Spins and Soft Landings

“There’s only so much willpower one has when surrounded by piles of Christmas stocking stuffer chocolate and the visible evidence of impulse holiday cheese purchases every time you open the fridge.

And every year, I inevitably encounter a problem called reality.”

Janell WoodJanuary 2, 2019grace, new years resolution, beginnings, chocolate, daily struggleComment

To Be Faithful

Are you ready for 2019?

I don’t know about you but the days between Christmas and New Years tend to be filled with lots of disorientation over days and dates. These fuzzy hours are mostly spent planning for the future, cleaning up the holiday mess, purging “ all the things” and sugar bingeing the holiday treats before we go on a diet New Years Day (although this year my husband talked me into getting healthy the day after New Years so we can overindulge a little longer).

Janell WoodDecember 28, 2018faithful, 2019, new years resolution, writing, christmas, vow, commitment, choise, surrender, glorify godComment

The Grinch

There’s a part in Dr. Seuss’ famous Christmas tale, where the Grinch complains about all the whos down in Who-ville. They are singing and enjoying Christmas and that Grinch hates it. He is sick and tired of all the “Oh the NOISE, NOISE, NOISE, NOISE!” He then comes up with a devious plan to sabotage Christmas.

The Grinch is gnarly, green and ridiculous, right? He’s a hard character to relate to.

Except sometimes, if I’m honest, I am a little like that Grinch.

Janell WoodDecember 19, 2018Christmas, Attitude, perfectionism, expectations, joyfullComment

Thoughts on How to Live an Extraordinary Life

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

~James 4:10

I was nineteen. My friend and I were hanging out in my dorm room…

Janell WoodDecember 13, 2018platform, humility, extraordinary, ordinary, dreams, college, love god, insecurity, enoughComment

A True Story: Pressing Send & Letting Go

The Bible says perfect love drives out fear. (1 John 4:18)

I want to be a woman who is fearless.

The only way I know to become that woman, is to be anchored to the deep love of Christ.

To deeply know the love of Jesus Christ is to be a woman who can love with total freedom.

Janell WoodDecember 5, 2018

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Poison That Destroys It AND A Powerful Antidote)

“The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas are theoretically my favorite weeks of the year.

I replay images in my head of Rosemary Clooney and Bing Crosby singing “White Christmas,” evenings strolling in the crunchy snow with steaming hot chocolates and my handsome man, candlelit churches filled with the off-key joy-filled voices of precious rosy-cheeked children, the mouth-watering goodness of peppermint mochas and powdered sugar snowball cookies…

Aww… I love all the things.”

Janell WoodNovember 28, 2018Christmas, dreams, comparison, reality, gratitude, joyfull, true storyComment

Five Strategies for Getting Over Your Hallmark Movie Expectations This Thanksgiving (AKA How to Avoid Having a Total Meltdown)

Maybe you belong to one of those precious families whose family Thanksgiving dinners have the quiet picturesque feel of a Norman Rockwell painting.

Or maybe, like me, your November holidays tend to have more in common with a Dr. Phil special.

Janell WoodNovember 21, 2018thanksgiving, holidays, family, forgiveness, grace, encouragement, gratitude, hallmark, dreams, reality, expectations, strategies, meltdownComment

When You're Surrounded By Flames

Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33b

Honestly, I don’t like troubles. I don’t know anyone who does.

Janell WoodNovember 14, 2018suffering, trials, reality, God, glorify him, surrender, fire, choice Comments

Praising Him… When It Feels Like A Struggle

I want to be a thankful person.

But then life happens.

And yeah, the struggle is real.

Janell WoodNovember 7, 2018surrender, detours, struggle, reality, praise, thanksgiving, battle, OCWComment

Rise & Shine; It's Butt Falling Time...

Last night, my husband, Brian, came home from his respectable day job as a middle school principal. Our kids excitedly brought their play costumes into the living room to make preparations for their upcoming Halloween school parties. A long, tangled, brunette wig was placed on Brian’s head.

And then something magical happened.

Janell WoodOctober 31, 2018

Ugh. Labels.

Honest confession: I’ve spent a good majority of my life being obsessed with labels.

Labels, aka man-made attempts to brand and identify what something is or is not.

Have you ever been labeled with something?

Maybe, like me, you haven’t always liked the labels put on you.

Janell WoodOctober 24, 2018labels, identity, confession, children of godComment

Freight Trains & Thorny Expectations

I am writing a book.

I told myself I would have a rough draft ready by December 15th.

It’s a self-imposed ending point. It’s totally subjective. It has nothing to do with any external deadline or outside pressure.

Janell WoodOctober 16, 2018dreams, journey, walking, practical advice, note to self, book, truth, jesus Comments

Getting Up & Stepping Out

This past weekend, I went to Cannon Beach. I love being there. There’s something special about the fresh ocean air, the rhythm of the waves hitting the sand, the seagulls talking to one another, the pillar of Haystack Rock and the stillness of the morning…

Janell WoodOctober 10, 2018welcome, cannon beach, faith, dreams, insecurity, race, ocean, light, trust, obey Comments

A Dream & Reality Collision

“I paid $20 to go volunteer in Caleb’s classroom today. I sit with a glue stick and construction paper and wonder how this happened to my life.” - Thoughts after paying a babysitter for a couple hours in my son’s Kindergarten classroom.

Janell WoodOctober 5, 2018dreams, reality, love god, trustComment

Thoughts on NOT Marrying Cary Grant

I wrote this post as a gift to my husband on our wedding anniversary several years ago. Super cool side note: This summer, I met Robin Jones Gunn, the author who wrote the “Christy Miller” series that inspired me to write letters to my future husband when I was a teenager and young adult. She was amazing and so are her books. :)

Janell WoodSeptember 28, 2018Comment

A Pile of Stones & The Waiting Place

I wrote this (ridiculously long) post when we first moved from the suburbs between the busy metro area of Pierce and King Counties -to Othello, WA, a small town in the central Washington desert. I had always dreamed of living in New York or the East Coast or anywhere near a Target and Starbucks.

Janell WoodSeptember 19, 2018othello, pile of stones, photography, little things, provision, yellow houseComment