Susan Stilwell

Being Still

Susan — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:45:20 +0000

Today I am thankful for random times of silence. I’m an early riser, so I enjoy a lot of quiet minutes in the morning, but I love it when I notice that things have gotten still. Even a quick, simple time is nice. Like sliding into the car seat, closing the door behind me, and enjoying a moment of peace and quiet. When my kids were little...

One Last Thing – You’re Different

Susan — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:45:49 +0000

"But MOM, everybody ELSE…" I’ve heard it dozens of times; I’ve SAID it dozens of times. There’s something about being different that’s unsettling. When you’re different, people look at you and talk about you. They distance themselves from you. They might think you’re weird and tease you. Being different is hard. When I was growing up, we moved several times because of my dad’s engineering career. I hated being the “new girl,” and the worst time was when...

Happy Music Monday – See, by Steven Curtis Chapman

Susan — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:45:03 +0000

Today is a special day in our family, but not an especially happy one. Today is the anniversary of the death of my 7 year old niece, Karis Winter. On February 6th, 2009 my healthy little niece collapsed and died in my sister Monica's arms...

First Friday – Lauren Hartman

Susan — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:45:03 +0000

It's the first Friday of the month, and my special guest for February is Lauren Hartman! Lauren is my friend TK Sharpley's daughter. She is a wealth of fitness & health knowledge and posts regularly about those topics at her cool blog, Sweat Junkie. When Susan asked me if I was interested in doing a guest post I very excitedly said yes without even having an idea of what to write about. I started thinking about what I’m passionate about and what I really love to talk about. The first thing that came to my mind was running. I hesitate to write about running because I’m sure some of you are not runners. You think that running is only useful for when you are being chased and the thought of running for fun seems ridiculous. Before you start to think that I’m just another crazy runner, let me tell you that I used to hate running...

Friends and Family

Susan — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:45:42 +0000

This week I’m thankful for my church, First Roanoke. Actually, that’s not exactly true. It’s not just this week that I’m thankful, I’m thankful for them EVERY DAY.

One Last Thing – Love God

Susan — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:45:07 +0000

“Come on, Asher, you can do it!” we urged my little nephew. Tiny toes gripped the edge of the pool as he bounced in anticipation of jumping into his daddy’s arms. “One… Two… Three!” Are you bouncing in anticipation of anything today? Is there a wonderful opportunity in your future, like a new job (or retirement!) or college or a new hobby? Or could it be that you’re about to enter a trial, such as a loss or a health issue or maybe a responsibility you didn't ask for? Even if it’s only the start of a new day, we’re always on the brink of something. And that something, whether it's a good or a bad thing, it’s designed by God to bring us closer to Him. But that’s easier said than done, because each has distractions.

Happy Music Monday – Remind Me Who I Am, Jason Gray

Susan — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:45:02 +0000

The more I hear Jason Gray, the more I like him! I love "cardboard testimonies" and there's sure to be something each of us identifies with.

Happy Surprises – Freddy Washington

Susan — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:45:16 +0000

God never ceases to amaze me with happy surprises, and He gave me a really cool one recently when I got to meet recording artist Freddy Washington. What a talented young man! We had a really fun God-incidence in finding an empty chapel with a baby grand piano. We only had time for a couple of [...]

One last thing…

Susan — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:45:13 +0000

Oh, one last thing before you go … A collective groan rose from the class as our professor assigned us an interminably long reading assignment for the weekend. “Seriously?” I muttered under my breath. I was looking forward to hanging out with my friends and going to the football game. The last thing I needed was a pile of work to do. One last thing can be a curse, or a blessing, or a warning. As I read through Deuteronomy, I discovered that Moses’ “one last thing” address to the nation of Israel included all three.

Happy Music Monday – You Are God Alone, PCD

Susan — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:45:56 +0000

I absolutely love Phillips, Craig and Dean. They've been around forever, but their music moves me like few groups do. And the chorus of this song is so worshipful I can hardly breathe it, let alone sing it. You are God alone, From before time began, You were on Your throne...

Making the Cut

Susan — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:45:31 +0000

This week I am VERY thankful for Jim Rood, the master of my mane. Back in December, I had an unfortunate smartphone fail as my beloved Blackberry Curve bit the dust. It failed to sync my calendar, which meant I missed several appointments, the most important of which - HAIR.

Standing Up For What’s Right

Susan — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 09:45:41 +0000

We interrupt this study of the nation of Israel's conquest of the Promised Land to bring you one last thought on Tim Tebow. Now that the Denver Broncos' charge toward the Superbowl has ended, we'll see less of Tim Tebow in the media. And that's a shame...

Happy Music Monday – Just Another Birthday, Casting Crowns

Susan — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:45:39 +0000

This is a powerful song, and different from a lot of their other music. Spoiler alert: this is sure to make you cry, so grab a tissue.