whole house-selling process, to give myself grace, to thank my husband for sitting with my tears, for holding me gently while I weep.

That You, Lord, never change and are rock solid and sure is such a wellspring of strength right now. Because 'when all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.'

May these quiet times together, this conversation back and forth, this sustenance, these moments tucked somewhere near the beginning of the day revitalize and stable me, strengthen and re-calibrate me.

You are in the whirlwind,

yet You are never shaken.

I am leaning into You.

/ / /

'As we continue the seasonal dance from one month to another, may we be willing to release our tight hold on familiar and grab on to something new. May we carry our questions with us even as we gather up all the hope we can find for the days to come.'

~ Emily Freeman ~

/ / /

THE TRANSITION JOURNEY ~ AN UNEXPECTED SERIES

In Which This Is All So Very Bittersweet

Dear Linda : : Answering Your Questions About the Transition

For Sale . . . Our Much-Loved Haven

The Getting-the-House-Ready-to-Sell Whirlwind

Leaning in the Whirlwind

The Sheer Joy of Kindred Spirit Companionship

Honoring My Clients As I Close Up Shop

3 Things I Loved Most About House Church

Choosing Light-Hearted Responses

Moving On

The Getting-the-House-Ready-to-Sell Whirlwind

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Stoll) — Fri, 29 May 2015 11:57:00 +0000

Whew!

It's been some ride.

The endless conversations, the whispered praying-without-ceasing, the confirmation in our hearts that YES, we always said we'd know when it was time to go and now it is. The straight out, exhausting non-stop nuts and bolts of our month long side-by-side work to get the house to its absolute Sunday best.

And then all those endless hours of watching HGTV finally paid off as we staged each room 'just so,' a warm and homey {but not too personal} invitation to prospective buyers to imagine making themselves at home in this place. Followed by the act of signing papers as we put our home out there for all the world to see. And then our You Tube debut! {Be sure to click on the gizmo on the bottom right to get the big picture!}

video

It's all been a real trip. In the best sense of the word. Really.

And you guys, well you've been the BEST cheerleaders ever! As I began to share our transition journey, you surrounded me with the sweetest encouragements and virtual hugs, heaven-sent prayers and emails as I put my heart right out there on the table. And I quickly realized that you were coming with me and I wouldn't need to say any online good-byes.

Can I tell you that this is an immense gift since there are so many difficult in-person farewells going on?

In a nutshell, here's a few things I learned in the whirlwind of getting the house ready to sell.

1. If you ever made a list, now's the time.
He had a list, I had a list, we had a list together. If anything or anybody had to be contacted / bought / accomplished / scheduled / checked out in some way, shape or form, it needed to be written down. Period.

2. If you ever stuffed a folder, this is it.
Every scrap of paper, every receipt, every estimate, every bit of information was kept in one easy-to-grab location. I lost count how many times I flipped that folder open to dig some kind of much-needed paper out. I blessed the day we thought of consolidating every bit of info into one place.

3. If you ever underestimated your abilities, forget about it.
I've always been a coach potato and never knew a screwdriver from a hammer{well, almost}. But it was all hands on deck to get everything done in the very small window of time we had set for ourselves, so I had no choice but to climb ladders and strip wallpaper and spackle a million nail holes and haul garbage and make big decisions much more quickly than I would have preferred.

4. If you ever bought supplies, buy more than you think you need.
You think you won't, but you WILL run out of paint or caulking stuff or paper towels or mulch. Always. So we bought more than we needed, no matter what it was, and we were able to return the leftovers easily.

5. If you ever said 'thanks' right and left, this is the opportunity.
To our realtor team and the photographer they sent our way to capture the beautiful pictures for the listing ... we hit it off with them all right from the first minute.

To the guys at Home Depot and the hardware store and the garden center. They know their stuff.

The flooring installers and the appliance delivery men deserve some kind of medal. They didn't get bored with our questions and observations or irritated by our obsessive insistence on details and minutia. We tipped them well and called their bosses and sang their praises. I hope they get big fat raises.

And then there was the patience and grace we had to keep extending back and forth to each other, husband and wife, as we got under each other's skin on more than a few occasions. And the great relief in knowing that God was right in the midst of all the craziness as we forged together 'round the next corner.

Literally.

Let's talk houses.

Updating, staging, listing, selling.

THE TRANSITION JOURNEY ~ AN UNEXPECTED SERIES

In Which This Is All So Very Bittersweet

Dear Linda : : Answering Your Questions About the Transition

For Sale . . . Our Much-Loved Haven

The Getting-the-House-Ready-to-Sell Whirlwind

Leaning in the Whirlwind

The Sheer Joy of Kindred Spirit Companionship

Honoring My Clients As I Close Up Shop

3 Things I Loved Most About House Church

Choosing Light-Hearted Responses

Moving On

visiting with Kelly * Mary * Holley * Lyli * Leigh * Emily

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For Sale . . . Our Much-Loved Haven

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Stoll) — Wed, 20 May 2015 12:08:00 +0000

All's been scrubbed and staged ...

our best foot forward in every way we can make happen.

Some gorgeous photographs for the online listing have been snapped by Wendy,

capturing the essence of this place we've fondly called home.

The real estate sign spreads the news,

holding court along the roadside.

A lockbox stands at the ready, a willing sentry,

an invitation to turn the key and take it all in.

We eagerly welcome browsing guests,

confident that God has just the right family to make our home their own.

After 21 years, our beloved haven is for sale.
To say I have mixed emotions would be a great big understatement ...

THE TRANSITION JOURNEY ~ AN UNEXPECTED SERIES

In Which This Is All So Very Bittersweet

Dear Linda : : Answering Your Questions About the Transition

For Sale . . . Our Much-Loved Haven

When Your 10 Year Old Sweetheart Decides to Be Baptized

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Stoll) — Sun, 17 May 2015 21:42:00 +0000

The phone rings {or was it an email?} and we get the most delightful news that our tender gentle-spirited ten year old granddaughter has decided to be baptized.

In five days.

So we put the finishing touches on the house as we get it ready to sell, tie up loose ends here and there, and shift around a few plans. After this past week's rather windswept breathless days, we pack our bags and jump into the car for the five hour trek to Annapolis.

For this, the sacred, matters.

It's right up there with the day she was born. And her someday, far off wedding. It's that earth shaking, that meaningful, that precious. Yes it is.

This, her decision to honor to Christ by letting everyone know in a very public way, that her life belongs to Him and Him alone.

I will remember this evening always, surrounded by family and many friends, eager little cousins straining to catch every glimpse of water sloshing over the side of the tank. Her story of salvation read aloud, her parents, brothers, and sisters gathered 'round the sacred pool, her dad asking her the most meaningful of questions before he oh-so-gently lowers her under the water and raises her up, symbolizing sin put to death, new spiritual life come to dwell forever.

We give her the Bible that was given to me in 8th grade, our own words of love side-by-side with the original inscription.

And all I can do is thank God for this sacred mercy, to see yet one more granddaughter proclaim her forever love for Jesus in a pool of warm water.

The tears pool in my own eyes as I smile with a peaceful joy, as I release another huge sigh of gratitude.

And for the millionth time this week, I can't help but praise the God I adore, whose blessings never seem to come to an end.

* Yes, Kathryn's our sweet girl who created that little video that just about went viral around here, the one welcoming her six month old brother Tyler home from the hospital for the very first time ...

* Sharing joy with Kelly . Mary . Holley . Lyli . Susan

Dear Linda : : Answering Your Questions About The Transition

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Stoll) — Thu, 14 May 2015 16:16:00 +0000

The Dear Linda segments around here are all about your pressing concerns. Like a loved one's serious depression or heart-wrenching abandonment by an adult child or dealing with social media's overwhelming presence.

Serious stuff that matters.

But since this week's In Which This Is All So Very Bittersweet post, I've been getting a delightfully overwhelming response of affirming support for my transition to the Cape. All your gracious kindness has made me feel so loved and valued. How can I tell you how much that means to me?

And you've emailed me lots of questions.

Since I'd much rather you hear information about me straight from me than through the always unreliable grapevine, here's some random answers ...

~ note to self - do not tie bulky sweatshirt around mid-section and allow someone to follow you with a camera ~

Should I keep my appointment with you ... will it be closure or too painful?
I'm with you, friend. Good-byes are difficult and it's easier to just back off and not go there. But over time, I've learned that saying good-bye gives the relationship the respect and honor that it deserves, and acknowledges that the other person has played an important role in my life.

It's all a part of leaving well.

My advice? If you do keep the appointment, bring tissues. Tears are ok. Truly.

Are you going to keep on blogging?
Absolutely yes! I'm eager to see how writing is going to unfold in the next season. I just love you guys ... and the good part is that I can take you with me.

How cool is that!

Will you still do the blog coaching?
For sure! My phone goes with me wherever I go and summer's a great time to re-imagine and re-configure your online space in time for autumn's debut.

Can we do lunch?
Brunch, lunch, afternoon tea, supper, midnight snack? I've never been known to turn down a meal! Shoot me an email at Linda@CreeksideMinistries.com and I'll be in touch with you as I can.

Can I drop in and see you at Creekside?
I'll be at the office on Thursdays, May 28, June 4, and June 11. Shoot me an email and we'll see what we can do, ok?

What's going to happen with Creekside?
Creekside certainly is alive and well! The house church continues to meet on Saturday nights and Bob counsels men and couples during the week. You can call him at 845.298.0710 for more info.

Will you work at Cape Cod or enjoy a quieter season?
I'm looking forward to chilling out more ... and doing life with my parents who live just 35 minutes away. We want to begin doing some work on the house {including an office for me above the garage that we're already affectionately calling The Nest}, but honestly, I just can't imagine life without working with women in some kind of counseling / coaching role.

I'll be continuing to work with a few current counseling clients by phone and hope to expand the blog coaching. I have no plans to open a practice immediately, but am certainly open to a number of options. I'm sincerely waiting to see where God leads on this.

Maybe I'll do nothing at all. But I doubt it.

Are you taking all those incredible wooden spoons with you?
Yes, thank you very much! I've gotten rid of a ton of junk in the last year, but the spoons go along for the ride! Where I'll put them I have no idea, but I just couldn't say good-bye. It's bad enough I have to say farewell to people.

Sigh ...

Come along on my journey with me! Please?

Simply subscribe here and you won't miss a post.

And whenever you drop in, be sure to

check out those Shareworthy Reads on the bottom of the sidebar.

My must-reading recommendations hold court there ...

and they can change at a moment's notice!

*

THE TRANSITION JOURNEY ~ AN UNEXPECTED SERIES

In Which This Is All So Very Bittersweet

Dear Linda : : Answering Your Questions About the Transition

For Sale . . . Our Much-Loved Haven

The Getting-the-House-Ready-to-Sell Whirlwind

Leaning in the Whirlwind

The Sheer Joy of Kindred Spirit Companionship

Honoring My Clients As I Close Up Shop

3 Things I Loved Most About House Church

Choosing Light-Hearted Responses

Moving On

In Which This Is All So Very Bittersweet

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Stoll) — Tue, 12 May 2015 12:13:00 +0000

My fingernails are shot. To the quick.

Broken and peeling all over the place. Down to the nubs.

Not 'cause I'm nervous. Nope. It's been because I've been working those babies {and the rest of my bones} to the bone.

Literally.

The last month has seen me trimming and digging and hauling and planting and spreading all things dirty and life-giving in springtime's soft breezes.

Scrapping and peeling and stripping wallpaper, warm glue-y water running down my outstretched arms. And the spackling. Oh the spackling of those million little nail holes where all my kitchen collectibles used to hang so proudly.

Decision making, scads of choices each day from the smallest details to the great earth-shaking ones have left my brain a bit be-fuzzled. Did I tell you that Home Depot's our new best friend? And that we've lost count how many times we've traveled out 44 to the hardware store?

Sorting and boxing up and bagging and delivering hundreds of objects that I'm not using, not loving, not keeping. Hundreds. The resale shop, library, thrift store, and auction house rub their hands with glee as they reap my losses.

Updating and organizing and rearranging. And oh ... the cleaning.

Everything. Except the painting.

The man did that ... and ALL of the heavy lifting, relentlessly plowing through our seemingly endless must-do list, keeping us laser focused and moving ahead like a speeding freight train coming 'round the bend.

After 38 years, we're moving on, friends.

After spending pretty much our whole adult lives here in NY, we are headed to our beloved Cape Cod, Massachusetts shoreline. We're off to do the next season of life in the haven of rest I have cherished since I was 7 years old. My parents and sister are nearby. A little house seemingly designed for us, the place of His choosing, nestles on a quiet wooded street eagerly awaiting our upcoming permanent arrival.

My emotions are so very mixed. It's all so bittersweet.

We leave some very dear friends here. It's been hard for them watching this all unfold. I know it. They've told me so. I see it in their eyes. Every minute we've shared in recent days, every conversation has meant the world. I cherish these people. To say that I'll miss them would be a ridiculously vast understatement.

We leave this beautiful valley where the man and I grew up together as husband and wife, have experienced our greatest highs and the deepest lows. We've raised our girls here, welcomed our grandbabies through the doors of this very house with wide open arms. And said tearful good-byes to far too many friends who headed off to other vistas from this very transient area.

But it's my counseling clients that I'm most concerned about. My pastor's heart just loves these courageous, insightful women. Together, we've ventured down into the scariest pits and reached up to heaven's heights in their paths toward healing, wholeness, and growth. Sending out all those letters explaining what and where and when was the hardest task in this whole transition process.

I've been counseling for 13 years. Can you begin to understand how torn I am with leaving this ministry that's nestled so close to my heart?

Pray for these dear women as I help them transition. And if you have any prayers left over, I could use some myself.

Bittersweet this is ...

The house goes on the market. Next week.

THE TRANSITION JOURNEY ~ AN UNEXPECTED SERIES

In Which This Is All So Very Bittersweet

Dear Linda : : Answering Your Questions About the Transition

For Sale . . . Our Much-Loved Haven

P.S.
Would you accompany me on my transition journey? I would so love for you to be a steady companion along the way. You can subscribe here.

P.S.S.
traveling with Kelly * Mary * Holley * Lyli

Baby in a Ball Pit . . . and 4 More April Smiles!

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Stoll) — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 13:42:00 +0000

April has been such a splendid gift, hasn't it? Warm sunshine-laden air flowing back into our lives, creation blooming in the oddest places, plenty of reasons to laugh out loud.

And as busy as it's been around here, these weeks have proven to be an overflowing source of gratitude.

. . . baby in a ball pit

Celebrating Easter in the church's ball pit

So many of you have asked how Tyler's doing since I introduced him to you a couple of months ago! Despite a few hospital visits {including one unexpected helicopter ride}, he's pretty much at home doing life with the gang and bringing joy wherever he goes. If you missed big sister Kate's 'welcome to our family' video {or you want to catch the post again}, it's right here. Get your Kleenex and turn up the volume.

And keep praying. Please?

. . . going back to elementary school

Hall passes await in the music room

Don't you love these fun little hall passes? Sure beats the scraps of paper we toted back in the day.

We did one Grandparents Day last fall and ventured into yet another foray into the school system just a few weeks back. Kinda cool to perch in little plastic chairs while stringing beads and building words with wooden squares with eager little ones who are crazed with excitement at your presence.

Or sitting through a computer lab session and quickly realizing with awe that your 2nd grader knows way more about maneuvering around a keyboard than you'll ever hope to.

. . . playing personal shopper

Christmas Tree Shop bargains

I've had a ball pushing carts around a bunch of stores for my mom and for my youngest daughter, both who have been pretty much tied to the house in recent months. What could be more fun than spending someone else's $ as you choose just the perfect kids' spring clothes, text back and forth weighing the pros and cons of wrapping paper, and scoop up boxes of pretty notecards and individually wrapped tea bags?

Sure beats opening your own wallet!

. . . joanna's story

video

I just love HGTV's Fixer Upper ... we watch it whenever we can. Wouldn't it be just awesome if Joanna {and Chip!} dropped in at your place and re-did it even just a bit? One can only imagine.

If you're a fan, then you'll appreciate this peek into Joanna's soul, her walk with Christ, and her choice to trust Him with her great big dreams.

Good stuff. Real good.

. . . #75

Bob & Dot celebrating his 75th

Together, we've kicked off a local Celebrate Recovery, co-founded Creekside Ministries, facilitated groups for single parents, and joined forces as a marriage counseling team. For 13 years, this wise and kind servant of God has been patient with my rantings and ~~occasional~~ moody moments, and has enthusiastically championed my work, opening numerous doors to counsel, teach, lead, and write.

We all celebrated yet another milestone this past weekend with our faithful pastor, dear friend, and my partner in ministry. Without a doubt I wouldn't be where I am spiritually and professionally without his encouragement and guidance.

{If you want some of Bob's meaty blog posts, they're right here.}

And his gentle, lovely wife, Dot? Back in 2007 she said 'yes' to releasing the whole lower half of her home to become Creekside's beautiful home base. She happily 'lives above the store,' graciously allowing countless women and men to make themselves at home in this safe haven of counseling center and house church.

To say I'm grateful for this wonderful couple {who've been married 53 years!} would be a vast understatement. Heaps of birthday blessings, Bob. And deepest thanks, dear Dottie.

{}

And on that happy note, I'm stepping away from the keyboard for a few weeks.
If you subscribe, you'll be one of the first to know I'm back on board. I'd like that!

A few top-shelf shareworthy reads are on the sidebar.

Enjoy ... and I'll see ya' later!

{}

doing life with
Kelly . Mary . Holley . Lyli . Leigh . Emily

3 Cherished Little Guidebooks

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Stoll) — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 12:42:00 +0000

Devotions.

That sacred little quiet time with God has gotten a bad rap along the way. Instead of a winsome invitation from the Lover of our souls that woos us deeper into His arms of grace and mercy, it's too often morphed into a heavy, cumbersome discipline that we run from.

For many of us, it's become a guilt-induced labor filled with shoulds and oughts instead of a sweet respite, a nest of solitude and silence that overflows with delight and strength-giving power.

Truth be told, we've all struggled with creating those sacred minutes that impact us at the soul level. I don't know a single person who's arrived and is fully satisfied with how they connect with the One that loves them best.

Sometimes a new little guidebook or a fresh translation of the Bible, a crisp-paged journal or figuring out a better time / location can make a world of difference.

A few weeks back, I scooped up a few of the devotional books I've collected over the years and snapped this photo.

I love these little guidebooks that have been gathered along the way.

But my all time favorites? Probably these three.

Bread for the Journey: A Daybook of Wisdom and Faith ~ Henri Nouwen
Just a few paragraphs speak so deeply into your soul that you're kind of left in awe. That's who Nouwen was, that's what this book offers. Spending a quiet minute at his site has become a bit of a sacred breath in my morning online routine ...

'The table is one of the most intimate places in our lives. It is there that we give ourselves to one another. When we say, 'Take some more, let me serve you another plate, let me pour you another glass, don't be shy, enjoy it,' we say a lot more than our words express. We invite our friends to become part of our lives. We want them to be nurtured by the same food and drink that nurture us. We desire communion . . . Every breakfast, lunch, or dinner can become a time of growing communion with one another.'

Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence ~ Sarah Young
I often read one of Sarah's offerings to a client at the end of a difficult counseling session when we've gone deep and unearthed pain. She often can't believe that the words weren't written just for her, for they speak peace and hope to her weary heart.

And now the book is not only at my office, but also on my desk at home in the form of one of those perpetual calendars which keeps me company when my computer's dragging its feet getting where I want it to go.

'Talk with Me about every aspect of your day, including your feelings. Remember that your ultimate goal is not to control or fix everything around you; it is to keep communing with me. A successful day is one in which you have stayed in touch with Me, even if many things remain undone at the end of the day. Do not let your to-do list {written or mental} become an idol directing your life. Instead, ask My Spirit to guide you moment by moment. He will keep you close to Me.'

One Thousand Gifts Devotional: Reflections on Finding Everyday Graces ~ Ann Voskamp
Ann's original 1000 Gifts book changed my life upside down, propelling me into a gratitude focused mindset that slowly but surely impacted the dailyness of my life.

If you loved the book, the devotional will take you back to that place where gratitude abounds, even in the midst of the ugliest or saddest of circumstances. I just finished it last week and I've already started paging through once more. It's that good.

'It is the astonishing truth that while I serve Christ, it is He who serves me. Jesus Christ still lives with a towel around His waist, bent in service to His people ... in service to me as I serve, that I need never serve in my own strength ... He calls us to serve, and it is Him who we serve, but He, very God, kneels down to serve as we serve. Spend the whole of your wild and beautiful life investing in many lives, and God simply will not be outdone. God extravagantly pays back everything we give away and exactly in the currency that is not of this world but of the one we yearn for - joy in Him.'

Let's talk about the devotional books you cherish

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your struggles with a quiet time

&

and rewards of those nestling-with-God experiences

would you like to subscribe?

linking up with Mary & Holley & Anne

6 Graces . . . for when we are our own harshest taskmasters

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Stoll) — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 01:15:00 +0000

Sometimes we're just too hard on ourselves, ya' know? If we can't blast into full throttle mode on any given task, we just throw up our hands, wander off, and do nothing at all.

Maybe sulk in the corner.

Pout.

Or have a bit of a pity party.

Half-truths and downright lies about who we are whisper their familiar refrain somewhere deep. The enemy of our soul's an excellent marksman, his poisoned arrows piercing right where it hurts most. After awhile we define ourselves by our imperfections and flaws, screw-ups and sins, with a list of coulda / woulda / shoulda's draping themselves around our defeated shoulders like a heavy, immobilizing wet blanket.

Slowly but surely, we feel 'less than.'

Or like we're never enough.

We begin to define ourselves by what we don't accomplish instead of who we are in Jesus Christ. And after awhile, when life throws us even the simplest of curve balls we throw up our hands in defeat instead of figuring out what a Plan B grace might look like.

What grace responses can we choose?

6 scenarios

some options we can choose

some helpful, practical links to take us there

1. The house desperately needs a heavy-duty spring cleaning, just like grandma used to do. Windows, curtains, linens, shelves, floors, every nook and cranny stripped bare and scrubbed to a spotless shine. Any less just won't do. It's all just too much to even comprehend.

Exhausted at the prospect, we drag ourselves half-heartedly through a few tasks before deciding to call it quits for yet another season.

OR a Plan B Grace Response . . .

Not up for an all-out cleaning frenzy, we choose to crank up the music, set the timer, and do a bit of a spruce up for 15 minutes. Amazed at what we've accomplished, we decide to do it again in a couple of days!

Here's how to turn your house upside down in 15 minutes.

2. Walking at least 2 miles every day is on the unspoken yet rigid agenda. It's sprinkling out and we'll get soaking wet if we venture that far.

Playing the martyr just a bit, we stay in and figure we'll head out some day when it's not too cloudy or wet or windy or cold or muggy.

OR a Plan B Grace Response . . .

We choose to pull the sweatshirt hood over our heads, shrug off the raindrops, and head out for just a short hike instead. We return home surprised that it wasn't so bad after all!

Here's why lacing 'em up is a super idea.

3. Self-appointed experts or some kind of internal blog police strongly urge a great big online masterpiece penned each week. But we're swamped or life is going in a new direction or the creative well is bone dry.

Frustrated at these expectations, we force ourselves to write anyway ... and our words end up lifeless and dead.

OR a Plan B Grace Response . . .

We choose to pick up our pens when we're really excited about what we have to say!

Here's 4 cool steps to get those creative juices flowing again.

4. We've finally started on a great big diet, and we've committed ourselves to lose 10 pounds. But then someone offers us a few goodies straight from the oven, and we end up gorging ourselves..

Disgusted, we throw in the towel and grab another handful. The diet wasn't working anyway.

OR a Plan B Grace Response . . .

We choose to encourage ourselves to eliminate that restrictive word 'diet' from our vocabulary. And then switch gears and begin to eat healthy once again!

Here's some good food that'll take us there.

5. We believe that we must spend at least an hour each morning having devotions or we're bad Christians. When we can't live up to that standard, regular devotional times soon become a vague memory.

Guilt-ridden but not necessarily convicted, we're sure God's mad at us.

OR a Plan B Grace Response . . .

We choose to consider a devotional time to be an invitation from God's loving heart, not a strict discipline that hangs over our heads like an ominous sword!

It's all about a joyful connecting with the Lover of your soul.

6. The dining table has become a convenient place to stack piles of random stuff because it's been eons since we invited guests over for a meal. We feel disconnected and wonder why no one's giving us a call.

Hurt, we figure no one would want to come over anyway.

OR a Plan B Grace Response . . .

Feeling a bit lonesome, we choose to call a friend and meet at Panera's for afternoon coffee in the comfy red chairs by the window!

Here's 3 steps to morph your home into a haven of hospitality.

We've been called to love our neighbors as ourselves.

If we can't cut ourselves a break, if we refuse to ratchet down our endless, often unrealistic expectations, how can we expect to show grace to others?

May we be able to look in the mirror and allow the Lord to lavish that deeply needed grace to the precious soul who stares back at us.

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Connecting with Kelly . Mary . Holley . Lyli

In Which I Keep on Journaling My Conversations with God

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Stoll) — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 16:39:00 +0000

'Could it be that no one receives the peace of God without giving thanks to God? Is thankfulness really but the deep, contented breath of peacefulness? Is this why God asks us to give thanks even when things look a failure?

Authentic thanks is always for all things, because our God is a God kneading all things into a bread that sustains . . . to bring the sacrifice of thanksgiving means to sacrifice our understanding of what is beneficial and thank God for everything because He is benevolent. A sacrifice of thanks lays down our perspective and raises hands in praise anyways - always.

A sacrifice is, by definition, not an easy thing - but it is a sacred thing.

There is this: we give thanks to God not because of how we feel but because of who He is.

He who is grateful for little is given much laughter . . . and it's counting the ways He loves, this is what multiplies joy.'
~ Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts Devotional: Reflections on Finding Everyday Graces

Thank You, Lord, for the movement of the seasons.

Always going forward.

I can't wait to see what You're going to do.

I sit back with eyes wide open, faith strong and solid,

sometimes tinged with fear, those whiffs of anxiety coming to call.
Yet still ringed with joy.

For You are good, You answer prayer,

You care about those I love and our endless neediness.

So, I give You this day, these last days of March, the unfolding future . . .

I release my fears and concerns and all those I love into Your keeping.

For, if it is possible, You love them even more than I,

and You have all power to affect change in their lives,

to give wisdom and courage and direction,
to bring healing in all the ways that matter.

You understand the need for hope and faith multiplied.

Where would we go without Jesus?
Who would we be without You, Lord?

These questions have no imaginable answers.

None.

: : :

You'll discover random bits and pieces of my journaling right here.

Sabbath's most refreshing blessings to you, to yours, my friend.

In Which I Finally Introduce You to Our New Grandson

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Stoll) — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 13:42:00 +0000

For the longest time, I've been longing to tell you about our precious little 7th grandchild, Tyler Willhite.

We've known that he was destined to be a part of our family since last fall. But the logistics and red tape of the adoption system and his medical challenges have kept me from sharing his story.

Our family's story.

December 23, 2014

Tyler was born back in July with skeletal dysplasia along with respiratory and feeding issues. Along the way, he was diagnosed with an extremely rare genetic condition. And tragically, most babies with this condition die before the age of one due to either respiratory failure or a high fever, both of which he has struggled with.

December 23, 2014

After hours of tears, prayers and counsel, Jenn and Barry decided to move forward with the adoption. And this video here? Well ... it says it all from big sister Kathryn's point of view.

February 13, 2015

Tyler finally came home last Friday after more than five months in the hospital and a month with his foster family.

Melanie, Lydia, Andrew, Tyler, Kathryn

the 3 Giants fans hanging out

Jenn writes, 'Please pray for our family, especially for Tyler. We don't know what the future will look like for him, but we know God loves him even more than we do and that He will provide what Tyler needs.'

So welcome to the family, sweet baby boy. And always remember that Grandma loves ya'. With many tears and endless prayers ... somehow mingled with a peace-filled joy.

The Valentine's Post

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Stoll) — Sat, 14 Feb 2015 14:33:00 +0000

'So this is my prayer:

that your love will flourish
and that you will not only love much but well.

Learn to love appropriately.

You need to use your head and test your feelings
so that your love is sincere and intelligent,
not sentimental gush.

Live a lover's life, circumspect and exemplary,
a life Jesus will be proud of:

bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all,
getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.'
~ Philippians 1 {The Message}

O God, You have taught us to keep all Your commandments

by loving You and our neighbor:

Grant us the grace of Your Holy Spirit,

that we may be devoted to You with our whole heart,

and united to one another with pure affection;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

~ The Book of Common Prayer

Love well.

5 Absolute Must-Haves For When You're Craving Warmth

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Stoll) — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 20:21:00 +0000

Everyone's all abuzz over the coming blizzard. I stop by the little hamlet store to pick up some ice cream {really}. And as I pull open the freezer case to grab my Mint Chocolate Chip Light, an elderly woman catches my eye.

And my heart.

For she is truly distraught because there's not a drop of milk in the place. Bewildered would best define the look on her worn face as she says to no one in particular, 'but I live on it ... I drink it all the time.'

All I could do was give her an understanding smile. A warm one that let her know I heard her astonished disappointment, the frustration-laced fear.

This is winter in New York.

I guess if you pushed me to come up with a word for January it would be this.

Warm.

We're trying to get our bodies, our homes, our cars to a toasty temperature.

I've gathered 5 must-haves that keep this ol' body and soul warmly alive during these gray frigid weeks. And I can't wait to hear what works for YOU ...

1. the boots

I found these gray babies in a great big pile at one of those discount stores. {Their motto and mine? Good stuff cheap!}. I chose my color {black, brown, or gray?}, slipped my eager feet into them, and to my delight, they were soft, cushy, and yes, warm. At $14.99, I couldn't get them in the cart fast enough.

Since then, they have seldom left my body ... I slide them on to run errands, to head off to work or church, to trot out to the mailbox. And yes, they've kept me company in the house when the heat gave out and we had to wait hours for the repairman to drop in.

Twice.

In one month.

What's your favorite warm-up gear?

2. the kitchen

In the winter, this room evolves from a pass-through between family room and home office into a place of focused action. I've whipped up a great big pot of yummy ham and bean soup and another pot of oh-so-good chicken and rice soup, gleaned from frozen carcasses gathered from the freezer. A sausage and 4 bean chili, not too spicy. And a favorite comfort food, my mom's spaghetti sauce.

Chocolate chip cookies have made several rare appearances from the oven, much to my husband's disbelief / delight, even though some were a bit ~~too crispy~~ burnt. Chocolate cupcakes {thank you, Betty} with minty homemade icing were a labor of love. Bottom line? In recent days, there's been plenty of warm comfort food created within these four walls, happily shared with loved ones.

I feel so domestic.

Martha and Rachael would be proud.

What's happening in your kitchen?

3. the books

I love tucking myself under a warm, old quilt with a book or two. And a big mug of hot decaf tea right by my side.

I've been making my way through Philip Yancey's Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?. Slowly savoring deepest truths made simple. I've already begun Ruth Haley Barton's brand new Life Together in Christ: Experiencing Transformation in Community. If she writes it, I'm there. And I finally bought Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts Devotional: Reflections on Finding Everyday Graces. These little morning visits with her start my day well.

I've made my way through two John Grisham books in recent days. And for the introvert in me that needs tending, I checked out two volumes from the library, The Introvert's Way: Living a Quiet Life in a Noisy World and Introverts in Love: The Quiet Way to Happily Ever After by Sophia Dembling.

I like when someone gets where I'm coming from, you know?

What are you paging through?

4. the excursions

What's a weekend without a drive somewhere, anywhere? Sometimes you've just gotta get out of the house ... and I've discovered over time that for me and my man, some of our most profitable talks have evolved when one person {not me} is behind a wheel, looking straight ahead.

What fun to discover that DQ has opened its windows a whole month early. Yes, there's something rather odd about devouring something sweet and frosty while trying to stay warm. But that's ok. I can't complain when I'm digging into a small Chocolate Xtreme Blizzard and he's balancing a decent size chocolate ice cream cone while steering the car 'round turns and through traffic.

No worries. I'll work that extra pound or two off when spring comes.

What's your favorite winter ice cream?

5. the conversations

Frigid air outside lends itself to warm, lingering conversations inside by the glow of fireside or candlelight. Precious time curled up on comfy chairs with dear friends. Deep, searching musings at book club or Friday night small group. Chatting over coffee as a Saturday night house church meeting wends its way to a close.

After all, who wants to head back to that outdoor chill when there's cozy companionship to be had ... and encouraging exchanges that spark connection and insight are filling our souls?

The conversations as we gather around the table online, in this place, have been rich and full this month as we've bantered back and forth about our words ... or lack of them. Brainstormed creative ways to breathe fresh life into our homes. Grappled with the impact of social media on our lives. And shared quiet sabbath oasis moments together.

I'm so grateful. This kind of connection is what blogging's all about.

Your presence here, your willingness to get a bit out of your comfort zone and engage with other kindred spirits? A warm grace, indeed, as Creekside launches our 8th year.

The celebration begins this weekend ... with giveaways right and left and some writings that I think are truly shareworthy. I just can't wait for you to party with us!

I'm glancing out the window. That cold, flaky white stuff is spinning quickly downward to a waiting earth. And my heart is warmed by the Spirit's presence ... and your rewarding friendship.

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From Hither & Yon : : Shareworthy Reads

dropping in at Mary's . Holley's . Emily's . Leigh's . Anne's

8 Smart Choices That Will Breathe Fresh Life Into Your Home

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Stoll) — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 17:03:00 +0000

It's frigid outside in this neck of the woods. Icicles hang hardened by blustery wind. The sky's the color of bleached slate and we nestle inside, ladling hot soup into bowls ready and waiting.

We curl up by the warm glow of candlelight or fireside, faded sweatshirt atop turtleneck layered to keep us warm, fuzzy vests and well-worn slipper socks comforting us with their soft touch. We embark on endless wintertime hours with a faded quilt tucked snug, books and handwork and laptops at the ready. Quiet music plays ... or the television drones.

And somewhere deep within us, there's a winsome place that longs for huge breaths of fresh life ... even though spring . is . months . away.

But these eight choices?

Most are fairly simple. Yes, they might expend some energy ... and yet only one or two require a bit of cash. These tasks completed bring a contended sigh of relief. A smile that wends its way down to the soul. The encouragement of a job well done. And gratitude for the haven that over time, has become our space, our place.

Home.

Yes, these we can do ...

#1. fling those windows wide open

Even if it's only 15 degrees out and the wind is blowing mightily, I've been opening a window or two when I change the linens, clean the bathrooms, or when some heavy-duty cooking threatens to make the house smell like homemade chicken soup forever.

Our rooms are just begging for fresh breezes to visit and flow freely, even if just for a few minutes. Stale air, nestling germs, and airborne dust mites have no choice but to flee.

Sure beats a chemical-laden air freshener, yes?

We definitely sleep better at night when that window is cracked just a wee bit. And sometimes we may even get to hear a lone bird chirping a solitary winter song.

#2. bid a fond farewell to all things Christmas

Nobody hates saying good-bye to the window lights more than I do. I so love their twinkling glow on a dark winter's night, welcoming me home after a long day's work.

But they've been up and running since mid-October. Enough already.

And it's time to deliver the last of the gifts, read the cards one more time, roll up the wrapping paper, pack the decorations well, and toss or donate anything and everything that's not worth holding on to.

Go ahead and keep a little light aglow or a tiny, fluffy snowman here and there if you'd like.

But around here? I'm done and happy to welcome my home back to its simple pre-holiday stillness.

#3. clean out & clean off the fridge

Inside and out, this appliance is always in use. Opening the doors, tossing anything that's past expiration or looking a bit strange, and giving it a good scrub down is a not-at-all fun but necessary chore.

And if the fridge is sagging under the weight of endless magnets holding up all manner of receipts, notices, artwork, lists, bills, take-out menus, and photos?

Well, it's time to be ruthless. Our family to-do list goes on the white board. That stays.

The kids' pictures are in individual frames that cost about 79 cents a piece. Love that.

And I always need quick access to scrap paper and a pen.

Done.

Everything else that's been hanging around?

Outta there.

#4. replace the grungy shower curtain

Enough said. Who needs mold or mildew taking up residence in what should be one of the cleanest spaces in our homes? For $2.99, I love this crisp, clear plastic sheet that lines the toile curtain.

And while we're in the bathroom, it takes all of about a half hour to empty the medicine cabinet shelves and the random drawers, clean them good, and toss any expired meds and all other objects past their prime. If you're unsure if a medication should stay or go, give your pharmacist a buzz.

#5. dig out the good linens & put them to work

Far too often we tuck away precious possessions that, put to good use, would give us real pleasure. This quilt is one of my favorite things, a lovely treasure discovered in my mother-in-law's cedar chest. Yes, I'm very careful with it and the bed is strictly off limits to the little ones when it comes to trampoline bouncing.

I use this handcrafted spread often, with great appreciation for the still vibrant colors and exquisite craftsmanship. And very fond memories of the woman who raised the man I married.

With the right care, some quilts can be wonderful accessories that travel with ease around our homes. The quilt back up in picture #1 just came out of the washer and dryer after its annual stint as a Christmas tree skirt. It's also made appearances as a tablecloth {when we weren't dining}, and as a cozy throw over sofas and chairs. For $39 at a tag sale, that vintage baby's been a real good friend.

#6. toss those old newspapers & magazines

More than 6 months old? You can bet that if they haven't been read by now, they probably never will be. Gently used magazines get shared with family, friends, or donated to the library. And newspapers get recycled.

#7. snip something crisp & alive on a winter's walk

Whether it's those wonderful bittersweet vines, fragrant boughs of evergreen, or dried pods and seeds still hanging in there, I love grabbing the snippers and bringing an armload of nature's treasures indoors. And the brisk walk to head there and back again? Very much needed right about now.

#8. finish up a project

My eldest daughter couldn't say 'no' to this FREE vintage buffet, a leftover from her neighbor's garage sale. The thing weighs a ton, and the endless sanding and repair took more time than she would have liked. But determined to get her car back inside the garage for the winter, she recently wrapped up her big redo.

Now painted a crisp white, the old buffet has morphed into a wonderful storage workhorse with a whole bunch of drawers where the little ones to store their bountiful craft supplies ... and several big ol' cubbies that hold their stash of puzzles and games.

All for the cost of some paint ... plus a whole lot of love-fueled energy.

What are you doing to breathe life into your mid-winter home?

Any projects underway ... or homekeeping tips to share?

Do tell!

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visiting with Mary & Holley

In Which We Are Invited . . .

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Stoll) — Fri, 19 Dec 2014 21:32:00 +0000

'So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the Baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this Child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart ...'
Luke 2:16-19.

* * *

These final days of Advent.

This is when we are invited to step away from our ordinary routines. So that we can fully step into His extraordinary story.

For some, this venturing away from business as usual happens gradually, almost imperceptibly. For others, it requires a clear decision made that invites the possibility of a holy awe to settle in and over and somewhere deep within our beings.

We ponder the story of the birth of the Holy One, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

And His young God-chosen mother.

For Mary is living out an unbelievable holy saga as her simply unexplainable pregnancy and the scandal that surely swirled around her take on a life of their own.

Literally.

The grueling journey by some beast of burden takes place in her final days of pregnancy. At their assigned destination, does panic descend as she realizes that there is not a decent room to be had?

And what does she do with the stark realization that she and Joseph will be settling into an animal shelter, a shed jam-packed with an assortment of creatures whose owners have also joined the town's throngs?

As labor pains begin to grip her body with a burning frequency, the surreal reality hits her and her husband-to-be. Her birthing suite would be right in the midst of manure-littered straw with cumbersome, noisy animals staring as they chomped on their feed ... and no woman friend or relative to gently guide her to the culmination of this, her virgin birth.

The Spirit who brought Jesus into her womb never leaves her side as she delivers the Son of God into a fallen world that's just as messy as the shed in which He took His first earthly breaths.

Miraculously, the Spirit quiets her young wise soul even as the Holy Child's first visitors include a random assortment of shepherds and more than a few curious bystanders who've caught wind of this unusual sacred drama. The ragtag company heads off in awe to spread the incredible heavenly news.

And Mary is somehow able to pause. In the midst of all that has swirled around her in a short period of time, she gently rests with her Savior-Baby and processes all that has happened. Does she once again offer up those early pregnancy praises recorded in Luke's first chapter? Or does she simply contemplate her own private thoughts during these first hours with the Son of God in her arms, at her breast?

Fast forward a couple thousand years.

In the midst of our own whirlwind of emotions, travel plans, unexpected circumstances, glorious surprises, and deepest disappointments, we, too, are offered a compelling invitation to lay aside all that's ordinary and dwell on the sacred extraordinary. We, who have been offered eternal hope and everlasting joy, are invited to ponder the remarkably glorious news that Jesus Christ is born. And meditate, once again, on the miracle of our salvation and promise of heaven for those who claim Him as their own.

Just like the young virgin mother did all those generations ago.

I'm heeding that winsome invitation to take a bit of a break from business as usual. Sweetest Advent blessings to you, my friends. Be sure that I'll see you a bit further down the road ...

Comfort & Joy ~