The Rustic Hideaway

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13 ❤️🇺🇸

May 5 is International Bereaved Mother’s Day and we are sending love and lifting up in prayer those who this day was set aside to honor. Your motherhood story matters 🩷

🌈 If you are a mama who’s lost a baby and is on or moving toward the journey of pregnancy after loss, you may be interested in my book, Courageously Expecting, which empathizes with and encourages those who have lost a baby and courageously want to try again: https://amzn.to/3NCUWRG

👉For more empathy and encouragement for pregnancy after loss, join the IG community: https://www.instagram.com/courageouslyexpecting

We often talk about Jesus weeping when His friend Lazarus died, but we don’t often talk about the other time it’s recoded that Jesus wept.

It was on what we now call Palm Sunday.

“As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.” Luke 19:41-42

Jesus couldn’t hold back His tears as He headed into Jerusalem.

Not because He knew this was the week He would suffer and die. He wept over the people in front of Him. He wept over their brokenness and harden hearts.

These people had God Himself in human flesh right in front of them, but they rejected Him and missed out on their opportunity for true, lasting Peace.

I was thinking about this today.

I was thinking if Jesus Himself was standing here with us and looking around, would He have tears in His eyes?

Could we see the heartache on His face as He looked at us and said, “it doesn’t have to be like this”?

He already died. And we know the ending. We are on the other side of the cross.

Peace is here, and He can feel so hard to access in this divided, hate-filled world.

But that’s why we have to lift our eyes above it.
We have to take the time to center our hearts on Him.

Jesus wept because He knows what He can offer us, that we simply can’t and won’t find in this world.

It’s still available to us right now, today.
Let’s not miss it.

~Kelli Bachara

*Today is the beginning of Holy Week! If you’re interested in this Holy Week guide (it has over 30 pages of daily scripture walking you through Jesus’ last week, blog posts, reflection questions, scripture cards and more) here is the link!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1692610355/holy-week-study-guide?ref=share_v4_lx

Oh my goodness the accuracy. I’ve heard every single one of these…many times. 💙💙

4 Things Boy Moms Really Don't Want To Hear - Her View From Home Boy moms don't want to hear about how sad it is they don't have daughters because raising sons is a blessing too.

FINALLY—We've got a brand new barndominium build video up!

Wyoming Barndominium DIY Build: Drywall, Painting, and More! HD 720p We've jumped by leaps and bounds these last couple of months as we prepared to move into our DIY barndominium.Special thanks to H&K Remodeling for all their ...

This is an older one but so good I have to share again and again. ❤️

The $5 Miracle That Changed My Life - Her View From Home When I run into folks who say they don’t believe in God I smile and ask them one question: “Can I tell you a story?” A story about something that happened to me and my little family years ago, but is still just as fresh in my mind as the night it happened. To start, let me say, I have the wors...

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Because a mother never sleeps . . .

I rest until I hear you,
The slightest movement next to me.
A cry from the crib,
A whimper in your bedroom down the hall.

I wake at the littlest of noises,
My body never fully at rest.
I am there the minute you need me,
No matter the time.

Because a mother never sleeps . . .

In my arms you will rest,
Next to me you might lay,
In your bed I might crawl,
On your floor for a night I will stay.

Feedings through the night,
Crying I just can’t figure out why.
Rocking and holding and rocking some more,
So weary, but I give you my everything.

Because a mother never sleeps . . .

I constantly check in on you,
Because that’s the thing mothers do.
I worry and wonder and linger and stare,
Because that’s just how much I love you.

I watch you sleep so peacefully,
Then my heart is truly content.
As I look at this beautiful tiny person I made,
Each breath you take is my happiness.

Because a mother never sleeps . . .

Every rock, every cuddle,
Every cradle and every kiss.
You have completed me beyond words,
And sleep is something I can surely miss.

So I will take all the restless nights,
And every exhausted morning.
Because you are the reason I am a mother,
And there no greater joy than that.

Shared with permission from New Adventures in Motherhood
Artwork: O Trocatintas

Don’t let the good stuff go unsaid.

Here’s why:

Next year, your Thanksgiving may look completely different . . . and there might not be as many chairs.

Loved ones get sick.
Loved ones get old.
Loved ones move away.

So, this year, savor the sacred gathering.

Share.
Forgive.
Remember.

Because you can’t see the changes and surprises ahead.

But you have this time.
But you have these people.
But you have this day.

Say the thing your heart feels.
Say the thing their heart needs.

Because Thanksgiving is here.

And we’ll never have another one like it again.

Shared with permission from Lauren Fortenberry

Something to think about this Veteran's Day weekend. ❤️🇺🇲️

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When a mama walks with Jesus, she’s never for once alone. She never has to check her status or count her likes; for her worth has been hand-sewn.

When a mama walks with Jesus, He knows her every tear. Her secret dreams, her quietest wish; her deepest, darkest fears.

When a mama walks with Jesus, her children know her differently. Her soul exudes Him, her eyes light up; they study her intently.

When a mama walks with Jesus, nothing can ever fully bring her down. Not jealousy, comparison, greed, or the enemy trying to shake her on solid ground.

When a mama walks with Jesus, He lives deep within her soul and heart. For she knows very well, that nothing on this Earth, can from Him make her part.

♥️♥️

Gracefully Woven by Elizabeth Spenner

Artwork: Art by Chloe Trayhurn

One. Step. Closer!

DIY Wyoming Barndominium: Electrical Rough-In & Insulation HD 720p In this video, we're walking you through the next stage in our DIY Barndominium build; electrical rough in and insulation.Music Credit:Song: giant cactus - a...

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This Labor Day, let’s remember that Jesus was a carpenter.⁣
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He is considered to be the most important person in human history, and he was a carpenter.⁣
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Jesus worked with his hands.⁣
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No Harvard pedigree.⁣
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No college experience.⁣
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Sure, Harvard did not exist when Jesus was around.

Still, he could have been a politician, a lawyer, or a diplomat. All these were occupations in his time.

Instead, he was a carpenter. ⁣
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As a society, we have moved away from valuing those that work with their hands.⁣
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Those that choose a path that does not include college are often looked down upon.⁣
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I am not knocking the value of a college education. I went to college, and then I went to graduate school.⁣
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This was my path, but college is not for everyone.⁣
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You can be successful without going to college.⁣
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Log into any Facebook group, and you will see members looking for a plumber, a mechanic, or an electrician.⁣
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They often add the words reliable, kind, honest, and hard-working to the post.⁣
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Aren’t these words we want to be associated with our children? ⁣
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While Jesus was not American and he has no ties to Labor Day, the message remains the same.⁣
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Let’s value those who work in trade occupations as much as we appreciate those who went to college.

Love, She Pens by Aliette Silva Follow for more ❤️

Photo: Frontiere Magazine⁣

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I'm back with another update for you! June was one of the most frustrating months to date, but we survived and are moving forward.

Concrete & Siding for our Wyoming Barndominium! The third time was the charm for getting our concrete into the barndo. Now we're finishing up the siding! Huge thank you to Core Concrete for doing a fabulou...

Our latest barndominium update is LIVE over on YouTube!

Wyoming Barndominium Update: Soffit/Fascia & In-Floor Radiant Heating Things are starting to move quickly again. See what we did this last month, and get ready for a wild summer of barndo building ahead! Also, major props go ou...

That sounds about right.

Got plans for the summer? 🤣🤼

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May God bless & comfort every birth mother today & tomorrow.

We honor you, today & always.
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Follow our adventures in family & foster care: instagram.com/fosterthefamilyblog

You do miss it. Really, you do.

In the midst of the sleep-deprived nights and terribly long days, it's hard to imagine you will ever look back on those early years in awe, wishing you could have stayed just a moment longer.

But you do.

No, you don't miss your tired mind, aching body, or irritability with your husband. You just miss them.

Their littleness. Their dependence. The way they look at you through big, sparkling eyes knowing there is no one on earth they'd rather be with.

You miss the feeling of being able to swoop them into your arms without yearning to put them down a moment later because they've gotten so heavy.

The chubby fingers that used to wrap around your own grow longer and slim down. Rolling belly laughs turn to big kids chuckles. And in what feels like an instant, you meet someone new.

Your child...but different.

And you love them. More than you ever thought possible.

And you move on with life, getting to know this new little person with each passing day.

You hate when they talk back, and you break down crying the first time they tell you they "don't like you anymore."

And even though they remain sound asleep, your restless nights continue, fueled by the worrisome words bouncing around your mind telling you that you've somehow failed them.

Ignorantly, you think you won't miss this phase.

But then you get a glimpse of the smaller version of that child. An old photo, a blurry video...and you miss him so much.

That's when you briefly realize you'll miss this one too.

But soon...you'll forget.

"These are the nights that make or break us as parents. Where our love for our children is just enough to sustain us until that first drop of coffee breathes new life into our tired souls. My wish for you is that you try to see each gummy smile, hysterical giggle, and slobbery kiss as your reward for those wearisome nights."

These Are the Nights We Pay Our Dues - Her View From Home I won’t be at the gym in the morning, my daughter is sick and throwing up. Be sure to keep an eye on Little Man. My friend’s text came in at 10:56 p.m.—well past my bedtime. Nevertheless, it was there waiting for me at 12:30 a.m. when I awoke to my son’s terrified screams coming from the roo...

We've got a brand new update over on our YouTube channel!

Roof, Plumbing, Gravel (And More!) We're just about out of the cold months and looking forward to better weather ahead. This month we lost our roof to a wind storm (twice!) and started laying ...

❤️🙏

1000%

Our new vlog is LIVE on YouTube!

It SNOWED! A LOT...Here's what we did to keep busy on the build. This last snowstorm dumped on us! Come along and see how we're keeping busy on the build...when the weather is not so perfect.Music Credits:Song: DayFox - Li...

Though lightly debated, most scholars would agree that Jesus was around 33 years old at the time of his crucifixion.

At only 3 years long, his window of active ministry was relatively small. And yet the impact of that short period of time has sent shockwaves through every single generation that has followed.

Still, I've often wondered...why 33 years?

Surely God, in His infinite wisdom, had the very best reason. But what that reason is I haven't the foggiest.

To think of Christ in the prime of his humanity, fresh-faced and full of life, walking toward the cross, stirs something deep inside my spirit.

Wonder. Gratitude. Awe. But mostly amazement.

Because that 33-year-old loved his enemy.

That 33-year-old pleaded with his Father to forgive the very men driving the nails through his body.

That 33-year-old bore the sins of the entire world.

And that 33-year-old saved my soul (and is willing to save yours, too).

Today, I turned 33.

And I can only hope that, above all else, I've spent those 33 years wisely. Not building myself up or making myself known...

But pointing others to the king, the servant, the man, and God.

Because that 33-year-old is everything.

Painting Credit: Lion of Judah by Vanessa Horabuena

We were not created to hurry. We were created to be still with the Creator. God never calls us to race around in a hurried mess, yet we sprint towards an ever-shifting finish line hoping to find worth. We convince ourselves that if we just keep moving, everything will work out — but it never does.⁠
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Hurry does not have to be our choice. When we choose to be still, healing from the hurry happens.⁠
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Where is stillness in motherhood? It’s everywhere. Rejecting hurry and embracing stillness as moms happens when we:⁠
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Sing a song.⁠
Write a letter.⁠
Say a prayer.⁠
Read a book.⁠
Listen to a voice.⁠
Heal a wound.⁠
Give a smile.⁠
Make a day.⁠
Kiss a cheek.⁠
Play a game.⁠
Take a breath.⁠
Chase a dream.⁠
Value a life.⁠
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The hurry makes us hurt. Stillness brings healing. Today, I will listen to the longings of my soul and choose to be still.