51, really?
I remember when I turned 30. My co-workers threw a big birthday bash. Instead of putting Happy 30th, the ornery crew put Happy 40th. I took a big, black marker and slashed through the 40 and put 30 in its place! The funny thing is that I loved turning 30. I finally felt like a real grown up. I was a mom to 3, and had been for a few years, but that number–the number 30–spoke of maturity and growth and future to me.
40? It sounded old. (more…)
Posted by Suzie @
8:40 am |
your love letter
If you came over from Encouragement for Today, welcome! I’m so glad you are here.
Yesterday I received a prayer letter from Lee Walker Merrill, http://www.prayergifts.blogspot.com/, a beautiful friend I met at She Speaks a couple of years ago.
The letter was unexpected. Lee had taken Scripture and turned it into a personal Gramma prayer. I don’t cry easily, but I wept as I read the words of prayer over my relationship with my first grandchild, Elle.
The words were powerful, and I will keep this letter tucked close forever.
I shared in the devo today that my father once wrote me a letter at a time that I truly needed to know that God was listening to my prayers. Later my Bible became a love letter from my Heavenly Father. Both of these letters have great worth.
But maybe reading the Bible is a challenge for you (as it has been for me at times, and for many others). How can you make it more personal? (more…)
Posted by Suzie @
4:33 am |
the intervention game
We spent a beautiful weekend at the lake with the entire Eller family (mother-in-law, father-in-law, brothers and sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, cousins). The weather was hot, but swimming and eating and catching up was wonderful.
As we drove home my daughter, famous for her “what if” questions, posed this one: If you had to do an intervention on every person in the car, what would it be?
Interventions ranged from spending too much time on Facebook to subtly more challenging issues. It was insightful, and for the most part, fun.
And then it was my turn. (more…)
Posted by Suzie @
8:03 pm |
sweet, sweet moments

Richard is asleep on the couch, baby Elle tucked close on his chest. I took this picture just before they both nodded off.
Give me a million dollars, or give me moments just like these because they are simply worth that much.
What is one small, precious treasure around you right now? Don’t miss it. Push away the busyness, the noise, the to-do list. Tune in to it.
Thank God for it.
It’s those things that will one day mean the most, but why wait? Treasure it today.
Posted by Suzie @
12:10 pm |
failure is an option
I’ve been pregnant with a dream for more than a decade. That’s a long time to carry any “baby”. Recently the dream seemed like it might come to life. Today I heard the word “no”–again.
Maybe you feel the need to comfort me, or to say words like “It’s just not time” or “maybe it’s not meant to be”. I love you, but I disagree. It is time. It is meant to be. Those two things are deeply embedded in my spirit.
Sometimes you just know, and in spite of what you see or hear, you trust. (more…)
Posted by Suzie @
9:18 am |
Baby Elle update

She’s here. Welcome to the world, sweet Elle. Gramma loves you like crazy.
Posted by Suzie @
10:40 am |