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raising a blessing

A blog about mom life, homeschooling, traveling, adventure seeking, and parenting our little blessing.

raising a blessing
  • Find Us on Facebook!
  • A Time to Dance (Book)
  • Upcoming Events
  • Contact Us!
  • Find Us on Facebook!
  • A Time to Dance (Book)
  • Upcoming Events
  • Contact Us!

Blog Categories

  • 2-Min. Thoughts on Faith
  • Art Projects
  • Books
  • Crafting For The Home
  • Devotionals
  • Educational Projects
  • Homeschool Life
  • Infertility
  • Jesus
  • Mom Life
  • Recipes
  • The Holidays
  • Thrifting
  • Travel
  • U-Download

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  • Travel

    Travel: San Isidro Church in Las Mesitas, Colorado (Abandoned, Old Church)

    August 30, 2022 / 0 Comments

    Okay, friends… Confession: This is a totally random travel post. In fact, I usually would just add these photos to our Instagram account and carry on, but I just couldn’t help myself. This old church is an absolute gem, a truly beautiful and incredible piece of history, and because of that, I wanted to pause and give it the space that it deserves. Let’s start here – On a recent hunting trip to Southwest Colorado, my husband stumbled on an old, beautiful, empty church in the most unsuspecting of places. Now, usually when my husband goes hiking, scouting, or hunting, he brings me back heart rocks (my favorite) but knowing…

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    Shannon

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    Hike Colorado: Crested Butte to Aspen via West Maroon Pass

    May 5, 2020

    Chasing Waterfalls in Southwest Colorado

    July 20, 2020

    5-Day South Dakota Bucket List! (w/Kids)

    August 9, 2021
  • Books

    Book Review: Ten Women of the Bible by Max Lucado

    August 28, 2022 / 1 Comment

    My journey through Ten Women of The Bible by Max Lucado started out as a simple request by my little sister. She wanted to host an online Bible Study group together but didn’t exactly know where to start. As it turns out, neither did I… lol… But after a bit of research on my end, I stumbled onto this AMAZING devotional by Max Lucado with great reviews and we launched forward! And as I look back on the time that we spent deep in this devotional, I am so glad that we picked it! I loved this relationship-based study pretty much from the start, especially for a group setting, for…

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    Shannon

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    Book Review: The Todd White Story (Life is Short – Leave a Legacy)

    August 31, 2022

    DIY: Old Books Repurposed into Art and Prayer Journals

    February 1, 2021

    On The Nightstand: A Current List of Books We Are Reading & Our Favorite Book Reviews

    January 12, 2022
  • Jesus

    A Time to Grow: Exit Gracefully & Carry On

    August 22, 2022 / 0 Comments

    Just write. Sometimes those are the words that I have to begin with. So here it goes… The other day I felt led to respond to a Facebook group discussion about whether or not “beliefs” belong in a medical setting. The author of the discussion was simply asking for recommendations for a Christian therapist for her child, but the post had taken another turn, as they so often do. A woman representing herself as a medical provider responded to this mother’s request with the following: “Religion does not make a practitioner more competent… I’m a medical provider and it would make me very uncomfortable to discuss my beliefs with a…

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    Shannon

    You May Also Like

    I Am Not Catholic, But My Family Loved Joining the Good Friday Pilgrimage! Here’s Why…

    April 10, 2023

    Two-Minute Thoughts on Faith: Gen-X Blast from the Past – Save the Last Dance

    March 15, 2023

    Reflection: An Important Part of the Healing Journey

    November 4, 2023
  • Jesus,  Mom Life

    The Prophetic Destiny of Our Children

    August 1, 2022 / 2 Comments

    Hey mamas… God tapped my heart the other day and I thought maybe you could relate… I went to an event about a week ago and listened to a speaker. His message didn’t necessarily hit that deep spot for me on that particular night, but when he spoke two words mid-meeting, God interrupted my thoughts and said… “Right there. That’s what I wanted you to hear.” The two words were prophetic destiny. Suddenly the picture of my son’s face flashed across my mind. Prophetic destiny. His. His prophetic destiny. And the two pieces of information collided in such a powerful way in my mind that tears pricked my eyes almost…

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    Shannon

    You May Also Like

    I Am Not Catholic, But My Family Loved Joining the Good Friday Pilgrimage! Here’s Why…

    April 10, 2023

    Talking Jesus in the Mayonnaise Aisle

    April 14, 2022

    Chapter 15: Redefining Perfection (Happy New Year, Friends!)

    January 1, 2023
  • Books,  Jesus

    Now Available on Amazon – A Time to Dance: Chasing Joy in Difficult Seasons (Book)

    July 16, 2022 / 0 Comments

    We are so (very) excited to announce that our book, A Time to Dance: Chasing Joy in Difficult Seasons, is finally (yay!) available to order on Amazon! Because there is so much heart behind this book and this story, we would love to share more with you about how this book came to be. To learn all about the journey behind this amazing message, please take a moment and watch our Author Video here: We also humbly share some amazing feedback and reviews that we received from the recipients of our advanced readers copies below: Want to know more about our book? Here’s a sneak peek: Very few (if any)…

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    Shannon

    You May Also Like

    Available to Read Now: Chapter One of the Book, A Time to Dance: Chasing Joy in Difficult Seasons

    September 11, 2022

    Book Review: Do It Afraid by Joyce Meyer

    January 11, 2022

    Our Favorite Pre-K Books!

    March 2, 2020
  • Jesus

    Shame Thrives in the Dark Corners.

    April 26, 2022 / 0 Comments

    Shame thrives in the dark corners. It isolates. It tells us that we do not belong at the table, that we are not worthy. Shame tells us that if we allow people to get too close, they will see who we really are; that all of our flaws, our mistakes, our deep and painful “ugly” will be exposed and in that moment… when we are seen for the person that we truly are… rejection will inevitably follow. Pain will inevitably follow. More shame piled upon shame. Shame warns us to stay hidden. Stay behind the veil. Stay behind the wall. Stay alone. And my friend, if you feel these words…

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    Shannon

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    Art Journaling In The Space Between Feeling & Reacting

    February 6, 2021

    Can You Trust God With It? The Short Answer: Yes, Absolutely!

    January 3, 2023

    Which Comes First… Faith or Glory? Hint: It May NOT Be What You Think!

    September 8, 2021
  • Jesus

    Testimony Tuesday with Shannon

    April 21, 2022 / 0 Comments

    Yesterday on our Facebook page, I invited you to share a piece of your story with us and tell us what God’s been doing in your life lately. Today, I wanted to share a small piece of mine in hopes that it will bring your heart some encouragement if you’re sitting in the wait… You see, after traveling through a very difficult season, God began to gently press on my heart to share my story. And as you’ll gather from this excerpt, I was immediately filled with reluctance and doubt. But following through on His nudge, His gentle press, has blessed me more than I could have ever imagined. He…

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    Shannon

    You May Also Like

    Available to Read Now: Chapter One of the Book, A Time to Dance: Chasing Joy in Difficult Seasons

    September 11, 2022

    Two-Minute Thoughts on Faith: Come Just As You Are, My Child

    April 18, 2023

    Reflection: An Important Part of the Healing Journey

    November 4, 2023
  • Jesus

    Talking Jesus in the Mayonnaise Aisle

    April 14, 2022 / 0 Comments

    Picture it… Talking about Jesus in the mayonnaise aisle at the grocery store as others come and go around you… If we’re being honest, what feelings does it stir up in your heart? Discomfort? Anxiety? Fear? Not too long ago, I would find myself awkwardly uncomfortable – to the point of shutting down – if any conversation, public or private, ventured into the topics of God, Jesus, or the Bible, but especially in group or public settings. I could give you a whole list of reasons why, but it primarily came down to two (well one, really): Fear and Insecurity.  I feared either total rejection (even by strangers) or that…

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    Shannon

    You May Also Like

    Can You Trust God With It? The Short Answer: Yes, Absolutely!

    January 3, 2023

    “Fall Into Me” A 4-Week Trust Fall Into Our Heavenly Father’s Arms

    September 28, 2021

    Two-Minute Thoughts on Faith: The Armor That Holds Us Back

    February 28, 2023
  • 2-Min. Thoughts on Faith,  Jesus

    Two-Minute Thoughts: Shaking Courage

    April 13, 2022 / 0 Comments

    When describing the moments just before he stepped out in faith, Nehemiah writes, “I was terrified.” (Nehemiah 2:2) But he took the step. And guess what? God showed up. God delivered. God was faithful. Sometimes, God calls us to step out in faith, muster up every ounce of courage we can scrape together, and trust that He will catch us. And sometimes we are shaking in fear because we have a lot on the line and we’ve been disappointed so many times when we have counted on anyone other than ourselves. Sometimes what He is calling us into feels so impossible or the road feels too impassible. But my friends,…

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    Shannon

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    Bible open to Mark chapter 2 with a banner image that says, "They Carried Him."

    Two-Minute Thoughts on Faith: They Carried Him

    February 27, 2023

    Am I Really Lovable? Finding God’s Truths in the Ashes

    January 24, 2023

    Coffee With Jesus: A Collection of Moments with My Heavenly Father

    May 5, 2021
  • Jesus

    What If Joy Doesn’t Come With the Morning?

    April 12, 2022 / 0 Comments

    “Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” (Psalm 30:5 NLT) But God, what if it doesn’t? What if the morning comes and I’m still curled up in the fetal position, overwhelmed with depression, anxiety, and confusion? What if I’m angry… so angry… because it’s all just so unfair. It’s unfair, God. I’ve done everything I know to do and these unrelenting waves are beating the life out of me! One after another after another. I come up for air and just as I think maybe there’s a reprieve in this storm, I’m thrown under the water again, gasping for my next breath and struggling to…

    read more
    Shannon

    You May Also Like

    Am I Really Lovable? Finding God’s Truths in the Ashes

    January 24, 2023

    Coffee With Jesus: A Collection of Moments with My Heavenly Father

    May 5, 2021

    Art Journaling In The Space Between Feeling & Reacting

    February 6, 2021
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Welcome! My name is Shannon and my little blog spans many topics because I love to share anything that may help a friend! You’ll find info on our travels, homeschooling tricks and adventures, upcycling projects and inspirational moments with Jesus.  Grab some hot tea, curl up with a blanket, and enjoy!  I hope you find love, acceptance, inspiration, and support here!  From one hot mess mama to another, you’re beautifully and wonderfully made! Jesus loves you!!

Blog Categories

  • 2-Min. Thoughts on Faith
  • Art Projects
  • Books
  • Crafting For The Home
  • Devotionals
  • Educational Projects
  • Homeschool Life
  • Infertility
  • Jesus
  • Mom Life
  • Recipes
  • The Holidays
  • Thrifting
  • Travel
  • U-Download

Search My Site

  • Find Us on Facebook!
  • A Time to Dance (Book)
  • Upcoming Events
  • Contact Us!
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