Rally to End Abortion in SC

If I have any readers here who live in SC, can I ask a favor for those who cannot ask it for themselves? "Action for Life" and State Representative Jonathon Hill are hosting the first statewide Rally to End Abortion in South Carolina on Tuesday, May 4th, at 10 am, and they want your help!!! Jonathan Hill asks that those who are willing to stand for the life of the unborn would come join this rally at the state capital. There will be several well known speakers, and my home church, Covenant Baptist, and it's church plant, Grace Covenant, is doing integral work for the event! Our church plant pastor-in-training, Mark Corral, is actually speaking as well.

The first 27 minutes of this video from Apologia include an interview with Jonathan Hill, explaining his bill and how important it is for there to be support show up! We as Christians must believe that "children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward" (Psalm 127:3), and if this is our belief, we can not stand back when we have such a poignant opportunity to stand for what we know to be true.

You can learn more at https://abolishabortionsc.com/. Please share this information with those who are passionate about the value of all life. Please pass the information on to your church leadership, as well, maybe they (or other churches you know in the area!) would like to put together a team of volunteers (maybe to carpool if you live further away?). *Please* pray for the outcome of this rally, no matter where you live, and if you are in the state of SC, would you put one day aside for this cause? Who knows how many precious lives, made in the image of Christ, can be saved by your presence for one day. The Lord sends the fruit, you have only to obey the task he sets before you!

And I would like to add one thought to this opportunity to serve the Lord... It's exciting to be apart of something that looks so big for a day. It's easy to say "I can make the time once." But I would challenge you to this thought. These mothers who would be pushed into an abortion now, their babies will be saved if this passes through. But the church's work doesn't end there. Our work is just beginning! There will be families who will give life to these babies, created in the image of God, who would have formerly taken the "easy road". They may feel poverty. They may feel truly unqualified to raise their child. There will be children born out of wedlock.

Don't turn your back on them now. THIS is where your opportunity to flesh out the gospel will truly come into play. Provide for those who are struggling. We need families who will be open to welcoming a child into their home - to help a family care for them, or even to embrace them as their own. Do not shun the single mother.

On this last - I do not say applaud any sin that may be within these circumstances. I simply ask that you realize that these babies are NOT defined by the choices of their mother or father. I can't tell you how many mothers now, with the choice to have an abortion, choose life because they know it is right, and then find all backs turned and lips curled, even from those who claim children are the gift of God. God allowed *good* to come out of less than desirable circumstances. We can correct the sin, and still rejoice that God brings beauty from even the very sin we find ourselves in. That baby's life is sent by God, and that small life is here by his purpose. And that baby's parents are a sinner in no more need of the gospel than you and I were, and no less deserving. That baby, that family; now that they are just beginning, now is the time they will need not just our words and our one day rallies, but our genuine, serving love through day in and day out. To end abortion is just the beginning. And what a wonderful, exciting blessing to be apart of bringing about the protection of life! But when that life is safe on earth, then begins the real work; loving as Christ loves, and fighting for their eternal soul as well.

I don't say this to discourage those who thought this would be a simple affair, or downplay the absolute need and wonderful opportunity of this rally. I say this to remind you of the awe that God uses *us* to bring about his work. I say this to remind us that for many women, abortion is not their desire, but what they feel they must do, for lack of help. And I say this because we must truly count the cost of our service to the Lord when once we decide to place our had to the plow... and I do believe we must find it worth ten times it's weight in gold, and a hundred fold repaid in the joy the Lord will bring in the perseverance.

Tuesday, May 4th, 10 a.m., one week from now, at the SC State Capital, stand for the least of these. And then, never back down.

Rejoicing in the gospel,
Ambrielle

A beautiful thing

Another blessing that came from my new job was a recent trip back to SC! The family I work for has written a history curriculum (Biblioplan), and they sell at homeschool conventions. Usually the boys help Julia, but this last time they couldn't go due to a last minute change in plans, and she asked if I'd like to come to help run the booth. Like to?! SC is home... even if I saw no one I knew, I knew I'd love to be back. I was hesitant at first just because it was coming up so fast - literally the next day, haha. Ironically, this wasn't the first convention I'd helped at - I used to help my Dad with them when he worked at the bookstore - and so I wasn't completely clueless (although at that point I'd only used Biblioplan at the school a couple of times... so my crash course really came in learning the curriculum), but still... out of town for 4 days that soon... have I mentioned I like to plan out and overthink things far in advance ;)?

Mama and I agreed overthinking wasn't worth missing the experience for, though, so I went. We crossed that SC border, and I promise you, it's an almost instant change. As Julia pointed out, that's because you immediately get into more road construction, and a lot less scenery - "it's so boring!" To which I answered, "I won't argue, I know. All my friends who grew up here are ready to leave, if they haven't already. I'm pretty sure I'm the only person who likes it here. But all this boring feels like home to me, and I LOVE it."

Another thing we noticed as soon as we got to SC... no one was wearing masks. Say what you will, whatever side you are on, I don't argue. But it was a breath of fresh air in more ways than one.

I truly had so much fun at the convention. It was nerve wracking, trying to learn one step ahead while teaching the moms who came up to look and buy. But I had good conversations with some of those moms too. Several younger moms asked my opinion, as a homeschool graduate, whether I thought this or that was a good place to put their focus on... one of the older moms, who had already graduated two of her kids, told me their experience, and that her third daughter didn't believe how the older two children started out their homeschool journey. We both got a good laugh as I looked at the daughter and said "no, really, that's exactly how I started out in school, too. About the time my mom had a third child start school and realized she didn't have room for another desk, THAT'S when I started being homeschooled the way YOU are homeschooled." Our family homeschool stories were almost identical... desks in the kitchen under the blackboards, letter charts, the flags you said the pledge under; dressed and chores done before you could think of sitting at your schoolwork, strict scheduled lessons... and then that third child comes along and mom is like, this can't be right, there is no room or time for this for all of them. Haha! Do math in your pjs, under the table if you want. Just learn, and learn well!

My "babies", Misty and Mango. Mango drowns his
food before he eats it, and if it wasn't so cute that he still
thinks he's a baby who needs his food softened,
it would be really annoying. Actually, it's annoying anyway...

But on top of that, I was given an afternoon off and got to see Aunt Tessa and Aunt Amber and the babies. Oh, it was wonderful! We stopped at Chick-fil-a for my first real grilled club and frosted coffee in months (I do miss my Chick-fil-a six times a week, lol So much so that I've made my own frosted coffees, and attempted a grilled club, complete with brioche buns... but that was a major fail, since our oven is temperamental). We took the kiddos to the park and had a picnic... it was too short, and yet such an unexpected blessing, not knowing we were even going to be in the same state three days before! And as if that wasn't enough, my best friend bought a stroller wagon and drove an hour and a half to the convention just to surprise me, and I seriously cried. Her little boy told me to stop being emotional, hahaha. But if that doesn't describe the sort of friendship we have, I don't know what does, and it was the final chocolate frosting on the cake!

Andrew used this pencil down to the metal.
Literally.

At the same time I was out of town, I was making phone calls and sending texts back and forth, to home and to a dear friend, about the logistics of making it to her wedding. I fly out on the 28th (have never flown before, so that's a little nerve racking, I admit), and I totally didn't see that working out... and yet it's worked out beautifully. And my check from the convention covered my plane ticket... I didn't need that to make the trip work, but it was yet another example of how God has been making the smallest details not only work out, but even be amazingly providential in the way they work together!

Those examples have been coming poignant and frequent the past months. One of my dear friends from SC mentioned to me that she could see a difference in my outlook after all of this started happening, and I replied, "It's so... clear that [God] hasn't forgotten me. So obvious that some of my biggest disappointments have been used to get me something better than I was working toward, they were not punishments. You are right, the Lord is growing me through these things. He's also growing me in my ability to not feel the need to be all things to all people, because I'm not God. ...(That's not to say I don't still have control issues, lol....) But it has gotten easier, because if God is giving this much attention to me [when I couldn't see it]... he's giving it to everyone else too. He doesn't need me to notice everything to accomplish his plans, he'll bring what I'm supposed to do and drop it in my lap. I can't get out of his plan for me by sitting down for a minute to breath! All the cracks that hurt so bad, so fiercely... they are there letting the light shine through so easily, so brightly now. It's so, so humbling, life giving, encouraging...." It's brought peace, even when I am struck with the discouragement and loneliness of being so far from so much I love. I told another friend just the other day, "I still would move back to SC in a HEARTBEAT, and be happy about it. But I'm also happy now to be content here for as long as it takes to get back, which definitely wasn't the case before." I see so many instances of God working, 2 years ago, 5 years ago, 9 years ago, to get me exactly where I am today, and all the intersections that plan had to hold tell me that I *am* where I am meant to be, no matter where I'll be in the future. And it's a beautiful, beautiful thing.

Rejoicing in hope,

Ambrielle

Provision of the Lord

With so much going on, it was even more important - and that much harder - to go about getting a vehicle. Daddy has hardly been able to get off work since he took over the store, it needs so much remediation. There were a couple of days he made it off, but I didn't know and went into work. There were a couple days he stayed home, but then had to be on conference calls. It took almost 6 weeks to get out to go look at vehicles together, and when we did, we had no luck. I had a very certain criteria I was looking for, but was on a budget as well. We found a Dodge Caravan, which I was interested in because I liked my Dad's (which has been out of commission for months), and I test drove a Honda Odyssey that I really liked, as well. Then I had a hard decision to make... should I take the Honda, which was over priced? Should I take the Dodge, which was okay? Or should we go to Richmond the next week?

Isaac was obsessed with this cup when he was
a baby, too. It's glass, and the babies play with it,
drop it, knock it over, I even dropped it on the concrete
at work one time, and it's in perfect condition. I'm
*extremely* impressed with the quality, haha.

My decision was made easy when the Dodge was sold just hours after we stopped to look at it. I decided that if Richmond didn't have what I needed, God would make sure the Honda was still available. We went home.

We didn't get to go to Richmond the next week.

And then I started questioning how smart that decision had really been, because I was still depending on people, and it was making me crazy for their sakes, even though they assured me it didn't bother them at all.

And then, the best friends anyone could ask for struck again.

Finally finished a fringe blanket I worked on
for almost a year! I love these things, I've
always wanted one.

This family has been an absolute blessing to our family since we met them. Those first months at Covenant Baptist, I was discouraged and uncharacteristically skeptical of friendships, due to several blows from people I loved, delivered  right as we moved states. Their oldest daughter stepped in, a non-intrusive yet persistent, a steady force of friendship; and the rest of the family just gathered my family into their arms as well. From that time, to the months looking for a house, when their dad finally stepped in and called churches in the area and found us a house that would be rented to such a large family; to EVERYTHING in between; and everything after, as they still make sure we are taken care of even from states away; this family has offered help after generous gift after sincere encouragement for almost 5 years now. 

They came to visit at the end of February, and their son tried to convince me that, since I hadn't found a car yet, I *had* to get a Ford. No offence to anyone here who thinks they like Fords, but... I've driven a Ford. I hated it with a passion.

So, obviously, my answer was no, and after they got home, my parents started getting text messages from him for listings for vehicles... mostly Fords, or insanely priced novelty cars. I totally thought he was still teasing. But eventually, he did send some serious ones along as well.

And wouldn't you know it, I finally found a van, thanks to those texted links. It needed a good cleaning (and on that note, if anyone wants to pass on tips for cleaning leather seats... I haven't done the research on that yet and I definitely need to do that), and new tires, but it was a good price and exactly what I was looking for! I've already been teased by a couple people for buying a "mom van" as my first vehicle. Admittedly odd for a normal single 20-something girl, but to this I just reply, what did you expect from the mom friend? I have no shame. I had carefully thought through my requirements, and a mom van was the answer ;). Working with children with disabilities there is a real potential that I could need something bigger to have room for equipment -wheel chairs/oxygen tanks, etc (not specifically with the family I am working with now, but something I had to think about while I was looking for a job, and something I am still willing to prepare for). There is also the fact that, while I can't take the whole family anywhere, I might want to take enough siblings somewhere at one time that I wanted more than 5 seats, LOL! And there is so. much. room. Bringing home a week's worth of groceries in this thing would be a breeze, *especially* since my back seats fold down instead of needing taken out for floor space - quite possibly my favorite unrequired feature in the whole van!

And, Daddy was able to go back and buy a van himself from one of the local dealerships we looked at while I was car shopping. Ironically, owned by a neighbor we hadn't met yet, who turned out to know one of Daddy's employees. The van came with "all the strawberries we can eat" this summer from his wife's garden, haha! After all the encounters I've had recently of people I'm spending so much time around being "right down the road" from us, and now this, Mama has stated this is the SMALLEST town she has ever been in... either that or we are being stalked, hahaha! I'm driving and it's just like... there's my student's house... where the kitten came from... where the car dealer lives... where my coworker lives... the church we're looking at trying... work... all within four miles. Definitely feels small townish!

Rejoicing in Hope,

Ambrielle

Peter is 9!

Our Sweeter Peter's birthday is today! We seem to have really done a number on birthdays in some way or another this year, and his is no exception... we spent all day driving to Illinos for my great-grandma's memorial service. So Peter's birthday will probably be truly celebrated next month, but we still had to do a few gifts + a store bought cake (he thought picking it out was pretty cool!) and sang happy birthday to him :).

The trip was interesting... everyone did REALLY, really well, honestly. But then we had sick toddlers, and diapered babies, and messed up Mcdonalds orders, and we had to pull over more times than anticipated because all of those things just took up time, and Philip was so done being in his car seat... we are happy to have made it, and think next time we want to only drive nights. It went MUCH better the first 11 hours of the trip, before the kiddos woke up, just because they didn't need food and bathroom breaks, not because they were naughty. Mama rented an airbnb rather than a hotel room this trip, and it is so nice!!! We're looking forward to seeing family, and we're visiting places from my Grandpa's and Mom's childhoods... so neat. And I'm just thrilled it worked out, because I know how much it meant to my Mama to make it.

It's super duper late, and everyone was ready to crash when we got here, but before Peter went to bed, he found out which bed was his, and arranged all his special things on the shelf near it, like he would have them at home :).

Peter and Philip are best buds - two little "P"s in a pod ;). Some days, when I come home from work and just want a quick baby snuggle, I have to tell Peter, "you're home with him all. day!!! My turn!", hehehe. I love their bond, though, and I can't wait to see it develop more. Tori thinks Philip is going to pick up Peter's sense of humor. Either way, they both light up when they see each other, it's adorable!

Happy birthday, Peter - now, and when we get around to celebrating :)! <3, Bri

The desires of your heart

While it was true that I felt like this job offer was exactly what I had been waiting for, I was also afraid to jump on it, mostly because I wanted to know I was thinking clearly and not just wanting things to work out - I was so nervous of being more of a pain than a help in the point I was at. It was an absolutely beautifully providential story of God's granting the desires He had planted, if it all worked out. It gave me goosebumps and tears to be watching it unfold! But to be perfectly honest, I still knew that I wasn't exactly the most seasoned in the field, and I didn't even have a vehicle yet - it had been put off because I didn't want to have to drive up to VA myself, and then again because my Dad was so busy at work, I didn't want to use his days off to ask him to help my car hunt, without it being a true need. Things were moving MUCH faster than I had anticipated when I first asked for suggestions on what steps to take.

Julia assured me she was willing to work with me in the beginning to make logistics come together. I would catch a ride to their house in the morning with Daddy on his way into work, and she or her Dad would drive me home in the afternoons. It wasn't ideal, but it was working while it needed to. So I filled out the paperwork, and I was officially taking care of the the little girl I'd been watching from afar for so long. It's so weird being in their house every week, because there are so many things I recognize around their home, and know about them from their blog, and yet at the same time, we are just getting to know each other. It makes me chuckle sometimes!

Julia also gave my contact to the school Mary attends. It's a small Christian school... *4 miles* from my house, on a little back loop road. She told me that the administrator was looking for help, I seemed like I'd fit the need, and it would be a nice supplement to what I would be making working with Mary, so that it could be a more sustainable arrangement if I needed more income. I was still willing to do volunteer work, but honestly, I've considered working as an assistant teacher before, so I was interested in checking it out. I came home and told Mama all this, and we were both just absolutely floored. We live way out in the middle of nowhere, and though it was the only house we could get and we are grateful to be in the same state again, the 1.5 hour round trip to work has been hard on my Dad, and we didn't know *why* it was the only house we could get. We'd asked so many times, "why do we have to live so far out here?" As soon as Mama heard how close everything was, and how everything was going to work out right away *because* of where I lived, instead of having to turn down something else or go through huge gymnastics, she said "that's it. This is why we live way out here. That makes me feel so much better!" God had a plan the whole time... of course he did, right? But sometimes it's so hard to keep in sight when he's working through the brokenness of the world.

I got a call from the administrator at the school a few days later. She told me she'd like me to come in and observe a bit, maybe help with P.E., and start paperwork the next day, if I was interested. Once again, I had to be perfectly honest. "I don't know if Julia let you know, but I have no way of getting there on a normal basis right now, until I get a car, but I am very interested when it works logistically."

"Oh, that's no problem!", she replied. "My kindergarten teacher lives right on your road, and she's super sweet, I KNOW she'd be happy to bring you in whenever needed. And if there is ever a day she can't, I have a family who lives on that road who goes here who would love to help, too." (We later learned this family - who has the sweetest little 1st grader- lives in the first house on the opposite side of the road, go figure.) "We'll figure that out, if you'll come help us!"

And that's what we did for almost two months. I would get a call from the school asking if I could substitute for someone, and I'd text Laci, "hey... can I ride in with you?" And she would, without fail, come pick me up with a cheerful, chatty demeanor. She is absolutely sweet, and it was a huge blessing, as things drug on and on finding a vehicle. She never complained - in fact, acted like it was a no-brainer and a pleasure. For someone like myself, who can't stand asking for things and tries to take the pressure OFF people, the easy-breezy way we just made it work, thanks to her attitude, was a huge blessing. Honestly, I looked forward to our chats on the way to and from work, haha! It was nice to so quickly feel like I was also making friends through this turn of events.

So, the next day, I went in to fill out my paperwork, and I ended up leading P.E. The next day I was called in last minute to fill for the first grade teacher. Thankfully, that is Mary's class, and Mary's school aide was a huge help in making sure things followed their normal schedule, which I'd NEVER observed before, hahaha! I called my aunt that evening, and we both just laughed so hard. Here I'd considered being a home caregiver, a school aide, and a sub teacher, at different points, and with one little Facebook message, I had become all three... and not only that, but I went from having NEVER been in a school (although I'll admit this church school is a far cry from a public school; it's weird how much teaching there is like what my mom has always done in our homeschool), to teaching classes within 24 hours! The irony is wonderful.

I've been subbing, helping with office work, and doing some special one-on-one reading proficiency classes with some of the kids since then. I came home laughing to my mom one day, because she loves to tell the story of how, the first time she held me, she just looked at me and thought "I'm going to have to teach her to read!", it was such a huge feeling of responsibility to her. Now here I am, helping teach half a dozen struggling kindergarteners to read!

I'm *loving* it. It's kind of odd, because it's so very unpredictable and came about so fast. I'm usually that person who wants to plan everything out, and usually overthinks things, far in advance. I've now got two part time jobs, and I can get a call from both of them at any time, often only an hour's notice, that I'm needed that day. Despite what you would think, it's worked out so well. I love the work, I love the kids. It's doing exactly what I've wanted to do for so long. The hours are nice, because no matter what, I get home early enough that I still have day left to do things with, something I was very desirous of, knowing how hard it was to keep up with anything other than work while at CFA. There is also an odd sort of relief that comes with NOT having a schedule. Knowing that if I *can't* come in one day, it's not causing any bigger issues for anyone than they'd already have without me, has actually made it a lot easy to say yes whenever I'm needed. It's like... you can take anything one day at a time. I had a lot of weird little health annoyances last year, and I'd told my mom, if I got anywhere close to as bad as I had been, I was going to cut back hours, say no sometimes if needed. But I actually feel like I'm really thriving with what I've got going on now, and I just love it. Being involved at home, helping with Mary, teaching at he school; I love being a part of it all!

Rejoicing in hope,

Ambrielle

Rainbows through the rain

My last "update" was January 22nd. I was working on so many ways to make use of the time, now that I'd come to terms with the fact that I wasn't where I had anticipated being. And I meant to come back to blogging. I had time, and topics I wanted to address, and I was dying to write.

And then, January 30th, my life took a turn I didn't see coming... and for the first time in months, it wasn't one that left me grieving.

We had a lot of snow January and February!

Most of you know that I volunteered with special needs church ministries for a few years. I also was a respite caregiver for some family friends who had a daughter with special needs. And some of you know that I was actually working towards becoming a licensed respite/caregiver for families with special needs kiddos.

I had my life "all figured out"... I got a job (made the decision to start looking, and ended up hired in a way that was obvious this was where God was sending me, for whatever reason, within 6 weeks of that decision, the first place I applied) to pay for a vehicle and my CNA training. I was going to take my classes in Greenville, where my mom's family lives. I was even offered a job as a hospice nurse (by a regular customer at CFA. He didn't know I was looking for another job, but thought I had "a caregiver's heart"), which would have given me the year's healthcare experience I needed before applying to the organization I was looking at. I could finally do what I've been passionate about doing since I was 16. It all would have come together late last summer/early last fall.

What I didn't figure into my plans was a move out of state... again. And one that dragged out for over a year. Late summer left my plans absolutely crushed, so many other loses and emotions hitting me, and the nagging consciousness, as my birthday approached, that I was still two years away from were I thought I'd be. Those few months were full of intense testing on every level for me.

Then, as I was checking up on a blog I've read for years... checking up for progress on the MACC... I just so happened to notice what hospital this family took their little girl to when she had an accident recently. Beautiful little Mary... I've talked about her to my family so many times before. I've followed quite a few adoption families over the years. Three of them especially have made a huge impact on me, and this family is one. I've been reading Julia's blog since they were bringing John home. I love his and Aaron's stories, but something about Mary... the story leading to her adoption, and the struggles they've had with her seizure disorder since they brought her home, and those big brown eyes. I've had a special place in my heart for this little girl I "knew" across the internet. Poor thing, with her now fractured jaw, that they had taken care of at... UVA?

UVA is our hospital.

"Don't get too excited," I told myself. "They could be 40 minutes away from UVA in the other direction, there is no guarantee Julia will be able to give me any guidance. But still... if there is any chance they live close enough to go there, it's just possible they know of some organizations in the area that I could apply to, since they are in that community with the three youngest kids." So I sent an email. I laid out how absolutely pathetic my "resume" was, literally every reason no one would want me. "But it's what I'm passionate about. Money isn't an issue, I'm even willing to volunteer, at least to begin with. I just need to know WHERE to begin, because this is what I feel I'm called to do."

Philip has grown so much since this picture
was taken, but he's still just as wonderful <3.

I figured, you know, she might message me back and tell me of a church that might do a respite event once a month like I volunteered at before. Or tell me yeah, what you're looking at is probably the best option, go for it. Maybe know someone who did something similar in the area I could talk to nd find out how they prepared.

Instead, Julia asked me to come to her house and meet her kids and talk to her. They live 15 minutes from me. I was going to get to *meet* Mary, and it sounded like I was going to get a real lead on what direction to take. We scheduled to meet on Saturday.

"So... helping people like our family. Is that the sort of thing you're looking at?", she asked, after introducing me to the children and their pets, and explaining their family needs and what she has had aides help her with over the past few years.

The amount of pictures of sleeping children on my
phone is insane, but look at my snuggle bug.

"It's EXACTLY what I'm looking for, but I haven't known where to find it", I answered, as Mary stuck stickers all over my face and my water bottle. "In fact, something like this is closer to what I've been looking for than anything I found in South Carolina."

"Then you don't need to get into an organization, come work for me! Can we start the paperwork now?" she asked me.

In that one question, so many of my own questions felt answered. Time and again it felt like there was a door I wasn't able to walk through because... well, now I know it was because I didn't need that door to get here. Those doors were never *closed*... I could have taken a part time job at Mt. Horeb. I could have gotten into hospice. I could have applied to BrightStar. But I didn't have peace with the compromises I would have had to make with other convictions ( or logistical life requirements at the time). The doors WERE open, but they were side doors... they weren't on my path, they were optional turns. And I don't think to have chosen them would have been *wrong*... but I was never confident it would be *right* *for me*. Here I was, and I knew now that I'd been led past those side doors to reach my door at the end on the hall, and I was suddenly only mere months, rather than years, behind "my timeline", but MILES ahead in what a perfect fit it was. Everything I had looked at in the past was, truthfully, a settle; as close as I could get to what I knew families needed. This was, in contrast, an answer to more prayers than I had felt it appropriate to ask! And that was only the beginning of this whirlwind that I've been on... but the rest will have to be saved for future posts :).

Rejoicing in Hope,

Ambrielle

Shine Bright Book Release!

The Girl Defined devotional releases today!

Things are crazy busy over here, but I want to share this new book with you! I love the books and articles that Kristen Clark and Bethany Beal have put out in the past (I did a review of Girl Defined here in 2018), and I am so excited for this devotional. You can get it at www.girldefined.com/shine, and there is going to be an online study group going through it together starting June 1st, if you want to join!

Isn't it pretty?! And my launch party copy arrived like a present this afternoon. I haven't had a chance to sit down with it yet, but I will be getting to it this evening, and I will be giving a full review on it soon! (I plan on reading through the devotions during the launch, and then going back through it at a slower pace to do the "study deeper" with some friends :).) I'd love if you joined!

I have several posts coming up... I just need to edit them (and add pictures!). A lot has happened the past few months. And then next month has a full plate, too. But until then, have you heard of Girl Defined ministries before? Have you done a devotional you would recommend lately? Let me know if you get this one!

Rejoicing in Hope,

Ambrielle