I like to bake, cheesecakes are among my favorites to create, but I also like to make pies. More often, however, I bake cookies. In all my years of baking I’ve had lots of experience to ponder the many ingredients used for baking cookies. Isn’t it funny how having even one ingredient missing can ruin … Continue reading Wednesdays with Jillene: of cookies and scripture

I’ve had a song stuck in my head this week. Not in an annoying stuck in my head kind of way… not in a nagging kind of way… but as a gentle nudging… perhaps like a faint soundtrack behind a powerful moment in a movie. Sometimes I cannot figure out the rhyme or reason behind … Continue reading Wednesdays with Jillene: you call me

I’m having a series of days where God is continually bringing a topic to my attention. Have you ever had a time like that? From Sunday through today, be it in conversations, an article, or through scripture and devotions… the topics of submission and humility are ever present. And I want to share the thoughts … Continue reading Wednesdays with Jillene: submission and humility

Darkness changes things. It changes a beautiful woods into a scary scene. It changes a promising sunny afternoon at the pool into a disappointing change of plans. It changes a house into an obstacle course full of pinky toe-biting monsters.   Darkness changes things, perhaps most significantly is how it impacts our perception. When night … Continue reading Wednesdays with Jillene: darkness

Testimony. Such power exists in testimonies. The power to inspire. The power to connect others with God. … For some “testimony” seems to have the power to leave them feeling inadequate or panicked. I have seen the look of fear or the blank stare that comes when someone asks, “Who would like to share their … Continue reading Wednesdays with Jillene: testimony

God is awesome (I am sure you know that to be true!) and yet it never ceases to amaze me when he reaches down in the most unexpected of moments and speaks. This morning I was driving to and from a doctor appointment with Calah as my traveling buddy... things got a little less than … Continue reading Wednesdays with Jillene: greater

I was given this today. It might look like a simple penny to you. But it was so much more to me. It was a sign of investment. The financial worth of this investment may be minimal but the value of a friendship investment cannot be measured. And this was the doubling of an investment … Continue reading Wednesdays with Jillene: the investment of friendship

[Last week I put out the full disclaimer and will remind you again that Calah is two weeks old and since I am living and breathing “baby mode” you’ll probably hear about that a bunch. Life will return to a focus other than the baby at some point, but for now, enjoy.] “Sleep when the … Continue reading Wednesdays with Jillene: the basics

[So… in all fairness you deserve a reminder/warning… Calah was born just over a week ago. Being as such, this post (and likely others to come) may contain baby related revelations. Okay, now that we’ve gotten that disclaimer out of the way, onto this week’s post.] Have you ever heard of the poem, “Babies Don’t … Continue reading Wednesdays with Jillene: Its not just babies that “don’t keep”